Urge slaves to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be pleasing, not argumentative,
Parallel translations
- WEB Exhort servants to be in subjection to their own masters, and to be well-pleasing in all things; not contradicting;
- KJV Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;
- BSB Slaves are to submit to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative,
- NKJV Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back,
- NLT Slaves must always obey their masters and do their best to please them. They must not talk back
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Bondservants are to submit to their masters, aiming to please them well and not talk back. It matters because faithful service in one's station can powerfully commend the gospel.
Overview
Paul addresses servants, urging willing, respectful submission within the realities of that society. While Scripture elsewhere undermines the foundations of slavery, here Paul instructs believers to live faithfully where they are. Their obedient, agreeable conduct becomes a testimony, as the next verse explains.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- 1 Pet 2:18–25Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the wicked.
- 1 Tim 6:1–2Let as many as are bondservants under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and the doctrine not be blasphemed.
- Eph 6:5–8Servants, be obedient to those who according to the flesh are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as to Christ;
- Col 3:22–25Servants, obey in all things those who are your masters according to the flesh, not just when they are looking, as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God.
- Eph 5:24But as the assembly is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their own husbands in everything.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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Christ at the center
We await 'the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us' and purify a people of his own.
How Titus 2:9 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.