{4} Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all {c} things; not answering again;

(4) The seventh admonition, concerning the duty of servants to their masters.

(c) Which may be done without offence to God.

People's New Testament

Titus 2:9 Servants. Slaves. See notes on Eph 6:5-8. Many of the first converts were servants.

Wesley's Notes

2:9 Please them in all things - Wherein it can be done without sin. Not answering again - Though blamed unjustly. This honest servants are most apt to do. Not stealing - Not taking or giving any thing without their master's leave: this fair - spoken servants are apt to do.

King James Translators' Notes

answering...: or, gainsaying

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

9. servants-"slaves."

to please them well-"to give satisfaction" [Alford]. To be complaisant in everything; to have that zealous desire to gain the master's goodwill which will anticipate the master's wish and do even more than is required. The reason for the frequent recurrence of injunctions to slaves to subjection (Eph 6:5, &c.; Col 3:22; 1Ti 6:1, &c.; 1Pe 2:18) was, that in no rank was there more danger of the doctrine of the spiritual equality and freedom of Christians being misunderstood than in that of slaves. It was natural for the slave who had become a Christian, to forget his place and put himself on a social level with his master. Hence the charge for each to abide in the sphere in which he was when converted (1Co 7:20-24).

not answering again-in contradiction to the master: so the Greek, "not contradicting" [Wahl].

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

2:9,10 Servants must know and do their duty to their earthly masters, with a reference to their heavenly one. In serving an earthly master according to Christ's will, He is served; such shall be rewarded by him. Not giving disrespectful or provoking language; but to take a check or reproof with silence, not making confident or bold replies. When conscious of a fault, to excuse or justify it, doubles it. Never putting to their own use that which is their master's, nor wasting the goods they are trusted with. Showing all good fidelity to improve a master's goods, and promote his thriving. If ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own? Lu 16:12. True religion is an honour to the professors of it; and they should adorn it in all things.