¹⁷Give double honor to spiritual leaders^awho handle their duties well. This is especially true if they work hard at teaching God’s word. ¹⁸After all, Scripture says, “Never muzzle an ox when it is threshing^bgrain,” and “The worker deserves his pay.”

¹⁹Don’t pay attention to an accusation against a spiritual leader unless it is supported by two or three witnesses. ²⁰Reprimand those leaders who sin. Do it in front of everyone so that the other leaders will also be afraid.

²¹I solemnly call on you in the sight of God, Christ Jesus, and the chosen angels to be impartial when you follow what I’ve told you. Never play favorites.

²²Don’t be in a hurry to place your hands on anyone ⸤to ordain him⸥. Don’t participate in the sins of others. Keep yourself morally pure.

²³Stop drinking only water. Instead, drink a little wine for your stomach because you are frequently sick.

²⁴The sins of some people are obvious, going ahead of them to judgment. The sins of others follow them there. ²⁵In the same way, the good things that people do are obvious, and those that aren’t obvious can’t remain hidden.

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Footnotes

a 5:17 Or “pastors,” or “elders.”
b 5:18 Threshing is the process of beating stalks to separate them from the grain.