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,

^18 (A)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, ^(B)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 ^(C)if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. ²¹ For ^(D)to this you have been called, ^(E)because Christ also suffered for you, ^(F)leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

^9 (A)Bondservants^[a] are to be submissive to their own masters ^(B)in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, ¹⁰ not pilfering, ^(C)but showing all good faith, ^(D)so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

¹⁷ And ^(A)whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, ^(B)giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Rules for Christian Households

^18 (C)Wives, submit to your husbands, as ^(D)is fitting in the Lord. ¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives, and ^(E)do not be harsh with them. ²⁰ Children, obey your parents ^(F)in everything, for this pleases the Lord. ²¹ Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. ²² Bondservants, obey ^(G)in everything those who are your earthly masters,^[a] not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. ^23 (H)Whatever you do, work heartily, ^(I)as for the Lord and not for men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord ^(J)you will receive the inheritance as your reward. ^(K)You are serving the Lord Christ.

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. ² Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are ^(C)brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved.

False Teachers and True Contentment

^(D)Teach and urge these things. ³ If anyone ^(E)teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with ^(F)the sound^[b] words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching ^(G)that accords with godliness,

Wives and Husbands

^22 (A)Wives, ^(B)submit to your own husbands, ^(C)as to the Lord.

The Priests' Polluted Offerings

^6 (A)“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am ^(B)a father, where is my honor? And if I am ^(C)a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. ^(D)But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’

² when they see your ^(A)respectful and pure conduct.

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