Colossians 4:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

NIV: Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

NASB: Masters, grant your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

CSB: Masters, deal with your slaves justly and fairly, since you know that you too have a Master in heaven.

NLT: Masters, be just and fair to your slaves. Remember that you also have a Master — in heaven.

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

NKJV: Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

The first verse of this chapter concludes the instructions to bondservants and masters from the previous chapter. After giving instructions to bondservants, Paul noted in Colossians 3:25 that all men would be given an impartial judgment by God. With that in mind, Paul here warns masters to be fair in their dealings with their servants. This was contrary to the cultural norm of Colossae and most other ancient cities. Though mistreatment may have been culturally acceptable, it was not suitable for a believer in Christ. This command to "treat your bondservants justly and fairly" is consistent with the many teachings of the Old Testament to treat servants well, in addition to Christ's emphasis on "love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39–40).

Paul's most pressing reason for this perspective, however, is that the freedman has a Master of his own: the Lord in heaven. If a human master was unjust, God (their Master) knew about it. Again repeating the theme of Colossians 3:17—doing all for God's glory—Paul emphasized proper treatment of people as something God sees, knows, and holds with deep regard.

Colossians 3:18—4:1 gives specific instructions from Paul for those living in Christian homes. This passage includes directions for husbands, wives, children, and servants. Paul makes a point of reminding believers not to merely ''get by'' with the bare minimum of what we are obligated to do. Rather, we should serve knowing that Christ is our ultimate judge. Paul also places ''masters'' under the same obligation to kindness and fairness as slaves and servants: both are equal in the eyes of Christ.

The first verse of chapter 4 is actually the last thought from Paul's prior comments about bondservants and masters. After this, Paul gives the Christian perspective on conversation. The way believers speak has a large impact on the effectiveness of our message. Paul then ends his letter with news and messages between various Christian ministers. Among these are names which Paul mentions again in other letters, such as Tychicus, Epaphras, Archippus, and Onesimus.

Prior chapters in this letter established the supremacy of Christ, provided counters to false teaching, and gave instructions for Christian living. Chapter 4 completes these instructions with a general command regarding Christian conversation. Paul then ends the letter with news and comments related to various fellow Christian believers. This follows the general pattern for Paul's letters: introduction, theory, application, personal news and farewell.

The book of Colossians describes Christ as superior to all other teachers, faiths, and philosophies. In this letter, written from prison, Paul once again tackles false teachings. Among these errors are claims that Christians need to give up all physical enjoyments, that they should worship angels, and that they need to rely on the wisdom of an elite few. These problems are consistent with an ancient heresy known as Gnosticism. In response, Paul explains that Christ is supreme, and sufficient for our salvation.