22Bondservants, obey your earthly masters in all things — not with eye-service, as people-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. [3:23] Whatever you do, work at it wholeheartedly, as for the Lord and not for people, [3:24] knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as the repayment — you serve the Lord Christ. [3:25] For the one who does wrong will receive back the wrong he did, and there is no partiality.
COL 3:22-25
Serving with Honor
In the world it was spoken into
In the 1st-century Roman Empire, slavery was a pervasive institution, with enslaved persons constituting a significant portion of the population. Enslaved individuals were often viewed as property, yet they played essential roles in households, agriculture, and urban labor. The instruction to obey masters 'not with eye-service' reflects a common critique of enslaved persons who worked diligently only when supervised, a behavior rooted in the power dynamics of slavery. The call to work 'in sincerity of heart' challenges this dynamic, urging integrity and wholehearted effort regardless of external oversight. The mention of fearing the Lord shifts the focus from human masters to divine accountability, a subversive idea in a society where honor and shame were tied to social hierarchies. The assurance that 'there is no partiality' with God would have been striking, as Roman society was deeply stratified by class, status, and legal rights. This teaching reframes labor as service to Christ, transcending earthly social structures.
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How other translations render this
COL 3:22
- KJV
- Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God;
- BSB
- Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only to please them while they are watching, but with sincerity of heart and fear of the Lord.
- Koinōnos
- Bondservants, obey your earthly masters in all things — not with eye-service, as people-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.
COL 3:23
- KJV
- And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
- BSB
- Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, as for the Lord and not for men,
- Koinōnos
- Whatever you do, work at it wholeheartedly, as for the Lord and not for people,
COL 3:24
- KJV
- Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
- BSB
- because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
- Koinōnos
- knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as the repayment — you serve the Lord Christ.
COL 3:25
- KJV
- But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
- BSB
- Whoever does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.
- Koinōnos
- For the one who does wrong will receive back the wrong he did, and there is no partiality.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
COL 3:22
- Slaves,:The word translated 'slaves' refers to individuals who were legally bound to another person, often by birth or debt, and whose labor was owned by their master. This was a common social status in the ancient world.
- eye-service:The term 'eye-service' describes work performed diligently only when under direct supervision, implying a lack of genuine commitment or integrity when not being watched.
- sincerity:The word translated 'sincerity' carries the sense of single-mindedness, straightforwardness, and generosity, implying an undivided heart and genuine intention.
COL 3:25
- partiality.:The phrase 'partiality' refers to showing favoritism or prejudice based on outward appearances or social status, rather than judging all people equally.