Slaves and Masters

⁵ Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect^[a] and trembling, in singleness of heart, as you obey Christ,^{(A) 6} not with a slavery performed merely for looks, to please people, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the soul. ⁷ Render service with enthusiasm, as for the Lord and not for humans, ⁸ knowing that whatever good we do, we will receive the same again from the Lord, whether we are enslaved or free.

⁹ And, masters,^[b] do the same to them. Stop threatening them, for you know that both of you have the same Lord^[c] in heaven, and with him there is no partiality.^(B)

²² Slaves, obey your earthly masters^[a] in everything, not with a slavery performed merely for looks, to please people, but wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord.^{[b](A) 23} Whatever task you must do, work as if your soul depends on it, as for the Lord and not for humans, ²⁴ since you know that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you serve the Lord Christ.^{(B) 25} For the wrongdoer will be paid back for whatever wrong has been done, and there is no partiality.^(C) 4 ¹ Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, for you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

6 Let all who are under the yoke of slavery regard their masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be blasphemed.^{(A) 2} Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful to them on the ground that they are brothers and sisters; rather, they must serve them all the more, since those who benefit by their service are believers and beloved.^[a]

False Teaching and True Riches

Teach and urge these duties.^(B)

⁹ Urge slaves to be submissive to their masters in everything, to be pleasing, not talking back,^{(A) 10} not stealing, but showing complete and perfect fidelity, so that in everything they may be an ornament to the teaching of God our Savior.

The Example of Christ’s Suffering

¹⁸ Slaves, be subject to your masters with all respect,^[a] not only those who are good and gentle but also those who are dishonest. ¹⁹ For it is a commendable thing if, being aware of God, a person endures pain while suffering unjustly. ²⁰ If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do good and suffer for it, this is a commendable thing before God.^(A)