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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Colossians 3:22 - 4:1
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Col_3:22 to Col_4:1
22Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, 24knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. 25For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality. Col_4:1 Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven.
Col_3:22 "Slaves, in all things obey" There should be no paragraph break at Col_3:22. This is a present active imperative, "keep on obeying." This is the third example from the Christian home (cf. Eph_6:5-9). In our day this might relate (i.e., apply to) to Christian employers and employees. In Ephesians, and probably also here in Colossians, it refers to both saved and lost masters.
I personally do not believe this "in all things" refers to evil or sin (cf. Act_5:29). This is a general statement admonishing obedience, not a license for believers to participate in things which are excluded by Scripture. This is also true of wives (cf. Col_3:18; Eph_5:22). See Special Topic: Paul's Admonitions to Slaves at Eph_6:5.
▣ "sincerity of heart" See Special Topic below.
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Col_3:23 Serving the Lord is the motive for all Christians in all their activities (cf. Col_3:17; Eph_6:7; 1Co_10:31)! Believers should be daily, living witnesses of the redeeming power of God!
Col_3:24 In the ancient world slaves had no inheritance rights. But now, in Christ, they do! God is going to reward those who love, worship, and serve Him (cf. Col_3:23; Eph_6:8).
Col_3:25 Divine judgment is dispensed without partiality (cf. Deu_10:17; Act_10:34; Rom_2:11; Eph_2:9; Eph_6:9; 1Pe_1:17). This principle is expressed clearly in Gal_6:7. Even believers will give an account unto God, not for sin, but for stewardship (cf. 2Co_5:10). Sin has consequences in time and in eternity!
Col_4:1 This shows the reciprocal responsibility (cf. Col_3:19; Col_3:21). Unlike Ephesians, this text speaks to Christian slave owners (cf. Philemon). The NIV Study Bible (p. 1817) adds an interesting comment: "The reason Paul writes more about slaves and masters than about wives, husbands, children, and fathers may be that the slave Onesimus (cf. Col_4:9) is going along with Tychicus to deliver this Colossean letter and the letter to Philemon, Onesimus' master, who also lived at Colossae."
This verse contextually should go with chapter 3. It concludes Paul's domestic example of Christlike living. See Special Topic: Paul's Admonitions to Slaves at Eph_6:5.
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