As each onehas receiveda [special] gift,employ it in servingone anotheras goodstewardsof the manifoldgraceof God.
justas the Sonof Mandid not cometo be served,but to serve,and to giveHis lifea ransomfor many."
"Thisgospelof the kingdomshall be preachedin the wholeworldas a testimonyto allthe nations,and thenthe endwill come.
"For thenthere will be a greattribulation,suchas has not occurredsincethe beginningof the worlduntilnow,noreverwill.
"Whothenis the faithfuland sensibleslavewhomhis masterput in chargeof his householdto givethem their foodat the proper time?
"In the same mannerthe one who [had received] the two[talents] gainedtwomore.
"Thenthey themselvesalsowill answer,'Lord,whendid we seeYou hungry,orthirsty,ora stranger,ornaked,orsick,orin prison,and did not take careof You?'
"For eventhe Sonof Mandid not cometo be served,but to serve,and to giveHis lifea ransomfor many."
And the Lordsaid,"Whothenis the faithfuland sensiblesteward,whomhis masterwill put in chargeof his servants,to givethem their rationsat the proper time?
"And he calledtenof his slaves,and gavethem tenminasand saidto them, 'Do business[with this] untilI come[back].'
and Joannathe wifeof Chuza,Herod'ssteward,and Susanna,and manyotherswhowere contributing to their supportout of their private means.
but now,I am goingto Jerusalemservingthe saints.
Yes,they were pleased[to do so], and they are indebtedto them. For ifthe Gentileshave sharedin their spiritual things,they are indebtedto ministerto them alsoin material things.
But by the graceof GodI amwhatI am,and His gracetowardme did not provevain;but I laboredeven morethan allof them, yetnot I, but the graceof Godwith me.
Accordingto the graceof Godwhich was givento me, likea wisemaster builderI laida foundation,and anotheris buildingon it. But each manmust be carefulhowhe buildson it.
For whoregards you as superior?Whatdo you havethat you did not receive?And ifyou did receiveit, whydo you boastas ifyou had not receivedit?
And working together[with Him], we alsourgeyou not to receivethe graceof Godin vain--
For it is superfluousfor me to writeto you aboutthisministryto the saints;
To me, the very leastof allsaints,thisgracewas given,to preachto the Gentilesthe unfathomablerichesof Christ,
And He gavesome[as] apostles,and some[as] prophets,and some[as] evangelists,and some[as] pastorsand teachers,
the Lordgrantto him to findmercyfrom the Lordon that day--and you knowvery wellwhatservices he renderedat Ephesus.
For the overseermustbe above reproachas God'ssteward,not self-willed,not quick-tempered,not addicted to wine,not pugnacious,not fond of sordid gain,
For Godis not unjustso as to forgetyour workand the lovewhichyou have showntowardHis name,in having ministeredand in still ministeringto the saints.
After you have sufferedfor a little while,the Godof allgrace,who calledyou to His eternalgloryin Christ,will Himselfperfect,confirm,strengthen[and] establishyou.
ThroughSilvanus,our faithfulbrother(for soI regard[him]), I have writtento you briefly,exhortingand testifyingthat thisis the true graceof God.Stand firmin it!
