Bird's-eye view
In this brief but potent verse, the Apostle Paul concludes his instructions on the Christian household, turning his attention from the duties of slaves to the responsibilities of masters. This is not an afterthought, but the capstone of the entire section. Having just exhorted bondservants to work heartily as for the Lord and not for men, he now applies the same ultimate principle to those in authority. The command for masters to provide what is "right and fair" was a radical departure from the prevailing Greco-Roman culture, where a master's authority was often absolute and arbitrary. Paul grounds this command not in a new social theory or a call for political revolution, but in a profound theological reality: earthly masters themselves have a Master in heaven. This single verse, therefore, reframes all earthly authority structures under the ultimate authority of Jesus Christ. It lays a gospel-infused foundation for justice and equity in all relationships, reminding the powerful that they are not autonomous, but are themselves bondservants of the Most High, to whom they must give an account.
This verse is a crucial piece of the Christian worldview. It doesn't abolish the structure of the household or the workplace, but it thoroughly revolutionizes the spirit in which those structures are to be inhabited. The gospel does not begin by dismantling institutions, but by converting the hearts of the people within them. A Christian master is no longer free to be a tyrant, because he serves a Master who is righteous and just. The vertical relationship with God radically redefines all horizontal relationships. Thus, Colossians 4:1 is a seed that, when planted in the soil of a culture, must inevitably work to undermine all forms of tyranny and promote genuine, God-fearing justice.
Outline
- 1. The Gospel's Transformation of Authority (Col 4:1)
- a. The Command to Masters: Provide Justice and Fairness (Col 4:1a)
- b. The Rationale for Masters: Accountability to a Higher Master (Col 4:1b)
Context In Colossians
Colossians 4:1 is the culmination of the "household code" that begins in 3:18. Paul has addressed wives and husbands, children and fathers, and, most extensively, slaves and masters (3:22-25). It is significant that he gives this final word to the masters. In the Roman world, the paterfamilias held immense power, and slaves were often considered property with few, if any, rights. Paul's instructions to slaves about working "as for the Lord" were revolutionary in themselves, giving dignity and ultimate purpose to their labor. But his direct command to masters is perhaps even more subversive to the pagan mindset. By placing masters under the authority of Christ, Paul is applying the central theme of his letter, the absolute supremacy and lordship of Jesus over all creation (Col 1:15-20) and over every aspect of the believer's life (Col 3:17). Just as Christ's lordship demolishes the distinction between Jew and Gentile, slave and free in terms of spiritual status (Col 3:11), so it also redefines the ethical obligations within those temporal structures. This verse serves as a bridge from the specific instructions for the household to the more general exhortations on prayer and conduct that follow in chapter 4.
Key Issues
- The Nature of Biblical Justice and Fairness
- The Christian View of Authority and Submission
- The Gospel's Relationship to Social Structures like Slavery
- Accountability to God for the Use of Power
- The Lordship of Christ over the Workplace and Home
The Master's Master
The entire Christian life is to be lived in the light of an unseen reality. We walk by faith, not by sight. And for those in positions of authority, this principle is of the utmost importance. The temptation for any master, any employer, any ruler, is to believe that the authority he wields is ultimate. He gives the orders, and others obey. He sets the terms, and others comply. But the apostle Paul brings a bucket of ice water from the throne room of heaven to splash on the face of every Christian master. He says, in effect, "Remember who you are. You are not the final authority. You have a Master too."
This is not a threat in the first instance, but a glorious reminder. Your Master in heaven is not a petty tyrant. He is the fount of all justice, mercy, and goodness. Therefore, your exercise of authority is to be a reflection, a dim and creaturely imitation, of His perfect rule. The pagan master could rule by whim, caprice, or brute force. The Christian master is constrained by the character of his own Lord. He is called to image God in his sphere of authority. This reality transforms mastery from a position of raw power into a position of profound, delegated responsibility. The master is a steward, and he will be called to account for how he managed not his own servants, but the Lord's servants who were temporarily placed under his care.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1 Masters, show to your slaves what is right and fair, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven.
Paul now turns to the final pairing in the household code, addressing the masters, or kurioi. The command is direct and clear. They are to provide, or grant, to their slaves "what is right and fair." The Greek uses two important words here. The first is dikaion, which means that which is just or righteous. It speaks to what is objectively right according to God's standard. Masters have a duty to act in accordance with the divine law. They cannot make up the rules as they go. This was a radical concept in a world where slaves were often seen as outside the bounds of legal and moral protection.
The second word is isotēta, which means fairness or equity. This speaks not just to objective justice, but to a sense of proportionality and reasonableness. It carries the idea of treating someone as you would want to be treated. It is the application of the royal law to the master/slave relationship. A master was not to be harsh, cruel, or exploitative. He was to provide adequate food, shelter, and rest. He was to recognize the humanity of the person serving him. This command, in its context, was a direct assault on the abuses that were rampant in the institution of Roman slavery.
And what is the engine that drives this ethical transformation? It is the final clause: knowing that you too have a Master in heaven. The word "knowing" implies a settled, foundational conviction. This is not a new piece of information but a central truth of their Christian identity. Their earthly authority is derivative, delegated, and temporary. Their ultimate identity is not "master," but "servant of Christ." They will stand before the judgment seat of this heavenly Master, and there will be no partiality (Col 3:25). On that day, the question will not be "How many slaves did you own?" but "How did you treat my child whom I placed in your household?" This knowledge was meant to produce a holy fear, a sober sense of accountability, and a profound motivation for justice and mercy. It levels the ground at the foot of the cross and at the foot of the throne.
Application
While the specific institution of chattel slavery as practiced in the Roman Empire is no longer our context, the principle of this verse is timeless and applies to every relationship where there is a differential of authority. This includes employers and employees, managers and subordinates, parents and children, pastors and congregants, and civil magistrates and citizens. The temptation to abuse power, to be unfair, to demand more than is right, is a permanent feature of our fallen human nature.
If you are an employer, this verse commands you to provide your employees with just wages and fair working conditions. You are not to exploit them. Your business practices must be righteous, not just profitable. You must remember that the people who work for you are not simply resources to be managed for maximum output; they are image-bearers of God, and you have a duty to treat them with dignity and equity. And you do this not primarily to boost morale or increase productivity, but because you know that you have a Master in heaven who is watching you and to whom you must give an account.
If you are in any position of leadership, you are called to exercise that authority as a steward of Christ. Your power is not your own. It is a trust from God, to be used for the good of those under your care. The modern world encourages leaders to be driven by ambition, profit, and power. The gospel calls leaders to be driven by justice, fairness, and the fear of God. The knowledge that we will all stand before our Master should radically humble us and make us gracious and equitable in all our dealings. The man who truly knows he is a servant will never be a tyrant.