Submission to Established Authority

13 Subject yourselves to every human authority for the sake of the Lord, whether to a king[fn] as having supreme authority, 14 or to governors as those sent out by him for the punishment of those who do evil and the praise of those who do good. 15 For the will of God is as follows: by[fn] doing good to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Live as free persons, and not using your[fn] freedom as a covering for evil, but as slaves of God. 17 Honor all people, love the community of believers, fear God, honor the king.[fn]

18 Domestic slaves, be subject to your[fn] masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unjust. 19 For this finds favor, if because of consciousness of God someone endures sorrows while[fn] suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you[fn] sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if you endure when you[fn] do good and suffer for it, this finds favor with God. 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his footsteps, 22 who did not commit sin, nor was deceit found in his mouth,[fn] 23 who when he[fn] was reviled, did not revile in return; when[fn] suffering, he did not threaten, but entrusted himself to the one who judges justly, 24 who himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we may die to sins and live to righteousness, by whose wounds you were healed. 25 For you were going astray like sheep, but you have turned back now to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.