^2 (A)Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, ^(B)not by compulsion but ^[a]willingly, ^(C)not for dishonest gain but eagerly;

⁸ Heal the sick, ^[a]cleanse the lepers, ^[b]raise the dead, cast out demons. ^(A)Freely you have received, freely give.

^11 (A)“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. ¹² But a ^[a]hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and ^(B)leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. ¹³ The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.

An Invitation to Abundant Life

¹⁷ For we are not, as ^[a]so many, ^(A)peddling^[b] the word of God; but as ^(B)of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.

¹⁸ What is my reward then? That ^(A)when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel ^[a]of Christ without charge, that I ^(B)may not abuse my authority in the gospel.

⁵ For ^(A)neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a ^[a]cloak for covetousness—^(B)God is witness.

⁸ nor did we eat anyone’s bread ^[a]free of charge, but worked with ^(A)labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, ⁹ not because we do not have ^(B)authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.

¹⁰ For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.

³ By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction ^[a]does not slumber.