Letters to the Churches

For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and, “The worker is worthy of his wages.”

Do not entertain an accusation against an elder, except on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

But those who persist in sin should be rebuked in front of everyone, so that the others will stand in fear of sin.

I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to maintain these principles without bias, and to do nothing out of partiality.

Do not be too quick in the laying on of hands and thereby share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.

Stop drinking only water and use a little wine instead, because of your stomach and your frequent ailments.

The sins of some men are obvious, going ahead of them to judgment; but the sins of others do not surface until later.

In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even the ones that are inconspicuous cannot remain hidden.

All who are under the yoke of slavery should regard their masters as fully worthy of honor, so that God’s name and our teaching will not be discredited.

Those who have believing masters should not show disrespect because they are brothers, but should serve them all the more, since those receiving their good service are beloved believers. Teach and encourage these principles.

If anyone teaches another doctrine and disagrees with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and with godly teaching,

he is conceited and understands nothing. Instead, he has an unhealthy interest in controversies and semantics, out of which come envy, strife, abusive talk, evil suspicions,

and constant friction between men of depraved mind who are devoid of the truth. These men regard godliness as a means of gain.

Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain.

For we brought nothing into the world, so we cannot carry anything out of it.

But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.

Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.

For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession before many witnesses.

I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who made the good confession in His testimony before Pontius Pilate:

Keep this commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ,

which the blessed and only Sovereign One—the King of kings and Lord of lords—will bring about in His own time.

He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. No one has ever seen Him, nor can anyone see Him. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.

Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy.