Bird's-eye view
In this section of his letter, Paul is bringing his high Christology down to the ground floor. If Christ is truly all, and in all (Col. 3:11), then this must have tangible, concrete effects on the most basic structures of human society, which is to say, the household. This passage is part of a larger section on household duties (the Haustafel), which also addresses wives and husbands, and parents and children. Here, the apostle turns his attention to the relationship between slaves and masters. This was a significant portion of the population in the Roman world, and the gospel came to transform this institution from the inside out, just as it does with everything else it touches. The instructions are radical, not because they call for a violent overthrow of the existing social order, but because they call for a revolutionary heart attitude that redefines all work as service to the Lord Christ.
Paul's instructions to slaves are twofold. First, they are to obey their earthly masters in all things, but the manner of this obedience is what matters. It is not to be a superficial, begrudging compliance done only when the boss is looking. Rather, it is to be done with "integrity of heart, fearing the Lord." Second, all their labor is to be reframed. Whatever the task, it is to be done "heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men." This transforms the drudgery of compulsory service into a form of worship. The motivation is the reward of the inheritance from the Lord, and the one they truly serve is the Lord Christ. The passage concludes with a sober reminder of divine justice. God is no respecter of persons; both the wrongdoing slave and the wrongdoing master will face impartial judgment from the one who sees all.
Outline
- 1. The New Life in Practice: The Christian Household (Col 3:18-4:1)
- a. Wives and Husbands (Col 3:18-19)
- b. Children and Parents (Col 3:20-21)
- c. Slaves and Masters (Col 3:22-4:1)
- i. The Slave's Obedience Redefined (Col 3:22)
- ii. The Slave's Work Reoriented (Col 3:23)
- iii. The Slave's Reward Reassured (Col 3:24)
- iv. The Lord's Impartial Judgment (Col 3:25)
Context In Colossians
This passage is firmly embedded in the practical application section of Colossians. Having spent the first two chapters establishing the absolute supremacy and sufficiency of Christ over all philosophies, rulers, and spiritual powers, Paul now turns to the ethical implications of this reality. The logic is simple: because you have been raised with Christ (Col. 3:1), you must now live like it. This involves putting off the old self with its sinful practices (Col. 3:5-9) and putting on the new self, which is being renewed in the image of its creator (Col. 3:10). In this new humanity, earthly distinctions like "slave nor free" are relativized in Christ. These verses, then, are not a standalone treatise on labor relations, but a direct application of what it means for Christ to be "all, and in all" within the existing social structures of the first-century Roman world. Paul is not endorsing the Roman system of slavery, but rather teaching Christians how to live within it in a way that honors Christ and subverts the system's godless assumptions from within.
Key Issues
- The Nature of Christian Obedience
- Work as Worship
- The Gospel and Social Structures
- God's Impartial Justice
- Key Word Study: Doulos, "Slave"
- Key Word Study: Kardi, "Heart"
Verse by Verse Commentary
22 Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but with integrity of heart, fearing the Lord.
The first word here, slaves (douloi), is blunt and we must not try to soften it to "servants" or "employees" to make ourselves more comfortable. Paul is addressing actual bondservants in the Roman empire. His command is for them to obey their masters according to the flesh. This qualifier is crucial. The master's authority is limited to the fleshly, earthly realm. It is a temporal and provisional authority, not an ultimate one. The obedience required is comprehensive, in all things, with the implied biblical exception of any command that would require sin against God (Acts 5:29). But the manner of the obedience is where the gospel revolution begins. It is not to be with eyeservice, a wonderful word that describes working only when the supervisor is watching. This is the kind of service that aims only to please men. The Christian slave is to reject this. Instead, his work is to be characterized by integrity of heart. The Greek word is haplotes, meaning simplicity, sincerity, without complication or duplicity. This sincere service flows from a higher fear, not the fear of the master's whip, but the fear of the Lord. The Christian slave obeys his earthly master because he fears his heavenly Master. This reorients the entire relationship.
23 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,
Paul now expands the principle. The phrase whatever you do is all-encompassing. Mucking out a stable, weaving a garment, keeping the accounts, it does not matter. Every task is an opportunity for worship. The command is to do your work heartily, from the soul (ek psuches). This is not half-hearted, grudging compliance. This is throwing your whole self into the work. Why? Because the true recipient of the labor is not the man who owns your body, but the Lord who owns your soul. You are working as for the Lord rather than for men. This is the great secret that transforms all labor. The Christian is never ultimately working for a human boss, a paycheck, or a performance review. He is working for an audience of One. This principle applies to the first-century slave and the twenty-first-century software engineer equally. Your work is an offering to God. Is it an offering He would be pleased with?
24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. Serve the Lord Christ.
Here is the motivation. The slave in the Roman world had little to no hope of an inheritance. He was property. But Paul tells the Christian slave to look beyond his earthly circumstances. He is to live with the certain knowledge that a reward is coming. And what a reward. Not a few extra coins, but the reward of the inheritance. This is eschatological language. The slave, who owns nothing, will inherit all things as a co-heir with Christ (Rom. 8:17). This reward comes from the Lord, the one who is no man's debtor. This future certainty transforms present reality. The final exhortation here is a crisp, direct command that sums up the whole matter: Serve the Lord Christ. Your earthly master is a temporary assignment. Your true master is Christ, and your service to him is an eternal calling.
25 For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.
This final verse is a double-edged sword, and it applies to both slave and master (as the next verse, 4:1, makes clear). It is a warning and a comfort. It is a warning to the slave who might be tempted to shirk his duties, to steal from the master, or to work with a resentful heart. God sees, and he who does wrong will receive the consequences. God's justice is perfect. But it is also a profound comfort to the slave who is mistreated. His earthly master may be unjust, cruel, and capricious. But there is a higher court of appeal. The wrongdoing master will also receive the consequences for the wrong he has done. And this judgment will be executed without partiality. God does not care if you are a slave or a free man, a CEO or a janitor. He judges based on righteousness, not social status. This is the great equalizer. The universe is a moral universe because God is a just God, and every account will be settled.
Application
The principles laid down in this passage are timeless, even if the specific social structure of Roman slavery has passed away. All Christians are called to work, and this passage teaches us how our work is to be sanctified and offered to God.
First, all our work is to be done for the Lord. This means we must reject the sacred/secular divide that plagues modern Christianity. Changing diapers is just as spiritual as preaching a sermon, provided it is done heartily, as unto the Lord. Your workplace is your parish. Your daily labor is your liturgy.
Second, our standard of work must be God's standard, not man's. We are not to be men-pleasers, working hard only when the boss is looking. We are to work with integrity of heart, knowing that our true Master sees everything. This means Christians ought to be the best, most reliable, and most cheerful workers in any setting.
Finally, we must remember that ultimate justice belongs to God. This frees us from the soul-destroying sins of bitterness and resentment when we are treated unfairly at work. It also sobers us, reminding us that we will give an account for how we have conducted ourselves. Whether you are in a position of authority or under authority, you serve the Lord Christ, and He will render to each one according to his deeds, without partiality.