Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrase "masters according to the flesh" is crucial, subtly reminding servants that while their earthly masters have authority over their bodies and daily tasks, this power is limited. It points to a higher Master and an eternal reality, meaning their true spiritual freedom and identity remain untouched by their earthly condition.
Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul shifts focus to the relationships within households, specifically instructing enslaved people to obey their earthly masters with sincerity and diligence, as if they were serving Christ Himself. This command is framed within the broader context of mutual submission and honoring God in all aspects of life, reminding both enslaved individuals and their masters that they ultimately answer to a higher authority.
Ever felt like your job or responsibilities are just... temporary? This phrase might hold a key to understanding your current role, even in difficult circumstances.
Paul uses the phrase "according to the flesh" to define the scope of authority earthly masters held. This wasn't about absolute control over a person's entire being, but specifically their worldly, physical service.
A Limited Authority
This means masters had authority over your body and your actions in the earthly realm, but not over your spirit, your conscience, or your ultimate allegiance. It's a reminder that even in situations of difficult servitude, there's a spiritual freedom that remains untouched. Your true Lord is in heaven, and no earthly master can usurp that position.
Context Matters
This distinction was especially important in the context of ancient slavery, where the lines could be blurred. By specifying "according to the flesh," Paul draws a clear boundary, reminding believers that their service to an earthly master was always secondary to their service to God. This understanding could provide comfort and perspective, even in the harshest of conditions.
What does it truly mean to serve with 'fear and trembling' and a 'sincere heart' in a way that honors Christ?
Paul doesn't just command obedience; he outlines the manner of obedience. The directives "with fear and trembling" and "in singleness of your heart" point to a profound internal disposition.
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Fear and Trembling: Not Just Terror
This isn't about a paralyzing, slavish terror. Instead, it signifies a deep reverence and a serious concern about doing your duty properly. It’s an anxious eagerness to obey, a recognition of the authority given and a fear of displeasing not just the master, but God. It’s about taking your responsibilities incredibly seriously.
Singleness of Heart: Undivided Loyalty
"Singleness of heart" speaks to sincerity and wholeness of purpose. It means serving without hypocrisy, without ulterior motives, and without duplicity. It contrasts sharply with "eye-service," where one performs duties only when watched. A sincere heart means your master's interests are genuinely considered, not just as a performance for others.
The Ultimate Motivation
Both these qualities are rooted in the final clause: "as you would Christ." This is the transformative lens. Your earthly service becomes an act of worship when done with this sincere, reverent attitude, as if Christ Himself were your direct overseer.
Understand the original words
douloi · Greek Noun
Individuals bound to the service of another; in New Testament times, it referred to those in a position of subservience or slavery, whom the apostles exhorted to serve with integrity as unto Christ.
phobō kai tromō · Greek Noun phrase
A state of profound reverence, humility, and seriousness; it describes an attitude of deep respect and caution in performing one's duties, stemming from a consciousness of God's presence.
haplotēs · Greek Noun
Single-mindedness or purity of intent; acting without duplicity or hypocrisy, reflecting a character that is unified in its devotion to God.
Paul's instructions to 'bondservants' and 'masters' reveal how early Christianity navigated the harsh realities of Roman slavery, not by immediate abolition, but by transforming relationships from within, emphasizing mutual respect and service to Christ.
c. 1st century AD
Roman Empire and Slavery
Slavery was a widespread institution throughout the Roman Empire, deeply embedded in its economy and social structure. Slaves performed a vast range of labor, from domestic service to demanding agricultural and mining work.
c. AD 60-62— this verse
Paul's Imprisonment in Rome
The Apostle Paul was likely imprisoned in Rome during this period, writing letters to churches like Ephesus, Philippi, and Colossae. His imprisonment provided a unique perspective on societal structures.
c. AD 62
Possible Connection to Philemon and Onesimus
The Epistle to Philemon, concerning the runaway slave Onesimus, was likely written around the same time as Ephesians and Colossians. This suggests Paul was actively contemplating the relationship between Christianity and slavery.
This passage offers a parallel instruction for 'servants' to obey their 'masters according to the flesh,' mirroring the same core command and contextual understanding of earthly authority.
1 Peter 2:18Peter echoes Paul's sentiment, commanding servants to be 'subject to your masters with all fear,' emphasizing the importance of respectful obedience within existing social structures, even difficult ones.
Matthew 6:24The directive to obey as 'unto Christ' finds a conceptual counterpoint here, as Jesus teaches that one cannot serve two masters, highlighting the ultimate allegiance that should inform our earthly service.
Philemon 1:15-16While not a direct command to obey, this letter showcases the transformative power of Christ's love within the master-slave dynamic, suggesting that even in such relationships, spiritual brotherhood can redefine how service is rendered and received.
barnesEphesians 6:5: "Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;"
Servants - οἵ δοῦλοι hoi douloi. The word used here denotes one who is bound to render service to another, whether that service be free or voluntary, and may denote, therefore, either a slave, or one who binds himself to render service to another. It is often used in these senses in the New Testament, just as it is elsewhere. It c…
calvinEphesians 6:5-9: "Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;"
- Servants, be obedient. His exhortation to servants is so much the more earnest, on account of the hardship and bitterness of their condition, which renders it more difficult to be endured. And he does not speak merely of outward obedience, but says more about fear willingly rendered; for it is a very rare occurrence to find one w…
The phrase "masters according to the flesh" is crucial, subtly reminding servants that while their earthly masters have authority over their bodies and daily tasks, this power is limited. It points to a higher Master and an eternal reality, meaning their true spiritual freedom and identity remain untouched by their earthly condition.
Paul shifts focus to the relationships within households, specifically instructing enslaved people to obey their earthly masters with sincerity and diligence, as if they were serving Christ Himself. This command is framed within the broader context of mutual submission and honoring God in all aspects of life, reminding both enslaved individuals and their masters that they ultimately answer to a higher authority.
Paul shifts focus to the relationships within households, specifically instructing enslaved people to obey their earthly masters with sincerity and diligence, as if they were serving Christ Himself. This command is framed within the broader context of mutual submission and honoring God in all aspects of life, reminding both enslaved individuals and their masters that they ultimately answer to a higher authority.
"Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ," — The phrase "masters according to the flesh" is crucial, subtly reminding servants that while their earthly masters have authority over their bodies and daily tasks, this power is limited. It points t…
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Last reviewed October 2026