Colossians 3:22
Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The instruction to obey "in all things" isn't a blanket endorsement of every command, but rather points to a deeper truth: our earthly masters are only "according to the flesh." This means their authority is limited, and our true Master, the Lord, is the one we ultimately serve, even when unseen.
Paul is addressing household relationships within the Christian community, building on the idea of putting on the new self in Christ. He's just instructed wives, children, and fathers on their duties, and now he turns to slaves and their masters, outlining how Christ's reign transforms even these hierarchical social structures. This section moves from general principles of Christian living to specific applications within everyday life.
Ever feel like your best work only happens when your boss is watching? This verse calls out that very trap.
The Apostle Paul is addressing 'bondservants' – slaves – but the principle is huge for all of us. He warns against 'eye-service,' which is doing just enough to look good when someone's checking, but slacking off when they're not. It's like performing for an audience instead of doing the actual work. Paul contrasts this with obedience done 'with sincerity of heart.' This isn't about faking it; it's about a genuine, inner commitment to do what's right, regardless of whether anyone is watching.
Who are you really trying to please? This verse flips the script on earthly authority.
Paul clarifies that obedience to 'masters according to the flesh' – our earthly bosses, parents, or authorities – is fundamentally linked to our relationship with God. The phrase 'fearing the Lord' isn't just a concluding thought; it's the motivation for genuine obedience. When we fear the Lord, we recognize that our earthly masters are temporary and limited, but God is eternal and all-seeing. This 'fear' isn't terror, but a deep, reverent respect and awe that leads to faithfulness, even when the earthly master isn't around or is unjust. It means our integrity isn't dependent on human approval.
Understand the original words
douloi · Greek Noun
Literally 'bond-slave'; one whose life and labor are bound to the service of another. In the New Testament, it describes one who serves earthly masters while ultimately acknowledging Christ as the true Master.
ophthalmodouleia · Greek Noun
An act of service or labor performed only when the master is watching, lacking internal integrity or genuine devotion.
anthrōpareskoi · Greek Noun/Adjective
Those whose primary concern is to gain the approval of men rather than the approval of God; lacking integrity in their service.
haplotēti · Greek Noun
Simplicity, purity of motive, and integrity; a state of being single-minded in devotion to God, devoid of hypocrisy.
The Apostle Paul's instructions to bondservants in Colossae are deeply rooted in the social reality of Roman slavery, where masters held immense authority. His call for sincere obedience, not mere outward show, challenges slaves to live out their faith even within oppressive systems, pointing to a higher Master, Christ.
c. 50-60 AD— this verse
Paul writes to the Colossians
Paul, imprisoned in Rome, writes to the church in Colossae, addressing issues of false teaching and encouraging practical Christian living, including instructions for household relationships.
c. AD 62
Paul writes to Philemon
Paul writes a personal letter to Philemon, a slave owner, concerning Onesimus, Philemon's runaway slave who had become a Christian under Paul's ministry. This letter sheds light on the complex social dynamics of slavery in the early church.
Early 1st Century AD
Widespread Roman Slavery
The Roman Empire, within which Colossae was located, relied heavily on slave labor. Slaves were integral to households, agriculture, and industry, with masters holding significant power over their lives.
This passage directly parallels Colossians 3:22, instructing slaves to obey their earthly masters with sincerity and respect, as if obeying Christ himself.
1 Peter 2:18Peter addresses household servants, urging them to submit to their masters with all respect, not just those who are kind, but also the harsh, mirroring the attitude described in Colossians.
1 Corinthians 7:21-22Paul touches on the status of slaves, advising them not to be overly concerned about their condition and to serve faithfully, emphasizing that their service is ultimately to the Lord, not just their earthly master.
Matthew 6:24Jesus' teaching about not serving two masters highlights the core conflict of divided loyalties, which is directly relevant to the call in Colossians to obey earthly masters 'fearing the Lord,' not men-pleasing.
Philemon 1:15-16This letter, often linked to Colossians due to Paul's authorship and the connection with Onesimus, illustrates the profound spiritual transformation that should impact master-slave relationships, moving beyond mere outward obedience.
henryColossians 3:18-25: "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord."
3:18-25 The epistles most taken up in displaying the glory of the Divine grace, and magnifying the Lord Jesus, are the most particular in pressing the duties of the Christian life. We must never separate the privileges and duties of the gospel. Submission is the duty of wives. But it is submission, not to a severe lord or stern tyrant, but to her own husband, who is engaged to affectionate duty. And…
vincentColossians 3:22: "Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:"
Masters (κυρίοις)See on Lord, 2 Peter 2:1, and see on Matthew 21:3. Κύριος Lord and δεσπότης master came to be used interchangeably in the New Testament, though originally the latter involved such authority as is implied in our use of despot, or in the relation of a master to a slave. The Greeks applied δεσπότης only to the gods.W…
The instruction to obey "in all things" isn't a blanket endorsement of every command, but rather points to a deeper truth: our earthly masters are only "according to the flesh." This means their authority is limited, and our true Master, the Lord, is the one we ultimately serve, even when unseen.
Paul is addressing household relationships within the Christian community, building on the idea of putting on the new self in Christ. He's just instructed wives, children, and fathers on their duties, and now he turns to slaves and their masters, outlining how Christ's reign transforms even these hierarchical social structures. This section moves from general principles of Christian living to specific applications within everyday life.
Paul is addressing household relationships within the Christian community, building on the idea of putting on the new self in Christ. He's just instructed wives, children, and fathers on their duties, and now he turns to slaves and their masters, outlining how Christ's reign transforms even these hierarchical social structures. This section moves from general principles of Christian living to specific applications within everyday life.
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phoboumenoi · Greek Verb/Participle
A reverential awe, respect, and submission to the holiness and authority of God, which serves as the primary motivation for Christian living.
"Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord." — The instruction to obey "in all things" isn't a blanket endorsement of every command, but rather points to a deeper truth: our earthly masters are only "according to the flesh." This means their auth…
