Verse 2
2. Believing masters Whose servants were not under the yoke. Each one was “not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved.” Philemon 1:16. The forms of subordination remained; the Roman statutes were still in legal force; but the servant was no longer a slave.
Let them The servants.
Not despise Set at naught the authority of them, the masters.
Because That is, under the pretext that they, the masters, are brethren Are Christians, and so bound to release them.
But rather do them service And in the same form of servitude, yet under a new principle and law, the law, namely, of Christian love. Note, 1 Corinthians 7:21. That is, serve them, (literally, rendered) because the partakers or receivers of the benefit of your service, namely, the masters, are faithful and beloved. Those whom you once served compulsorily under the law of slavery continue now to serve voluntarily, under the law of gospel freedom. Teach, in principle, and exhort, urge, in practice. These words close the topic in hand, as in 1 Timothy 4:11; 1 Timothy 4:13-14.
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