The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching & teaching. For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” & “The worker deserves his wages.” Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning. I charge you, in the sight of God & Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, & to do nothing out of favoritism. Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, & do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. Stop drinking only water, & use a little wine because of your stomach & your frequent illnesses. The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, & even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever. 1 Timothy 5:17-25 NIV
Posted on: Fri, 19 Sep 2014 10:38:54 +0000