Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary (4 vols)

Ephesians 6:9

Ephesians 6:9. And ye masters. The position and authority is recognized.

Do the same things to-wards them. ‘The Apostle had stooped to the slave, and he was not afraid to speak with erect attitude to the master. The language is general, and expresses what Calvin well calls jus analogum' (Eadie). The reference need not be limited to Ephesians 6:7, or Ephesians 6:6, nor extended to every detail of the preceding exhortation.

Forbearing threatening, lit., ‘the threatening,' your habitual threatening. ‘St. Paul singles out the prevailing vice and most customary exhibition of bad feeling on the part of the master, and in forbidding this naturally includes every similar form of harshness' (Ellicott).

Knowing (as in Ephesians 6:8) that their Master and yours, lit, ‘both their and your Master,' according to the best authorities, the variations being numerous. The best paraphrase would be: ‘He who is both their Master and yours.'

Is in heaven. ‘Before Him earthly power does not appear, is of no value; in His time He comes from heaven as Judge; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; 2 Thessalonians 1:7 (Braune).

If either is there respect of persons with him. With Him there is no partiality; He will not regard a rich man favorably because he is rich; nor yet a poor man favorably because he is poor; comp. Colossians 3:25. The reference is to the final Judgment.

The general principles underlying this section are applicable to all the relations of employer and employee. The latter is warned against eye-service, exhorted to faithful labor ‘as in God's sight,' bidden to look unto a higher recompense than the temporal wages, because he serves a higher Master. The former is reminded of the equality of all before God, warned that position does not avail in His sight, and exhorted respecting the duties to Him involved in the duties of an employer. Here, and here only, is the true social science. Our duties to one another are duties to Christ.

Continues after advertising

BibliaPlus

Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary (4 vols)

Ephesians 6:9

Old Testament

New Testament