18. As the Scriptures say, “When a work animal is being used to separate grain, don’t keep it from eating the grain.” And the Scriptures also say, “A worker should be given his pay.”
19. Don’t listen to someone who accuses an elder. You should listen to them only if there are two or three others who can say what the elder did wrong.
20. Tell those who sin that they are wrong. Do this in front of the whole church so that the others will have a warning.
21. Before God and Jesus Christ and the chosen angels, I tell you to make these judgments without any prejudice. Treat every person the same.
22. Think carefully before you lay your hands on anyone to make him an elder. Don’t share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
23. Timothy, stop drinking only water, and drink a little wine. This will help your stomach, and you will not be sick so often.
24. The sins of some people are easy to see. Their sins show that they will be judged. But the sins of some others are seen only later.
25. It is the same with the good things people do. Some are easy to see. But even if they are not obvious now, none of them will stay hidden forever.