if indeed ¹  you have heard of the stewardship ²  of God’s grace that was given to me for you,

I became a servant of the church according to the stewardship ¹  from God – given to me for you – in order to complete ²  the word of God,

For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward. But if I do it unwillingly, I am entrusted with a responsibility.

So ¹  he called the manager ²  in and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? ³  Turn in the account of your administration, ⁴  because you can no longer be my manager.’

I know ¹  what to do so that when I am put out of management, people will welcome me into their homes.’ ² 

And tell Archippus, “See to it that you complete the ministry you received in the Lord.”

Then ¹  the manager said to himself, ‘What should I do, since my master is taking my position ²  away from me? I’m not strong enough to dig, ³  and I’m too ashamed ⁴  to beg.

nor to occupy themselves with myths and interminable genealogies. ¹  Such things promote useless speculations rather than God’s redemptive plan ²  that operates by faith.

I am grateful to the one who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me faithful in putting me into ministry,