12/19/17 – Ephesians 6:5 

The Relationship Between Workers and Bosses, Pt. 1. 

Lesson #17-135. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKOHZCQXLwo

Pastor/Teacher, Jim Rickard
Grace Fellowship Church

www.GraceDoctrine.org

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Before we begin, if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, (If You have - Trusted in Him for Eternal Life), it is important to prepare yourself to: Take-in God’s Word and/or Participate in a Communion Service, so take a moment to name, cite, or acknowledge your sins privately, directly to God the Father. This will assure that you are in fellowship with God the Father & the Holy Spirit’s convicting ministry will then be able to teach you as the Holy Spirit is the real teacher.

1 John 1:9 says— “If we confess [simply name, cite, or acknowledge to God the Father] our sins [known sins], He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins [known sins] and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness [all unknown & forgotten sins].”

For those of you who have not yet accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord & Savior, please see: The Salvation Message @ the end of this document.

2 Pet 3:9, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”

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Ephesian 6:5-9 - Working Relationships, Part 1

Vs. 5

In vs. 5-9, we have a third group of address with instructions for workers, vs 5-8, and bosses, vs. 9, in performing their jobs in the secular world. Whereas the first two groups, (wives and husbands, children and parents), were directly involved in family relationships, this group, (slaves and masters, or workers and bosses), is outside the immediate family.

We begin with vs. 5.

Eph 6:5, “Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ.”

It begins with “slaves,” which is the Greek Article HO and the Noun DOULOS, δοῦλος in the subject Nominative plural that means “slave, bondman, or servant.” It is one who is in a permanent relation of servitude to another; generally it is one serving, bound to serve, or in bondage, Rom 6:16-17.

Rom 6:16, “Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, …”

Although this word is used throughout the NT in a figurative sense referring to our relationship to God or our fellow believers as servants, here it is used in its literal sense of being a slave or servant to another member of the human race, e.g., Luke 7:2ff.; John 18:10; Col 3:22ff.; 1 Tim 6:1. The last two passages parallel the discussion in our passage, cf. 1 Cor 7:21-22; Titus 2:9-10.

1 Cor 7:21-22, “Were you called while a slave? Do not worry about it; but if you are able also to become free, rather do that. ²²For he who was called in the Lord while a slave, is the Lord's freedman; likewise he who was called while free, is Christ's slave.”

Titus 2:9-10, “Urge bondslaves to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, ¹⁰not pilfering, but showing all good faith that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect.”

The concept of a slave to the Greeks is to be subject to an utterly debasing social and anthropological position. Autonomy was the highest prize of the Hellenistic world; thus servitude was the absence of any such freedom. Although the position of slaves within households differed, the dependence of the slave upon another and his or her subjection in service made it repulsive to Greeks.

To the Jews of the OT, it was very different. First, people could become slaves as a result of choice. Second, in contrast to the Hellenistic idea, slaves served only for 6 years, Ex 21:2, and the Old Testament also provided for the protection of slaves from mistreatment, Ex 21:14, 26, 27. Third, a religious relationship was regularly conveyed by servanthood.

Here, as elsewhere in the NT, slavery is accepted as an existing institution, which is neither formally condemned nor formally approved.

“The institution is left to be undermined and removed by the gradual operation of the great Christian principles of the equality of men in the sight of God, and a common Christian brotherhood, the spiritual freedom of the Christian man, and the Lordship of Christ to which every other lordship is subordinate.”
(Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament)
                            

Most writers estimate that approximately 60 million people, or one-third of the population of the Roman Empire, were slaves at that time. Vincent says, “In this appeal, Paul was addressing a numerous class. In many of the cities of Asia Minor, slaves outnumbered freemen.” (Vincent Word Studies). In addition, these Christian slaves most likely had heathen masters.

Given that Paul addresses this group who are in servitude to others and the mandates from God he asks them to follow, our current day concept of workers on the job should no less follow these principles. While it may be stretching the passage too far, it is easy to make some comparisons between these statements about slave-master relationships and employee-employer relationships today.

Next, we have the main verb of this passage, “be obedient,” which is HUPAKOUO, ὑπακούω in the Present, Active, Imperative that means, “listen to, obey, follow, be subject to, or respond or answer.” This is the same word Paul used for children to “obey” their parents in vs. 1 and Col 3:20. With the Imperative Mood, we have a command or mandate from God. The Customary Present Tense is for habitual ongoing action. The Active Voice addresses slaves who are to perform the action of “being obedient.”

The root AKOUO means to “hear or listen,” with the prefix HUPO that can means, “under, by, from, from under,  or subject to,” it provides the understanding of subjection, dependence, or the state of being under any person or authority. So it means, “obedience” that comes from “hearing,” and here to submit or comply with. It is used 21 times in the NT, and Paul used it in terms of being obedient (as a slave) in our passage and Col 3:22.  

The slave/worker is not concerned with the rights or wrongs of his circumstances; he is concerned to do his job as unto the Lord. He is concerned to grow in grace. His job is to take in Bible doctrine as a believer and to reach spiritual adulthood, and to leave his job (and all) circumstances in the hands of the Lord. It is part of the Faith-Rest life

Next, we have the object of their obedience, “to those who are your masters according to the flesh.” It is the Dative Article HO, “the,” with the Preposition KATA, “according to,” and the Noun SARX in the Accusative that means, “flesh,” and the Dative Plural Noun KURIOS that means, “lords or masters.”

“According to the flesh,” tells us this passage is speaking of earthly masters or bosses, and not about service to the Lord God or your fellow Christians. It means those who they are indentured to or who own them. These are the ones the slave or worker is to be obedient towards.

Paul carefully encouraged these slaves who had become followers of Christ to obey their masters as they would obey Christ. In other words, they should not use their Christian freedom for an excuse not to render faithful service. In fact, Christians should feel even more obligated to do a good job because of this command and their position in Christ Jesus.

Paul then tells them the way in which they should be doing their job, in three parts:

1. “With fear and trembling.” This uses the Preposition META, “with,” with the Genitive Singular Noun PHOBOS, φόβος that means, “fear, terror, alarm, or reverence and respect.” The latter, “reverence and respect,” is in view. We noted this word in Eph 5:21, regarding service towards our fellow Christians, but here it is service towards one’s master or boss. Then we have the coordinating Conjunction KAI, “and,” with the Genitive Singular Noun TROMOS, τρόμος that means, “quaking, quivering, or trembling.” It generally relates to a trembling caused by fear.

Except for Mark 16:8, this word is only used in the phrase, “fear and trembling,” 1 Cor 2:3; 2 Cor 7:15; Phil 2:12. Although Mark 16:8, does use PHOBEO, “fear” in the passage.

It means they are to have respect for the authoritative position the master or boss has been given by God over them. And with such respect to a good job at the tasks they are to perform. In addition, reverence means to honor the authority their bosses or masters have.

Then “trembling” describes the anxiety of one who distrusts his ability completely to meet all requirements, but religiously does his utmost to fulfil his duty. It is an axiom for having extreme concern and consideration in performing the duties or job at hand, and means giving maximum exertion and effort.

2. “In the sincerity of your heart,” is the Dative Preposition EN, “in,” the Dative Noun HAPLOTES, ἁπλότης that means, “simplicity, sincerity, generosity, or purity.” Then we have the Genitive Article HO, “the” with the Noun KARDIA, “heart or mind,” and the Pronoun HUMEIS, “of you or your.”

HAPLOTES is used in the NT for “giving with liberality” in Rom 12:8; 2 Cor 8:2; 9:13, for the service towards Christ,  2 Cor 11:3, and the servitude of slaves in Eph 6:5; Col 3:22. Therefore it carries the tone of “over and above,” or “above and beyond,” the normal call to duty.

3. “As to Christ,” is the Conjunction HOS, with the Dative HO CHRISTOS. This is the motivation for giving excellent service. Just as we would serve our Lord, we are to serve our bosses and masters. In other words, do your job as unto the Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, this is an encouragement to slaves who have become followers of Christ to obey their masters as they would obey Christ. This also means that they should not use their Christian freedom for an excuse not to render faithful service to their masters or bosses. This is further defined in vs.6-8.

Principles

1. Authority exists and must exist under Divine establishment in the industrial business world.

2. Believers, members of the Royal Family, who are employees or labor must recognize the authority of management.

3. This means that your job is a part of your full time Christian service. It means obedience to the authority of management.

4. This means working under the policy of the business organization from which you are paid.

5. Prosperity in the economy and the effectiveness of industry demands recognition of the authority of management.

6. Management is the brains and the key to industry, and given freedom to use their ingenuity management will be able to provide more jobs and better jobs for labor.

7. Bad management is no excuse for becoming a slacker on the job.

8. Your job is your full-time Christian service, therefore, do your job as unto the Lord.

9. Capacity for life comes from Bible doctrine in your right lobe.

10. Capacity for life in ones’ field overflows to other areas. Because you have doctrine in your soul, you should have integrity in your soul. A person who does his job as unto the Lord will also be a wonderful friend, a wonderful lover, a wonderful person in time of disaster. He will make permanent lifetime friends.

11. This command does not include catering to your boss off the job. To respect management’s authority on the job does not mean that you have to be nice to him off the job. Nor does this verse imply that you must become involved with anyone in extracurricular activities to hold your job. All you have to do is respect the authority of those over you and do your job as unto the Lord.

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A PERSONAL NOTE FOR YOU

If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, I am here to tell you that Jesus loves you. He loves you so much that He gave His life for you. God the Father also loves you. He loves you so much that He gave His only Son for you by sending Him to the Cross. At the Cross Jesus died in your place. Taking upon Himself all of your sins and all of my sins. He was judged for our sins and paid the price for our sins. Therefore, our sins will never be held against us.

Right where you are, you now have the opportunity to make the greatest decision in your life. To accept the free gift of salvation and eternal life by truly believing that Jesus Christ died for your sins and was raised on the third day as the proof of the promise of eternal life. So right now, you can pause and reflect on what Christ has done for you and say to the Father:

"Yes Father, I believe that Your Son, Jesus Christ,
died on the cross for the forgiveness of my sins."

If you have done that, I Welcome You to the Eternal Family of God !!!

Eph 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

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Grace Fellowship Church
Pastor/Teacher: James H. Rickard
23 Messenger Street, Unit 3
Plainville, MA 02762

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