“Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:”
Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only while being watched and in order to please them, but wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord — the household code extends to slavery. 'Obey' (hypakouo) masters is commanded. 'Not only while watched' but 'wholeheartedly' (ex psyches) shows sincerity. 'Fearing the Lord' (phobos kyriou) reframes obedience: ultimate allegiance is Christ's. Slavery is unquestioned here, but submission is spiritualized.
Church Fathers on Colossians 3:22
Why does he not give these commands everywhere, and in all the Epistles, but only here, and in that to the Ephesians, and that to Timothy, and that to Titus? Because probably there were dissensions in these cities; or probably they were correct in other respects, so that it was expedient they should hear about these things. Rather, however, what he says to these, he says to all. Now in these things also this Epistle bears great resemblance to that to the Ephesians, either…
Read all 2 entries in the readerNicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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