But we requestof you, brethren,that you appreciatethosewho diligently laboramongyou, and have charge overyou in the Lordand give you instruction,
"Stayin that house,eatingand drinkingwhat they giveyou; for the laboreris worthyof his wages.Do not keep movingfrom houseto house.
"I sentyou to reapthat for whichyou have not labored;othershave laboredand you have enteredinto their labor."
"Be on guardfor yourselvesand for allthe flock,amongwhichthe HolySpirithas madeyou overseers,to shepherdthe churchof GodwhichHe purchasedwith His ownblood.
"In everythingI showedyou that by working hardin this manneryou musthelpthe weakand rememberthe wordsof the LordJesus,that He Himselfsaid,'It is moreblessedto givethanto receive.'"
GreetTryphaenaand Tryphosa,workersin the Lord.GreetPersisthe beloved,whohas workedhardin the Lord.
GreetMary,whohas workedhardfor you.
And Godhas appointedin the church,firstapostles,secondprophets,thirdteachers,thenmiracles,thengiftsof healings,helps,administrations,[various] kindsof tongues.
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.
that you alsobe in subjectionto such menand to everyonewho helps in the workand labors.
For they have refreshedmy spiritand yours.Thereforeacknowledgesuch men.
For we are God'sfellow workers;you are God'sfield,God'sbuilding.
Are they servantsof Christ?--I speakas if insane--I more so;in far morelabors,in far moreimprisonments,beatentimes without number,oftenin danger of death.
Thereforewe alsohave as our ambition,whetherat homeorabsent,to be pleasingto Him.
And working together[with Him], we alsourgeyou not to receivethe graceof Godin vain--
I fearfor you, that perhapsI have laboredoveryou in vain.
holding fastthe wordof life,sothat in the dayof ChristI will have reason to glorybecauseI did not runin vainnortoilin vain.
But I hopein the LordJesusto sendTimothyto you shortly,sothat I alsomay be encouragedwhen I learnof your condition.
For thispurpose alsoI labor,strivingaccordingto His power, which mightilyworkswithinme.
For you recall,brethren,our laborand hardship,[how] workingnightand daysoas not to be a burdento anyof you, we proclaimedto you the gospelof God.
Finallythen,brethren,we requestand exhortyou in the LordJesus,that as you receivedfrom us [instruction] as to howyou oughtto walkand pleaseGod(justas you actuallydo walk),that you excelstill more.
We urgeyou, brethren,admonishthe unruly,encouragethe fainthearted,helpthe weak,be patientwith everyone.
Do not sharply rebukean older man,but [rather] appealto [him] as a father,[to] the younger menas brothers,
Thosewho continue in sin,rebukein the presenceof all,sothat the restalsowill be fearful[of sinning].
The hard-workingfarmeroughtto be the firstto receive his shareof the crops.
but at the propertimemanifested,[even] His word,in the proclamationwith whichI was entrustedaccordingto the commandmentof Godour Savior,
For thisreasonI leftyou in Crete,that you would set in orderwhat remainsand appointeldersin everycityas I directedyou,
These thingsspeakand exhortand reprovewith allauthority.Let no onedisregardyou.
Obeyyour leadersand submit[to them], for they keep watchoveryour soulsas those who will givean account.Let them dothiswith joyand not with grief,for thiswould be unprofitablefor you.
Rememberthosewho ledyou, whospokethe wordof Godto you; and consideringthe resultof their conduct,imitatetheir faith.
"As for the mysteryof the sevenstarswhichyou sawin My right hand,and the sevengoldenlampstands:the sevenstarsare the angelsof the sevenchurches,and the sevenlampstandsare the sevenchurches.
"And to the angelof the churchin Pergamumwrite:The One who hasthe sharptwo-edgedswordsaysthis:
"And to the angelof the churchin Thyatirawrite:The Sonof God,who haseyeslikea flameof fire,and His feetare likeburnished bronze,saysthis:
and you haveperseveranceand have enduredfor My name'ssake,and have not grown weary.
"And to the angelof the churchin Smyrnawrite:The firstand the last,whowas dead,and has come to life,saysthis:
"To the angelof the churchin Sardiswrite:He who hasthe sevenSpiritsof Godand the sevenstars,saysthis:I knowyour deeds,that you havea namethat you are alive,but you are dead.
"To the angelof the churchin Laodiceawrite:The Amen,the faithfuland true Witness,the Beginningof the creationof God,saysthis:
"And to the angelof the churchin Philadelphiawrite:He who is holy,who is true,who hasthe keyof David,who opensand noonewill shut,and who shutsand no oneopens,saysthis:
