17 Let the elders ^zwho rule well be considered worthy of ^adouble honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, ^b“You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, ^c“The laborer deserves his wages.”

2 Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are ^qbrothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved.

^rTeach and urge these things. 3 If anyone ^steaches a different doctrine and does not agree with ^tthe sound¹ words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching ^uthat accords with godliness, 4 ^vhe is puffed up with conceit and ^wunderstands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for ^xcontroversy and for ^yquarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction among people ^zwho are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, ^aimagining that godliness is a means of gain.