Bible Text – Ephesians 6:5–9 (NASB)

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;

6 not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.

7 With goodwill render service, as to the Lord, and not to people,

8 knowing that whatever good thing each one does, he will receive this back from the Lord, whether slave or free.

9 And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.

1. Quick Historical Lens (1st-Century Roman World)

When Paul wrote Ephesians, slavery was a widespread, legal institution in the Roman Empire.

1. Roman slavery was not based on race or ethnicity. Slaves came from various regions, including Greece, Egypt, North Africa, Gaul, and Asia Minor, often as prisoners of war.
2. Being a slave in Rome was cruel and unbearable. Slaves were considered property and faced severe punishments for misbehavior, including beatings, chains, fetters, forced labor in mills, and even execution by hanging or crucifixion. Runaway slaves were branded.
3. Roman slaves performed nearly every menial job imaginable, from domestic and agricultural tasks to mining, smithing, baking, guarding, accounting, firefighting.
4. Enslaved people had limited rights and could be exploited; conditions varied from harsh labor to household/service roles.
5. This matters because Paul is speaking pastorally to Christians living inside a system they did not control—some believers were enslaved, some were masters, and they worshiped together in the same churches.

2. Instructions to Enslaved Believers (6:5–8)

Paul addresses both enslaved Christians and Christian masters. His core move is to place both groups under the authority of Christ.

1. Obey earthly masters with respect and sincerity (not deception or rebellion-as-identity).
2. Work "as to Christ," meaning their ultimate audience is the Lord—not merely human supervision.
3. Avoid "eye-service" (only working hard when watched); instead, serve with integrity.
4. Remember: God sees and will reward faithful good, regardless of social status.

3. Why Paul Doesn't Speak "Strongly Against" Slavery

In Ephesians 6, Paul's focus is not a political program but church discipleship inside a broken social order. Several reasons commonly noted:

1. Pastoral aim: He's forming Christlike communities under pressure, not writing imperial legislation.
2. Protection of vulnerable believers: A call for social revolt could have triggered immediate violence against churches—especially enslaved members.
3. Gospel strategy: Paul targets the moral foundations—placing master and slave under one Lord, banning threats, insisting God shows no partiality. Those principles undermine slavery's logic over time, even if he doesn't launch a direct abolition campaign in this passage.

4. What This Means for a Church Today

These are the lessons we can learn from today's lesson, and we SHOULD take them seriously:

1. We are brothers and sisters in Christ, there are no distinctions.
2. Christ is Lord over every power relationship.
3. God demands integrity from the vulnerable and justice from the powerful.
4. Spiritual equality is implied: the master and the enslaved stand on level ground before God.
5. Many churches apply these principles to workplaces, leadership, and authority:
   • Employees: serve with integrity, not performative effort.
   • Employers/leaders: reject fear tactics, honor dignity, practice fairness, remember you answer to God.