This passage (and its close parallel in Colossians 3:22-4:1) make us very ill at ease. Paul did not “endorse” slavery, but he did take it as a fact in the Roman Empire. Unlike most ancient writers, he said masters must serve God, too, even in how they treated their slaves. (To see this even more clearly, study the little letter to Philemon.) But most slaves did not have the option of freeing themselves, and Paul said even slaves, in their awful work situation, could work “as though you were serving the Lord.”

• Ephesians 6, along with other Bible passages, were terribly abused in the pre-Civil War American South. The CEB Study Bible says, “Paul’s instruction is still radical in the ancient world. Masters are to realize that they will give an account to God for how they treat their slaves.” Whose “boss” are you? Who provides services to you regularly with you as their customer? Are you comfortable giving an account to God for how you treat those persons?
• None of us faces formal “slavery” today. Too many people, however, still find themselves feeling economically trapped working for abusive or uncaring employers. If you’re in a bad working situation, how can the principles Paul taught help you to focus your work effort beyond that “awful” boss or company? Does that mean you shouldn’t find a better job if you can?