Bible Verses About Ministers

Perhaps you think that all this time we have been defending ourselves before you. No, we have been speaking in the sight of God, as those united with the Messiah should; and, my dear friends, it is all for your upbuilding.

I write these things while away from you, so that when I am with you I will not have to use my authority to deal sharply with you, for the Lord gave it to me for building up and not for tearing down.

Now does that sound as if I were trying to win human approval? No! I want God’s approval! Or that I’m trying to cater to people? If I were still doing that, I would not be a servant of the Messiah.

and even though my physical condition must have tempted you to treat me with scorn, you did not display any sign of disdain or disgust. No, you welcomed me as if I had been an angel of God, as if I had been the Messiah Yeshua himself!

But whoever is being instructed in the Word should share all the good things he has with his instructor.

For this reason, I fall on my knees before the Father,

Their task is to equip God’s people for the work of service that builds the body of the Messiah,

And pray for me, too, that whenever I open my mouth, the words will be given to me to be bold in making known the secret of the Good News,

Now, so that you may also be informed about how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus, the dear brother and a faithful worker for the Lord, will tell you everything.

I thank my God every time I think of you.

Whenever I pray for all of you I always pray with joy,

It is right for me to think this way about you all, because I have you on my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and establishing the Good News, you are all sharing with me in this privileged work.

True, some are proclaiming the Messiah out of jealousy and rivalry, but others are doing it in goodwill.

The latter act from love, aware that I am put where I am for defending the Good News;

while the former announce the Messiah out of selfish ambition, with impure motives, supposing they can stir up trouble for me in prison.

It all accords with my earnest expectation and hope that I will have nothing to be ashamed of; but rather, now, as always, the Messiah will be honored by my body, whether it is alive or dead.

For to me, life is the Messiah, and death is gain.

But you know his character, that like a child with his father he slaved with me to advance the Good News.

and I am confident in the Lord that before long I myself will come too.

So give him a joyful welcome in the Lord; honor such people.

Brothers, join in imitating me, and pay attention to those who live according to the pattern we have set for you.

I also request you, loyal Syzygus, to help these women; for they have worked hard proclaiming the Good News with me, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow-workers whose names are in the Book of Life.

Therefore, from the day we heard of it, we have not stopped praying for you, asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will in all the wisdom and understanding which the Spirit gives;

And tell Archippus, “See that you complete the task you were given in the Lord.”

For the appeal we make does not flow from error or from impure motives, neither do we try to trick people.