Let 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.
The ancient empire was built upon slavery, at that time a world-wide institution, recognized and practiced in every nation under heaven.  That slaves formed a considerable portion of all the congregations of Paul's day may be inferred from the extensive teachings on the subject in  1 Corinthians 7:21-24; 12:13;  Ephesians 6:5:8;  Colossians 3:11,22;  1 Peter 2:18 and also in  1 Corinthians 1:27-29.