Chapter 23

1What, then, do you say concerning servants? Let them be prudent and serve their masters in the fear of God. If a servant is a Christian and his master an unbeliever, he should nevertheless serve him in everything, but let him have no fellowship with him in matters of faith. In the same way, let masters love their servants.

2If a servant’s master is a believer, let the servant serve him, fear him as God, and regard him as a father and a good master. For this he shall receive a good reward for the service with which he has served his master. If a master has a servant who is a believer, and the servant does his will, let the master love him as his son and regard him as his brother because of their love of the faith.

3Humble yourselves and obey kings and princes who fear God, for they are God’s ministers. Fear those who are set in authority, as is fitting, and offer them from what you possess, with honor and obedience, for God has commanded this. Make no excuses for yourselves, but rather love one another, just as the Lord God has commanded through his Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.