Ephesians 6:5–9 – Slaves & Masters (on Earth and in Heaven)

  1. Οἱ δοῦλοι, ὑπακούετε τοῖς κατὰ σάρκα κυρίοις μετὰ φόβου καὶ τρόμου Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect,
ἐν ἁπλότητι τῆς καρδίας ὑμῶν ὡς τῷ Χριστῷ, in sincerity of heart, as you would Christ,
  1. μὴ κατ’ ὀφθαλμοδουλίαν not just in appearance,
ὡς ἀνθρωπάρεσκοι as to impress humans,
ἀλλ’ ὡς δοῦλοι Χριστοῦ but as slaves of Christ,
ποιοῦντες τὸ θέλημα τοῦ θεοῦ ἐκ ψυχῆς, doing the will of God wholeheartedly,
  1. μετ’ εὐνοίας δουλεύοντες, ὡς τῷ κυρίῳ καὶ οὐκ ἀνθρώποις, serving with enthusiasm, as to the Master and not to man,
  1. εἰδότες ὅτι ἕκαστος, knowing that each person,
ἐάν τι ποιήσῃ ἀγαθόν, if they have done something good,
τοῦτο κομίσεται παρὰ κυρίου,will receive back from the Master,
εἴτε δοῦλος εἴτε ἐλεύθερος. whether they are slave or free.

  1. Καὶ οἱ κύριοι, τὰ αὐτὰ ποιεῖτε πρὸς αὐτούς, Masters, behave the same way towards them,
ἀνιέντες τὴν ἀπειλήν, discarding the use of threats,
εἰδότες ὅτι καὶ αὐτῶν καὶ ὑμῶν ὁ κύριός ἐστιν ἐν οὐρανοῖς knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven,
καὶ προσωπολημψία οὐκ ἔστιν παρ’ αὐτῷ. and that there is no partiality with him.

Translation and structure by Andrew Fountain