¹⁷The elders who lead the church well should receive double honor, especially those who work hard by speaking and teaching, ¹⁸because the Scripture says: “When an ox is working in the grain, do not cover its mouth to keep it from eating,” ⁿ and “A worker should be given his pay.” ⁿ

¹⁹Do not listen to someone who accuses an elder, without two or three witnesses. ²⁰Tell those who continue sinning that they are wrong. Do this in front of the whole church so that the others will have a warning.

²¹Before God and Christ Jesus and the chosen angels, I command you to do these things without showing favor of any kind to anyone.

²²Think carefully before you lay your hands on ⁿ anyone, and don’t share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.

²³Stop drinking only water, but drink a little wine to help your stomach and your frequent sicknesses.

²⁴The sins of some people are easy to see even before they are judged, but the sins of others are seen only later. ²⁵So also good deeds are easy to see, but even those that are not easily seen cannot stay hidden.

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Footnotes

n“When … eating,” Quotation from Deuteronomy 25:4.
n“A worker … pay.” Quotation from Luke 10:7.
nlay your hands on The laying on of hands had many purposes, including the giving of a blessing, power, or authority.