Study Desk

(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?)

if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

If any woman who is a believer has widows in her family, she should help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need.

The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.

To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker, to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church that meets in your home:

to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect,

Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.

They have told the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.

I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us.

So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, gossiping maliciously about us. Not satisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.

"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands:

"To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.

"To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:These are the words of him who has the sharp, doubleedged sword.

"To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze.

"To the angel of the church in Sardis write:These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.

"To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.

"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation.