Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the wicked.
not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward: Slaves were at the mercy of their owners, especially if they had heathen masters. But they were to serve and do their duty, even for evil, overbearing masters. Servants were to be subject (hupotasso), "rank under" (same word as "submit yourselves" in verse 13) with all fear (Thayer, 645-2-5293). "All fear" surely includes fear of God and man (Ephesians 6:5). The service of those household slaves was to be the same regardless of the different kinds of masters over them. This teaching comes down to Christians today in that we have employer-employee relationships, and we are to perform our jobs diligently using these same principles. Christians, as good workers, may exert a positive influence, even on an unbelieving employer, if we live an exemplary life before him.