John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 5. Servants, be obedient to them that are [your] masters , &c.] The apostle enlarges on the duty of servants, as well as frequently inculcates it in his epistles; because, generally speaking, they were more rude and ignorant, and less pains were taken with them to instruct them; they were apt to be impatient and weary of the yoke; and scandal was like to arise from servants in the first ages of Christianity through some libertines, and the licentiousness of the false teachers, who insinuated, that servitude was inconsistent with Christian freedom: the persons exhorted are servants, bond servants, and hired servants; who are to be subject to, and obey their masters, of each sex, whether male or female, of every condition, whether poor or rich, believers or unbelievers, good or bad humoured, gentle or froward: such as are their masters according to the flesh ; or carnal masters, as the Vulgate Latin version renders it; even though they are unregenerate men, and are in a state of nature, and only mind the things of the flesh, yet they are to be obeyed in their lawful commands; or in things pertaining to the flesh, as the Arabic version renders it; in things temporal, which concern the body, and this temporal life; not in things spiritual and religious, or that belong to conscience, and which are contrary to them: or according to your flesh, as the Ethiopic version renders it; signifying that they are only masters over their bodies, not their consciences; and that their power only extends to corporeal things, and can last no longer than while they are in the flesh; (see Job 3:19); and obedience is to be yielded to them with fear and trembling ; with great humility and respect, with reverence of them, and giving honour to them, with carefulness not to offend them, with submission to their reproofs and corrections, and with fear of punishment; but more especially with the fear of God, being by that influenced and constrained to obedience; in singleness of heart ; with readiness and cheerfulness, without hypocrisy and dissimulation, and with all integrity and faithfulness: as unto Christ ; it being agreeable to his will, and what makes for his glory, and serves to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 5-9 - The duty of servants is summed up in one word, obedience. The servant of old were generally slaves. The apostles were to teach servants an masters their duties, in doing which evils would be lessened, til slavery should be rooted out by the influence of Christianity. Servant are to reverence those over them. They are to be sincere; no pretending obedience when they mean to disobey, but serving faithfully And they must serve their masters not only when their master's eye is upon them; but must be strict in the discharge of their duty, when he is absent and out of the way. Steady regard to the Lord Jesus Chris will make men faithful and sincere in every station, not grudgingly of by constraint, but from a principle of love to the masters and their concerns. This makes service easy to them, pleasing to their masters and acceptable to the Lord Christ. God will reward even the meanes drudgery done from a sense of duty, and with a view to glorify him Here is the duty of masters. Act after the same manner. Be just to servants, as you expect they should be to you; show the like good-wil and concern for them, and be careful herein to approve yourselves to God. Be not tyrannical and overbearing. You have a Master to obey, an you and they are but fellow-servants in respect to Christ Jesus. I masters and servants would consider their duties to God, and the account they must shortly give to him, they would be more mindful of their duty to each other, and thus families would be more orderly an happy.
Greek Textus Receptus
οι 3588 T-NPM δουλοι 1401 N-NPM υπακουετε 5219 5720 V-PAM-2P τοις 3588 T-DPM κυριοις 2962 N-DPM κατα 2596 PREP σαρκα 4561 N-ASF μετα 3326 PREP φοβου 5401 N-GSM και 2532 CONJ τρομου 5156 N-GSM εν 1722 PREP απλοτητι 572 N-DSF της 3588 T-GSF καρδιας 2588 N-GSF υμων 5216 P-2GP ως 5613 ADV τω 3588 T-DSM χριστω 5547 N-DSM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
5. Servants (douloi). Bond-servants or slaves. In this appeal Paul was addressing a numerous class. In many of the cities of Asia Minor slaves outnumbered freemen.Masters (kurioiv). See on Col. iii. 22.
According to the flesh. Regarded in their merely human relation.
With fear. See on Philip. ii. 12.
Singleness. See on simplicity, Rom. xii. 8.
Unto Christ. "Common and secular inducements can have but small influence on the mind of a slave
."
Robertson's NT Word Studies
6:5 {With fear and trembling} (meta fobou kai tromou). this addition to #Col 3:22.
