Bible verses about "gatekeepers" | Williams

¹ So, as a joint-elder with them, a witness of the suffering borne by Christ, and a sharer of the glory that is to be uncovered, I beg the elders among you, ² be shepherds of the flock of God that is among you, not as though you had to but of your own free will, not from the motive of personal profit but freely, ³ and not as domineering over those in your charge but proving yourselves models for the flock to imitate; ⁴ and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the glorious crown that never fades. ⁵ You younger men, on your part, must be submissive to the elders. And you must all put on the servant's apron of humility to one another, because God opposes the haughty but bestows His unmerited favor on the humble. ⁶ Therefore humbly submit to God's strong hand, so that at the proper time He may exalt you. ⁷ Cast every worry you have upon Him, because He cares for you. ⁸ Be calm and alert. Your opponent the devil is always prowling about like a roaring lion, trying to devour you. ⁹ Resist him and be strong in faith, because you know that your brotherhood all over the world is experiencing the same sort of sufferings. ¹⁰ And God, the giver of every spiritual blessing, who through your union with Christ has called you to His eternal glory, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself make you perfect, firm, and strong, ¹¹ To Him be dominion forever. Amen. ¹² By Silvanus, our faithful brother, as I regard him, I have written you this short letter, to encourage you and to testify that this is the true, unmerited favor of God. Stand firm in it. ¹³ Your sister-church in Babylon, chosen along with you, and Mark my son, wish to be remembered to you. ¹⁴ Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you that are in union with Christ.

¹ Come now, you rich people, weep aloud and howl over the miseries that are sure to overtake you. ² Your wealth has rotted, your clothes are moth-eaten, ³ your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will testify against you and devour your flesh like fire. You have stored up these things for the last days. ⁴ See, the wages that you have kept back from the laborers who reaped your fields are crying aloud, and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. ⁵ Here on earth you have lived in luxury and self-indulgence; you have fattened your hearts for the day of slaughter. ⁶ You have condemned and murdered the upright man; he offers no resistance. ⁷ So be patient, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer keeps on waiting and waiting for the precious crop from his land; how he keeps up his patience over it until he gets the early and late rains, ⁸ You must be patient, too; you must put iron into your hearts, because the coming of the Lord is close at hand. ⁹ Stop muttering against one another, brothers, so as to keep from being judged yourselves. Look! The Judge is standing at the very door. ¹⁰ As an example of ill-treatment and patience, brothers, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord. ¹¹ See how we call those who thus endured happy! You have heard how patiently Job endured and have seen how the Lord finally blessed him, because the Lord is tenderhearted and merciful. ¹² Above all, my brothers, stop swearing, either by heaven or by the earth, or by anything else. Let your "Yes" mean Yes, and your "No," No, so as to keep from falling under condemnation. ¹³ Is any one of you suffering ill-treatment? He should keep on praying. Is anyone in a happy mood? He should keep on singing praise to God. ¹⁴ Is anyone sick among you? He should call in the elders of the church, and they should pray over him, and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord, ¹⁵ and the prayer that is offered in faith will save the sick man; the Lord will raise him to health, and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. ¹⁶ So practice confessing your sins to one another, and praying for one another, that you may be cured. An upright man's prayer, when it keeps at work, is very powerful. ¹⁷ Elijah was a man with feelings just like ours, and yet he earnestly prayed for it not to rain, and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. ¹⁸ Then again he prayed, and the heavens yielded rain and the earth produced its crops. ¹⁹ My brothers, if any one of you has wandered away from the truth, and someone brings him back, ²⁰ you may be sure that whoever brings a sinner back from his evil ways will save the man's soul from death, and cover up a multitude of sins.

¹ First of all, then, I urge that entreaties, prayers, and thanksgiving be offered for all men, ² for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead peaceful, quiet lives in perfect piety and seriousness. ³ This is the right thing to do and it pleases God our Saviour, ⁴ who is ever willing for all mankind to be saved and to come to an increasing knowledge of the truth. ⁵ For there is but one God and one intermediary between God and men, the man Christ Jesus ⁶ who gave Himself as a ransom for all, a fact that was testified to at the proper time, ⁷ and for which purpose I was appointed a preacher and an apostle -- I am telling the truth, I am not lying, -- a teacher of the heathen in the realm of faith and truth. ⁸ So I want the men everywhere to offer prayer, lifting to heaven holy hands which are kept unstained by anger and dissensions. ⁹ I want the women, on their part, to dress becomingly, that is, modestly and sensibly, not adorning themselves with braided hair and gold or pearls or expensive dresses, ¹⁰ but with good deeds; for this is appropriate for women who profess to be pious. ¹¹ A married woman must learn in quiet and in perfect submission. ¹² I do not permit a married woman to practice teaching or domineering over a husband; she must keep quiet. ¹³ For Adam was formed first, and then Eve; ¹⁴ and it was not Adam who was deceived, but it was the woman who was utterly deceived and fell into transgression. ¹⁵ But women will be saved through motherhood, if they continue to live in faith, love, and purity, blended with good sense.