Colossians 3 22

Colossians 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;

Colossians 3:22 nkjv

Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.

Colossians 3:22 niv

Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.

Colossians 3:22 esv

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.

Colossians 3:22 nlt

Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord.

Colossians 3 verses

Colossians 3 22 Meaning

Colossians 3:22 instructs Christian bondservants—which can extend to anyone in a subservient or employed position—to obey their earthly masters in all legitimate matters. This obedience must be genuine and inwardly motivated, not merely performed when observed (eye-service) or done to gain human approval (people-pleasing). Instead, their work should spring from sincerity of heart and a deep, reverent fear of the Lord, making their daily tasks an act of worship and dedication to God.

Colossians 3 22 Context

Colossians chapter 3 follows Paul's profound theological teaching on Christ's supremacy and the believer's union with Him, encouraging believers to "seek the things that are above" (v. 1) and to "put to death" their old, earthly ways (v. 5-11), while "putting on" the new nature in Christ, characterized by virtues like compassion, kindness, and love (v. 12-17). From verse 18, Paul applies these theological truths to practical living within Christian households, addressing wives, husbands, children, and fathers (vv. 18-21). Colossians 3:22 directly continues this "household code" (often referred to as Haustafeln), providing specific instructions to bondservants (or those in service) and forming a crucial bridge to instructions for masters in Colossians 4:1.

Historically, the Roman Empire was saturated with various forms of servitude, ranging from household slaves (often well-educated and holding significant responsibilities) to agricultural laborers. The Christian instruction to bondservants was radical, not because it advocated immediate social revolution, but because it transformed the nature and motivation of work and the master-servant relationship. It elevated the bondservant's dignity by positing God as the ultimate Master whom they truly served, irrespective of their earthly status. It implicitly challenges contemporary beliefs that viewed slaves as mere property without intrinsic moral value, and it countered the common tendency for subordinates to work only under duress or for mere personal gain.

Colossians 3 22 Word analysis

• Bondservants (δοῦλοι - douloi): This term refers to various forms of servitude common in the Greco-Roman world. While it includes "slaves," it encompasses anyone in a position of humble, dedicated service to another, implying a deep commitment and devotion. In Christian theology, believers are often called "bondservants of Christ," highlighting their complete submission to Him. Here, it refers to one's social status as a laborer or servant.
• Obey (ὑπακούετε - hypakouete): Means "to listen under," "to heed," or "to comply with." It signifies an active, willing obedience that results from listening to and respecting authority, rather than merely external compliance.
• In everything (ἐν παντὶ - en panti): Denotes comprehensive obedience to all legitimate commands. It underscores the scope of their dutiful submission, indicating that their dedication should not be selective or partial. However, this is always implicitly bounded by God's higher commands.
• Earthly masters (τοὺς κατὰ σάρκα δεσπότας - tous kata sarka despotas): Literally, "the masters according to the flesh." "Δεσπότης (despotes)" implies a master with considerable authority, often absolute. The phrase "according to the flesh" explicitly distinguishes these temporal human masters from the ultimate, spiritual Lord, Jesus Christ, emphasizing the limited and temporal nature of their authority.
• Not with eye-service (μὴ ἐν ὀφθαλμοδουλείαις - mē en ophthalmodouleiais): "Not in eye-slavery/eye-work." This compound Greek word specifically condemns working only when the supervisor is present or looking. It denotes insincere, superficial work performed solely for external observation and approval, lacking inner integrity or diligence.
• As people-pleasers (ὡς ἀνθρωπάρεσκοι - hōs anthrōpareskoi): "As human-pleasers." This term refers to those who prioritize gaining human favor or approval above all else. It points to a motivation driven by flattery, fear of men, or seeking personal gain rather than righteous principles, which often leads to duplicity.
• But with sincerity of heart (ἀλλ' ἐν ἁπλότητι καρδίας - all' en haploteti kardias): "But in simplicity/singleness of heart." "Ἁπλότης (haplotēs)" conveys purity of motive, straightforwardness, freedom from duplicity or mixed agendas. "Καρδία (kardia)" refers to the innermost being, the seat of desires, will, and conscience. This phrase emphasizes genuine, undivided motivation and honest intent.
• Fearing the Lord (φοβούμενοι τὸν Κύριον - phoboumenoi ton Kyrion): "Fearing the Lord." This is the ultimate motivating factor. This fear is not terror, but profound reverence, awe, and respect for God's majesty, holiness, and supreme authority. It implies a recognition that one's life and work are lived before God, and that His approval is the ultimate goal.

Words-group analysis:

• "Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters": This opening phrase establishes the specific group being addressed and the foundational command of comprehensive submission within the given social structure. It acknowledges existing hierarchical realities.
• "not with eye-service, as people-pleasers": This clause provides the negative proscription, specifically forbidding work that is external, insincere, and motivated by human observation or approval. It identifies common pitfalls of subordinates.
• "but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord": This phrase presents the positive, God-centered motivation for Christian service. It shifts the focus from horizontal relationships (master-servant, human approval) to the vertical relationship with God, underscoring that all work, even the most mundane, becomes an act of worship when performed with a right heart before God.

Colossians 3 22 Bonus section

• This instruction is part of Paul's larger theological vision that Christ's Lordship reorients all human relationships and structures. While not a call for social revolution in terms of direct abolition, it introduced revolutionary principles of dignity and mutual respect (when coupled with Col 4:1) that undermined the foundational principles of slavery.
• The call to fear the Lord and work from sincerity emphasizes that Christian ethics are driven by internal transformation, not external rules or social pressure. This makes Christian obedience robust and consistent, independent of external scrutiny.
• The verses immediately following (Col 3:23-25) clarify the divine motivation and promise the heavenly reward and ultimate judgment from the Lord, reinforcing the profound theological implications of humble, sincere work. They state that the ultimate reward for service does not come from earthly masters but from the heavenly Master.

Colossians 3 22 Commentary

Colossians 3:22 takes what could be seen as a subservient social position and elevates it to a realm of spiritual significance. It fundamentally redefines work and obedience for the believer. The command to obey "in everything" is tempered by the qualification of "earthly masters," implying that their authority is real but temporal and subordinate to God's ultimate sovereignty. The core of the instruction lies in the motivation: away from "eye-service" (superficial effort for show) and "people-pleasing" (seeking human favor), and towards "sincerity of heart" (genuine intention) rooted in "fearing the Lord" (reverence for God). This makes Christian work distinctive; it is not just about fulfilling a task, but about embodying Christlikeness in every act. It transforms forced labor or grudging submission into an offering to God. Believers are called to demonstrate integrity and diligence even when unobserved, knowing their ultimate audience and Judge is God Himself. This attitude ennobles all labor and establishes a foundational principle for Christian ethics in the workplace across all eras, where faithfulness is defined by one's relationship with God, not just with their immediate supervisor.

Practical examples include:

• An employee consistently performing high-quality work, even on tasks they dislike or when their manager is away, because they see their job as serving God.
• Someone in a subservient role exhibiting kindness and integrity towards their difficult superior, not to gain favor, but because they are striving to please the Lord.
• A volunteer dedicating their best efforts to a task for a charitable organization, not for recognition, but out of a sincere heart that fears the Lord.