Keraia
Ephesians 6

Ephesians 6:9

Serving with Honor · Ephesians 6:5–9
Read Ephesians 6

Translations

Modern
And masters, do the same for your slaves. Give up your use of threats, because you know that He who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him.
Traditional
And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.
Literal
And masters, do the same things toward them, giving up threatening, knowing that also their Master and yours is in the heavens, and there is no partiality with Him.
Latin
Et vos domini, eadem facite illis, remittentes minas: scientes quia et illorum et vester Dominus est in cælis: et personarum acceptio non est apud eum.

Original

Greek
English
And masters, do the same for your slaves. Give up your use of threats, because you know that He who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him.

Notes

Ephesians 6:9

  • do the same: Act with integrity and care for the well-being of others (see Colossians 4:1).

  • Give up your use of threats: Christian masters will also answer to the same Master in heaven for their actions on earth. Pleasing God means treating their slaves humanely and kindly.

  • there is no favoritism with Him: God judges everyone by the same standard (see Deuteronomy 10:17; Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11; Colossians 3:25). God’s justice affirms the dignity of all people and calls for their freedom.

Ephesians 6:5–9

  • The relationship between slaves and masters (and similarly, between employees and employers) should be guided by their commitment to the Lord and their desire to support each other in Christ. Christian slaves should obey their masters, and Christian masters should treat their slaves kindly (see Colossians 3:22–4:1).

  • Paul was not promoting slavery. Paul was teaching Christians how to live with it as a reality in that culture (for Paul’s views on slavery, see Philemon Book Introduction, "Meaning and Message").

Ephesians 5:21–6:9

Paul provides clear guidance on how believers should interact in a Christian home (see also Colossians 3:18–4:1; 1 Peter 2:18–3:7). Love and respect should define all relationships among believers as a way to show their commitment to the Lord.

Theme notes and profiles

Paul (Saul) The Household

Parallels

Colossians 3:22–25 1 Timothy 6:1–2

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Biblical Concept of Law Letter to Philemon Letter to the Ephesians Master Slave, Slavery

Topics

Bosses Employer: General Scriptures Concerning Employers Example: God, Our God: Judge, and his Justice Jesus, the Christ: Example, An Master: Scriptures Relating to Masters of Serv Ants Masters: Duty of, Toward Servants: To Deal with Them in the Fear of God Masters: Duty of, Toward Servants: To Forbear Threatening Them Respect of Persons: God Does not Have Servant: Bond: Kindness To, Commanded Servant: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Treatment of Employees