Colossians 4:1

¶ Masters, give unto [your] servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.

Masters {G2962}, give {G3930} unto your servants {G1401} that which is just {G1342} and {G2532} equal {G2471}; knowing {G1492} that {G3754} ye {G5210} also {G2532} have {G2192} a Master {G2962} in {G1722} heaven {G3772}.

Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly. Remember that you too have a Master in heaven.

Masters, supply your slaves with what is right and fair, since you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

Masters, render unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.

Commentary

Colossians 4:1 serves as a concluding admonition from the Apostle Paul, directed specifically at those in positions of authority within the early Christian community in Colossae. It encapsulates a profound principle of Christian ethics, reminding believers that earthly power must always be exercised under the ultimate authority of God.

Context

This verse concludes Paul's practical instructions (often called the "household code" or "Haustafeln") that began in Colossians 3:18. After addressing wives, husbands, children, parents, and servants (bondservants), Paul turns his attention to masters. In the Roman world, slavery was a pervasive social institution, encompassing a wide spectrum from domestic servants to highly educated administrators. Paul is not endorsing or condemning the institution itself here, but rather transforming the relationships within it through the lens of Christian faith. He is urging Christian masters to treat their bondservants not merely as property, but as fellow human beings under God's watchful eye, reflecting the new life in Christ that he has extensively discussed in the letter.

Key Themes

  • Justice and Equality: The phrase "just and equal" (Greek: dikaion kai isotēta) is central. Dikaion refers to what is righteous, fair, and morally right according to God's standards. Isotēta implies equity, fairness, and impartiality, ensuring that treatment is balanced and consistent. This goes beyond mere legal requirements, demanding a higher standard of ethical conduct motivated by faith. It implies fair wages, humane conditions, and respectful interaction, contrasting sharply with the often harsh realities of the time.
  • Divine Accountability: The powerful motivation for this command lies in the reminder, "knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven." Christian masters are not ultimately autonomous; they are themselves servants of Christ. This understanding places all human authority under divine scrutiny, fostering humility and responsibility. This principle resonates with Paul's earlier exhortation for servants to work heartily, as unto the Lord and not unto men, knowing they will receive an inheritance from the Lord.
  • Transformed Relationships: The verse advocates for a radical transformation of social norms based on the spiritual reality of Christ's lordship. It underscores that in Christ, traditional social hierarchies are redefined by love, justice, and mutual respect, reflecting the unity found in the body of Christ.

Linguistic Insight

The KJV phrase "just and equal" translates the Greek dikaion kai isotēta. Dikaion emphasizes righteousness and what is due according to moral law, while isotēta highlights equity and fairness, suggesting a balanced and impartial approach. Together, they convey a comprehensive demand for ethical and humane treatment that goes beyond minimum legal requirements, reflecting God's own character.

Practical Application

While the immediate context is masters and servants, the principle of Colossians 4:1 extends powerfully to all forms of authority and leadership today. It serves as a timeless guide for:

  • Employers and Employees: Business owners, managers, and supervisors are called to treat their employees with fairness, providing just compensation, reasonable working conditions, and respectful communication. They are reminded that their earthly success and authority are ultimately gifts from God, for which they are accountable.
  • Leaders in Any Sphere: Whether in government, education, or even family, those in positions of power are to exercise it with integrity and a deep awareness that they, too, are under a higher authority.
  • Personal Accountability: The verse reminds all believers that our actions, especially in how we treat those under our influence, are observed by our "Master in heaven." This divine oversight should motivate us to act with compassion, justice, and love, reflecting the character of Christ. It reinforces the principle that each of us will give account to God for our deeds.

In essence, Colossians 4:1 is a call to Christian leadership that is characterized by justice, equity, and a profound sense of divine accountability, transforming earthly relationships through heavenly principles.

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Cross-References

  • Ephesians 6:8

    Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether [he be] bond or free.

  • Ephesians 6:20

    For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

  • Revelation 17:14

    ¶ These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him [are] called, and chosen, and faithful.

  • James 2:13

    For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

  • Deuteronomy 24:14

    ¶ Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant [that is] poor and needy, [whether he be] of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that [are] in thy land within thy gates:

  • Deuteronomy 24:15

    At his day thou shalt give [him] his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he [is] poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto thee.

  • Luke 16:1

    ¶ And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.