²¹ Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so.

¹¹ Here there is no Gentile or Jew,^(A) circumcised or uncircumcised,^(B) barbarian, Scythian, slave or free,^(C) but Christ is all,^(D) and is in all.

¹⁸ Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters,^(A) not only to those who are good and considerate,^(B) but also to those who are harsh. ¹⁹ For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.^{(C) 20} But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.^{(D) 21} To this^(E) you were called,^(F) because Christ suffered for you,^(G) leaving you an example,^(H) that you should follow in his steps.

²³ When they hurled their insults at him,^(K) he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats.^(L) Instead, he entrusted himself^(M) to him who judges justly.^{(N) 24} “He himself bore our sins”^(O) in his body on the cross,^(P) so that we might die to sins^(Q) and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”^(R)

¹³ For we were all baptized^(A) by^[a] one Spirit^(B) so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free^(C)—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.^(D)

²⁹ And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it.

⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care^(A) that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

⁴¹ “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried^(B) and upset about many things,

⁷ Cast all your anxiety on him^(A) because he cares for you.^(B)

⁵ Keep your lives free from the love of money^(A) and be content with what you have,^(B) because God has said,

6 All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect,^(A) so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered.^{(B) 2} Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers.^(C) Instead, they should serve them even better because their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the welfare^[a] of their slaves.

False Teachers and the Love of Money

These are the things you are to teach and insist on.^{(D) 3} If anyone teaches otherwise^(E) and does not agree to the sound instruction^(F) of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching,