(1 Timothy 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9)
1
Elders who [are] among you, I exhort [you], [as] a fellow-elder, and a witness of the sufferings of the Christ, and a partaker of the glory about to be revealed,
2
feed the flock of God that [is] among you, overseeing not by compulsion, but willingly, neither for shameful gain, but eagerly,
3
neither as exercising lordship over the heritages, but becoming patterns for the flock,
4
and the Chief Shepherd having appeared, you will receive the unfading garland of glory.
Cast Your Cares on Him
5
In like manner, you young [ones], be subject to elders, and all subjecting yourselves to one another; clothe yourselves with humble-mindedness, because God resists the proud, but He gives grace to the humble;
6
be humbled, then, under the powerful hand of God, that He may exalt you in good time,
7
having cast all your care on Him, because He cares for you.
8
Be sober, vigilant, because your opponent the Devil walks around as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may swallow up,
9
whom you must resist, steadfast in the faith, having known the same sufferings of your brotherhood to be accomplished in the world.
Benediction and Farewell
10
And the God of all grace, who called you to His perpetual glory in Christ Jesus, having suffered a little, Himself make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle [you];
11
to Him [is] the glory and the power through the ages and the ages! Amen.
12
Through Silvanus, the faithful brother as I reckon, I wrote through few [words] to you, exhorting and testifying this to be the true grace of God in which you have stood.
13
She in Babylon chosen with you greets you, and my son Marcus.
14
Greet one another in a kiss of love. Peace to you all who [are] in Christ Jesus! Amen.
Copyright © 2020 Covenant Press and the CCC - licensed under CC BY-SA