¹⁶ no longer as a slave but more than a slave—a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the ^(A)flesh and in the Lord.

^8 (A)But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your ^[a]Teacher, ^[b]the Christ, and you are all brethren.

² And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.

^22 (A)Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.

The Enduring Word

²² Since you ^(A)have purified your souls in obeying the truth ^[a]through the Spirit in ^[b]sincere ^(B)love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, ^23 (C)having been born again, not of ^[c]corruptible seed but ^[d]incorruptible, ^(D)through the word of God which lives and abides ^[e]forever,

The Son Was Faithful

3 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,

Bondservants and Masters

^5 (A)Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, ^(B)with fear and trembling, ^(C)in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; ^6 (D)not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, ⁷ with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men,

²⁸ Now ^(A)we, brethren, as Isaac was, are ^(B)children of promise. ²⁹ But, as ^(C)he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, ^(D)even so it is now.

²² For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is ^(A)the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is ^(B)Christ’s slave.