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OET (OET-LV) And the_ believing _ones having masters, them_let_ not _be_despising, because they_are brothers, but rather them _let_be_serving, because they_are believing and beloved, who are benefitting from_their good_work.
Be_teaching these things and be_exhorting.
OET (OET-RV) and the ones having masters who are also believers shouldn’t despise their masters because we’re all brothers. On the contrary, let them serve well because the ones benefitting from their good work are beloved believers.
¶ Those principles are what you should be teaching and encouraging the believers to do.
Paul next told Timothy what he should teach believers who were slaves. Some slaves who had become Christians seem to have started to disrespect or disobey their masters. Perhaps they felt that they should only obey God and that they no longer had to obey their masters. Paul told Timothy that he should teach slaves to respect their masters.
Those who have believing masters should not show disrespect
If their masters are believers in Christ,, then the slaves should not think that they can respect/obey them less than masters who do not believe
Those slaves who have masters who are also believers must be as respectful to them as to any master
Those who have believing masters: Here Paul talked about slaves whose masters were believers.
should not show disrespect: The Greek word that the BSB translates as show disrespect literally means “despise” or “look down on.” In other letters Paul commanded believing masters to be kind to their slaves (Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 4:1). Some slaves might try to take advantage of such kindness and therefore show them disrespect. Paul wanted to make sure that that did not happen.
because they are brothers,
because they are brothers in Christ.
because their masters are spiritually their brothers.
because they are brothers: There are two ways to understand this clause:
The word that the BSB translates as because introduces the reason that slaves might not respect their masters as they should. If both the slave and the master were believers, they were equal before Christ (Galatians 3:28). Therefore some slaves may have thought that they could treat their masters with less respect because they were equal. For example, the NCV says:
The slaves whose masters are believers should not show their masters any less respect because they are believers. (BSB, NCV, NIV, RSV, NJB, NASB, REB, NET, NLT)
The word that the BSB translates as because introduces the reason that slaves should not disrespect masters who were believers. They should respect them because they were also believers. For example, the GNT says:
Slaves belonging to Christian masters must not despise them, for they are believers, too. (GNT, CEV, KJV)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Later in this verse, Paul added the information in interpretation (2).
but should serve them all the more,
Instead, they should work even better/harder for them,
but: The Greek word that the BSB translates as but introduces the contrast Paul was making. Paul expected believing slaves to respect their unbelieving masters (6:1). Here he was contrasting that with the way he expected them to respect believing masters. He expected them to respect them more.
should serve them all the more: The word that the BSB translates as serve means “work for,” “obey,” or “do the work of a slave.”
all the more: Paul assumed that believing slaves knew that they needed to serve their unbelieving masters well. Here he said that believing slaves should serve their believing master even better than they would serve an unbelieving master.
since those receiving their good service
because the masters for whom they are working
since: The word that the BSB translates as since indicates that 6:2d–e gives a reason that slaves should especially work hard for Christian masters.
those receiving their good service: This refers to the masters for whom the slaves worked.
their good service: The Greek word that the BSB translates as good service literally means “act of kindness.” The slave was acting kindly toward his Christian master by working for him and helping him in practical ways.
are beloved believers.
are also believers, and they love them as brothers in Christ.
are beloved believers: If somebody is dear to a person, it means that the person loves him. The Greek text does not say who loved the masters. There are two interpretations:
The slaves loved the masters. For example, the NIV says:
dear to them (NIV, GNT, NCV, GW)
God or Christ loved the masters. For example, the CEV says:
he loves them (CEV, NJB)
Some English versions are ambiguous. It is true that God and Christ loved the masters. However, it is more likely in this context that Paul was talking about love between believers. So it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Paul was saying that if Christian slaves had Christian masters, they should show that they loved them by serving them well.
In some languages, it is necessary to state the reason for something before the conclusion. If this is true in your language, you may need to place 6:2c after 6:2d–e. One possibility is:
2dThe masters whom they serve 2eare believers, and the slaves love them as they love other believers. 2cThat is why they should serve them even better.
Most English versions begin a new paragraph here because these verse parts refer to all believers, not just the slaves whom Paul had been talking about in 6:1–2.
Teach and encourage these principles.
¶ Teach the believers these things which I am writing to you and encourage them to do them.
Teach and encourage these principles: Paul was referring to what he had written from 5:3 to 6:2e.
and encourage: Paul wanted Timothy not only to teach believers these things, but also to exhort them to obey these things.
Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases
δὲ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: οἱ Δέ πιστούς ἔχοντες δεσπότας μή καταφρονείτωσαν ὅτι ἀδελφοί εἰσίν ἀλλά μᾶλλον δουλευέτωσαν ὅτι πιστοί εἰσίν καί ἀγαπητοί οἱ τῆς εὐεργεσίας ἀντιλαμβανόμενοι ταῦτα Δίδασκε καί παρακάλει)
Here, the word But introduces a command that is related to what Paul said in the previous verse. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces a related command, or you could leave But untranslated. Alternate translation: [Further,] or [More specifically,]
Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result
μὴ καταφρονείτωσαν, ὅτι ἀδελφοί εἰσιν
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: οἱ Δέ πιστούς ἔχοντες δεσπότας μή καταφρονείτωσαν ὅτι ἀδελφοί εἰσίν ἀλλά μᾶλλον δουλευέτωσαν ὅτι πιστοί εἰσίν καί ἀγαπητοί οἱ τῆς εὐεργεσίας ἀντιλαμβανόμενοι ταῦτα Δίδασκε καί παρακάλει)
Here, the word translated as because could introduce: (1) the reason why slaves might despise their believing masters. Alternate translation: [let them not, since they are brothers, despise them] (2) the reason why slaves should not despise their believing masters. Alternate translation: [because they are brothers, let them not despite them]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / imperative3p
μὴ καταφρονείτωσαν & δουλευέτωσαν
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: οἱ Δέ πιστούς ἔχοντες δεσπότας μή καταφρονείτωσαν ὅτι ἀδελφοί εἰσίν ἀλλά μᾶλλον δουλευέτωσαν ὅτι πιστοί εἰσίν καί ἀγαπητοί οἱ τῆς εὐεργεσίας ἀντιλαμβανόμενοι ταῦτα Δίδασκε καί παρακάλει)
If your language does not use the third-person imperative in this way, you could state this in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [they must not despise them … they must serve them]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
ἀδελφοί
brothers
Paul is using the term brothers to mean people who share the same faith. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [believers]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations
ἀδελφοί
brothers
Although the term brothers is masculine, Paul is using the word in a generic sense that includes both men and women. If you retain the metaphor in your translation, and if it would be helpful in your language, you could say “brothers and sisters” to indicate this.
Note 6 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result
ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον δουλευέτωσαν, ὅτι πιστοί εἰσιν καὶ ἀγαπητοὶ, οἱ τῆς εὐεργεσίας ἀντιλαμβανόμενοι
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: οἱ Δέ πιστούς ἔχοντες δεσπότας μή καταφρονείτωσαν ὅτι ἀδελφοί εἰσίν ἀλλά μᾶλλον δουλευέτωσαν ὅτι πιστοί εἰσίν καί ἀγαπητοί οἱ τῆς εὐεργεσίας ἀντιλαμβανόμενοι ταῦτα Δίδασκε καί παρακάλει)
If it would be more natural in your language, you could reverse the order of these clauses, since the second clause gives the reason for the command that the first clause gives. Alternate translation: [but rather, because the ones taking the benefaction are believers and beloved, let them serve them]
Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
μᾶλλον δουλευέτωσαν
rather ˱them˲_˓let_be˒_serving
Here, the word translated rather could: (1) introduce what the slaves should do instead of despising their masters. Alternate translation: [let them serve them instead] (2) indicate that slaves should serve believing masters even better than they might serve unbelieving masters. Alternate translation: [let them serve them more] or [let them serve them even better]
Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
οἱ τῆς εὐεργεσίας ἀντιλαμβανόμενοι
the_‹ones› who_‹are› ˱from˲_their good_work benefitting
Here Paul could be indicating that: (1) the masters receive benefaction from the slaves. Since benefaction was usually something that someone with money and resources gave to someone without those things, Paul is indicating that believing slaves can actually function as benefactors for their believing masters. Alternate translation: [the ones for whom their slaves function as benefactors] or [the ones for whom their slaves do good] (2) the masters give benefaction to their slaves. Alternate translation: [the ones functioning as benefactors for their slaves] or [the ones doing good for their slaves] (3) the masters and slaves together give benefaction to others. Alternate translation: [the ones sharing with them in benefaction]
Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
οἱ τῆς εὐεργεσίας ἀντιλαμβανόμενοι
the_‹ones› who_‹are› ˱from˲_their good_work benefitting
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of benefaction, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [the ones who are benefited]
Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
ἀγαπητοὶ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: οἱ Δέ πιστούς ἔχοντες δεσπότας μή καταφρονείτωσαν ὅτι ἀδελφοί εἰσίν ἀλλά μᾶλλον δουλευέτωσαν ὅτι πιστοί εἰσίν καί ἀγαπητοί οἱ τῆς εὐεργεσίας ἀντιλαμβανόμενοι ταῦτα Δίδασκε καί παρακάλει)
If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you need to say who did the action, you could indicate that it is: (1) God. Alternate translation: [those whom God loves] (2) other believers, including the slaves. Alternate translation: [those whom believers love] or [those whom the slaves love]
Note 11 topic: figures-of-speech / extrainfo
ταῦτα
these_‹things›
Here, the phrase these things refers back to the instructions that Paul has given to Timothy. These instructions could be the ones in [6:1–2](../06/01.md), [5:3–6:2](../05/03.md), or even the whole letter so far. Since Paul used a general phrase, if possible you should use a general phrase that could refer to any of these sections. Alternate translation: [what I have said to you] or [these instructions]
OET (OET-LV) And the_ believing _ones having masters, them_let_ not _be_despising, because they_are brothers, but rather them _let_be_serving, because they_are believing and beloved, who are benefitting from_their good_work.
Be_teaching these things and be_exhorting.
OET (OET-RV) and the ones having masters who are also believers shouldn’t despise their masters because we’re all brothers. On the contrary, let them serve well because the ones benefitting from their good work are beloved believers.
¶ Those principles are what you should be teaching and encouraging the believers to do.
Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.
Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.