^11 (A)It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.”

¹⁹ because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and ^[a]is eliminated?” (Thus He declared ^(A)all foods ^(B)clean.)

¹⁴ I know and am convinced ^[a]in the Lord Jesus that ^(A)nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who ^(B)thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

^25 (A)Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience’ sake; ^26 (B)for the earth is the Lord’s, and ^[a]all it contains. ²⁷ If ^(C)one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, ^(D)eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience’ sake. ²⁸ But ^(E)if anyone says to you, “This is meat sacrificed to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience’ sake; ²⁹ I mean not your own conscience, but the other man’s; for ^(F)why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience? ³⁰ If I partake with thankfulness, ^(G)why am I slandered concerning that for which I ^(H)give thanks?

³¹ Whether, then, you eat or drink or ^(I)whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. ^32 (J)Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to ^(K)the church of God; ³³ just as I also ^(L)please all men in all things, ^(M)not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, ^(N)so that they may be saved.

⁴ For ^(A)everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is ^(B)received with gratitude; ⁵ for it is sanctified by means of ^(C)the word of God and prayer.

A Good Minister’s Discipline

⁶ In pointing out these things to ^(D)the brethren, you will be a good ^(E)servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the ^[a](F)sound doctrine which you ^(G)have been following. ⁷ But ^[b]have nothing to do with ^(H)worldly ^(I)fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of ^(J)godliness; ⁸ for ^(K)bodily discipline is only of little profit, but ^(L)godliness is profitable for all things, since it ^(M)holds promise for the ^(N)present life and also for the life to come. ^9 (O)It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. ¹⁰ For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed ^(P)our hope on ^(Q)the living God, who is ^(R)the Savior of all men, especially of believers.

^11 [c](S)Prescribe and teach these things. ^12 (T)Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, ^(U)love, faith and purity, show yourself ^(V)an example ^[d]of those who believe. ^13 (W)Until I come, give attention to the public ^(X)reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. ¹⁴ Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through ^(Y)prophetic utterance with ^(Z)the laying on of hands by the ^[e](AA)presbytery. ¹⁵ Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. ^16 (AB)Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ^[f](AC)ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.

^15 (A)To the pure, all things are pure; but ^(B)to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their ^(C)mind and their conscience are defiled.