Ephesians 6:5-8
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The phrase "masters according to the flesh" highlights that human authority, even in the context of servitude, is limited to the physical and temporal realm, not touching the spirit or the soul which belong to God alone. This distinction is crucial, as it frames obedience not as absolute submission to another person, but as faithfulness within God's established order.
Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is addressing the practical outworking of faith within the household, moving from instructions for children and fathers to those for slaves and masters. He emphasizes that Christian principles should transform existing social relationships, urging slaves to obey their earthly masters with sincerity and respect, as if they were serving Christ himself. This radical reorientation of duty highlights how faith impacts every aspect of life, even in challenging circumstances.
Paul uses a specific phrase to describe earthly masters. What does 'according to the flesh' reveal about the limits of their authority?
The phrase 'masters according to the flesh' is crucial. It reminds the servant that their master's authority is limited to the physical, temporal realm.
Limits of Authority
This distinction offered a profound comfort: while the body might be subjected, the inner person and conscience belonged to God alone. It separated the earthly master from the ultimate Lord.
Why would Paul tell servants to obey with 'fear and trembling' – doesn't that sound like slavish terror?
The 'fear and trembling' Paul mentions isn't about cowering in terror or dreading punishment from a cruel master. Instead, it's about a profound respect and diligence born from a sincere heart.
A Deeper Reverence
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This approach elevates the task from mere compliance to a matter of integrity and faithfulness.
The ultimate call is to serve 'as you would Christ.' What does this radical perspective mean for our daily tasks?
This is the highest motivation Paul offers: to serve earthly masters as if you were serving Christ himself. This reframes everything.
The Ultimate Standard
When our service is directed 'as unto Christ,' our motivation shifts from external pressure to an internal, Christ-centered commitment. Our true reward comes from Him.
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.
ophthalmodouleia · Greek Noun
An act performed only while under observation to gain favor or recognition, lacking sincerity or genuine diligence.
anthrōpareskos · Greek Noun
One who seeks to please people rather than God, often implying a lack of integrity or a primary concern for human approval.
doulos · Greek Noun
A slave or servant who is entirely devoted to their master; in a Christian context, it refers to one who is bought by Christ and lives in complete submission to His authority.
thelēma · Greek Noun
The divine purpose or desire of God for human conduct, which the believer is called to discern and obey.
psychē · Greek Noun
The center of human personality, intellect, emotion, and will; the seat of moral choice and spiritual intention.
eunoia · Greek Noun
A posture of readiness or enthusiasm in performing a task; it conveys a sincere, voluntary, and positive disposition.
This passage on 'servants' (often slaves) addresses a deeply ingrained social institution of the Roman world. Paul's instruction is radical: obey 'as unto Christ,' not merely to please men, acknowledging a heavenly Master above earthly ones. This reframes the most difficult human relationships within the context of Christ's authority and the ultimate equality of all believers before God.
c. 50-52 AD— this verse
Paul Writes Ephesians
The Apostle Paul, likely while imprisoned in Rome, penned the letter to the Ephesians, a church he had a long-standing relationship with. This letter offers profound insights into the nature of the Church as the body of Christ and provides practical guidance for Christian living.
c. 49 AD
Imperial Expulsion of Jews from Rome
Emperor Claudius expelled Jews from Rome, a decree that would have impacted early Christian communities which were closely tied to Jewish populations. This event may have dispersed believers, including potential recipients of Paul's letters.
c. 50-60 AD
Growth of Roman Slavery
The Roman Empire relied heavily on slave labor, with slaves comprising a significant portion of the population. This pervasive social structure meant that many Christians, both enslaved and free, lived within households where these dynamics were deeply entrenched.
c. 60-62 AD
Paul's Imprisonment in Rome
Paul's two-year house arrest in Rome provided him opportunities to minister and write. His letters from this period, including Ephesians, reflect the theological depth and practical instruction he shared with various churches.
This passage directly parallels Ephesians 6:5, instructing 'bondservants' to obey their earthly masters 'in everything' and 'with sincere hearts,' highlighting the same emphasis on obedience and sincerity in secular roles.
1 Peter 2:18Peter echoes Paul's instruction, telling slaves to be subject to their masters 'with all respect,' not just to the kind ones, reinforcing the idea that difficult earthly relationships are a context for demonstrating Christian character.
Philemon 1:15-16This personal letter to Philemon about his runaway slave Onesimus reveals how the gospel transforms social structures; Paul urges Philemon to receive Onesimus back 'no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a beloved brother,' showing the ultimate spiritual equality that redefines earthly roles.
Matthew 6:24Jesus' teaching that 'no one can serve two masters' provides the foundational principle behind Paul's instruction to obey earthly masters 'as unto Christ'; it's impossible to serve both God and earthly gain, so our ultimate allegiance must be clear, directing our sincerity.
Galatians 3:28This verse declares that 'there is neither slave nor free' in Christ Jesus, a profound truth that underpins the Christian approach to the social hierarchy of the time; while not abolishing the roles, it establishes a spiritual unity that reorients how believers should treat each other and fulfill their duties within those roles.
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" highlights that human authority, even in the context of servitude, is limited to the physical and temporal realm, not touching the spirit or the soul which belong to God alone. This distinction is crucial, as it frames obedience not as absolute submission to another person, but as faithfulness within God's established order.
Paul is addressing the practical outworking of faith within the household, moving from instructions for children and fathers to those for slaves and masters. He emphasizes that Christian principles should transform existing social relationships, urging slaves to obey their earthly masters with sincerity and respect, as if they were serving Christ himself. This radical reorientation of duty highlights how faith impacts every aspect of life, even in challenging circumstances.
Paul is addressing the practical outworking of faith within the household, moving from instructions for children and fathers to those for slaves and masters. He emphasizes that Christian principles should transform existing social relationships, urging slaves to obey their earthly masters with sincerity and respect, as if they were serving Christ himself. This radical reorientation of duty highlights how faith impacts every aspect of life, even in challenging circumstances.
"Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering s…" — The phrase "masters according to the flesh" highlights that human authority, even in the context of servitude, is limited to the physical and temporal realm, not touching the spirit or the soul which…
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Last reviewed October 2026
