6 ^(A)Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants^[a] regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, ^(B)so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled.

^17 (A)Honor everyone. ^(B)Love the brotherhood. ^(C)Fear God. Honor the emperor.

^18 (D)Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. ¹⁹ For this is a gracious thing, when, ^(E)mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. ²⁰ For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But ^(F)if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.

⁵ to be self-controlled, ^(A)pure, ^(B)working at home, kind, and ^(C)submissive to their own husbands, ^(D)that the word of God may not be reviled.

²¹ Were you a bondservant^[a] when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) ²² For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is ^(A)a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is ^(B)a bondservant of Christ.

²⁴ For, ^(A)as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed ^(B)among the Gentiles because of you.”

⁸ and ^(A)sound speech that cannot be condemned, ^(B)so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. ^9 (C)Bondservants^[a] are to be submissive to their own masters ^(D)in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, ¹⁰ not pilfering, ^(E)but showing all good faith, ^(F)so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

Bondservants and Masters

^5 (A)Bondservants,^[a] obey your earthly masters^[b] with fear and trembling, ^(B)with a sincere heart, ^(C)as you would Christ, ⁶ not by the way of eye-service, as ^(D)people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, ⁷ rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, ^8 (E)knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, ^(F)whether he is a bondservant or is free.

^16 (A)having a good conscience, so that, ^(B)when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

^12 (A)Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, ^(B)they may see your good deeds and glorify God on ^(C)the day of visitation.