Exploring the Historical and Cultural Context
Bondservants obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. But he who does wrong will be repaid for what has done, and there is no partiality.
When we read the term "bondservant," "servant," or "slave" in the Bible, we may wonder why translators choose different words to represent the same Greek word. One possible reason is to distinguish the ancient form of slavery from the modern sense of the word, which often evokes images of the transatlantic slave trade and the enslavement of African Americans. It's important to remember that slavery in the ancient world was not based solely on race but could also result from being a prisoner of war, in debt, or in other circumstances.
The New Testament does not directly condemn the institution of slavery but instead offers guidance for those who were slaves and for those who owned them. In Paul's letter to Philemon, he appeals to Philemon on behalf of Onesimus, a slave who had run away. Paul encourages Philemon to receive Onesimus back as a brother in Christ rather than as a slave. This indicates that Paul's approach urged a change in attitude and behaviour towards slaves rather than the abolition of slavery.
What would happen if Paul said, “Let them go?”
While it may seem puzzling that Paul did not call for the immediate freedom of all slaves, there was a likely and good reason why, and it's important to understand the cultural and economic dependence on slavery in the ancient world. Abolishing slavery would have been difficult to achieve and could have led to unrest and rebellion. Instead, Paul emphasized the equality of all people before God and urged believers to treat all people with dignity and respect, regardless of their social status or position.
To break this down for you in simpler terms. There’s a big issue today with wealth inequality: what that means is that some people have a lot of money while others struggle to get by. If a famous Christian leader were to speak up and say that all wealthy Christians should give away their wealth to help those in need, it would cause controversy, and some people might not agree with it. It could even lead to problems in the church and in society.
Similarly, back in the day when Paul was around, there was a big issue with slavery. Instead of directly calling for slavery to be abolished, Paul talked about how everyone is equal in the eyes of God. He urged Christian slave owners to treat their slaves with kindness and respect, a big change from how things were usually done. This helped pave the way for a more just and fair society.
Some people might argue that the Bible supports slavery because it talks about it, but when you look at the bigger picture, it's clear that the Bible teaches that everyone is equal and should be treated with dignity and respect. That's why we should reject slavery in all forms and work towards creating a more just and equitable society for everyone.
In Colossians 3:22-25, Paul instructs bondservants (slaves) on how they should interact with their masters. He urges them to obey their masters in everything, not just when their masters are watching, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Paul reminds them that they are serving the Lord Christ, not just their earthly masters and that they will receive an inheritance from the Lord as their reward. He also warns masters to treat their servants justly and fairly, knowing they have a master in heaven.
It's important to understand the context of this passage, which is situated in a society where slavery was an accepted part of everyday life. At that time, slavery was a legal and economic institution deeply entrenched in society's social and economic fabric. For slaves, their lives were entirely dependent on their masters, and it was often difficult to imagine life outside of slavery.
However, it's also essential to recognize that Paul's instructions did not endorse slavery. Instead, he was encouraging slaves to follow Christ in the context of their current circumstances. He was teaching them to obey their masters as an act of faith and to honour God, not as a way of endorsing the institution of slavery.
Although slavery is now illegal in most places, it is still a prevalent issue in some parts of the world, as evidenced by the attention it receives in the media. However, the teachings in Colossians 3 on slavery cannot be directly applied to modern times. Instead, we should strive to ensure that slave owners are prosecuted and their slaves are set free and reintegrated into society with dignity and respect.
Despite this, we can still draw inspiration from Paul's teachings in the context of the employer-employee relationship. The principles of mutual respect, fairness, and compassion, as outlined in Colossians 3, can guide our actions as employers and employees, creating a healthy and positive work environment. This involves paying fair wages, providing safe and healthy working conditions, and demonstrating empathy toward employees who may be struggling. By following these principles, we can honour the values of the Christian faith and promote a just and equitable society. As bondservants were urged to obey their masters, employees are called to submit to their employers and conduct their work honestly and sincerely. This means that employees should strive to do their best work, not just when their bosses are always around but, knowing that ultimately, they are working for God. By doing so, they honour their employers and reflect their Christian values. Similarly, employers are called to treat their employees fairly and respectfully, recognizing that they, to have a master in heaven who will hold them accountable for their actions.
To put Paul's teachings in Colossians 3 into practice practically for us, for both employers and employees, to foster an environment that upholds mutual respect, fairness, and compassion. This entails paying employees fair wages, ensuring a safe and healthy working environment, and showing empathy toward employees who may be going through tough times. By adhering to these values, we can create a workplace that reflects the principles of the Christian faith and promotes the well-being of all parties involved.
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