Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood.
In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring you ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Yeshua, that he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'*
God has set some in the assembly: first emissaries, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various kinds of languages.
But by the grace of God I am what I am. His grace which was bestowed on me was not futile, but I worked more than all of them; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
Are they servants of Messiah? (I speak as one beside himself) I am more so; in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths often.
For you remember, brothers, our labor and travail; for working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached to you the Good News of God.
Finally then, brothers, we beg and exhort you in the Lord Yeshua, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, that you abound more and more.
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch on behalf of your souls, as those who will give account, that they may do this with joy, and not with groaning, for that would be unprofitable for you.
the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden menorot. The seven stars are the angels of the seven assemblies. The seven menorot are seven assemblies.
*To the angel of the assembly in Thyatira write: *The Son of God, who has his eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet are like burnished brass, says these things:
*And to the angel of the assembly in Sardis write: *He who has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars says these things: *I know your works, that you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.
*To the angel of the assembly in Philadelphia write: *He who is holy, he who is true, he who has the key of David, he who opens and no one can shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says these things: