The Master/Servant Relationship

INTRO

Chapter 4 begins in an awkward spot—in the middle of a paragraph. In chapter 3, Paul wrote about rules for Christian households—wives were to submit to their husbands, children were to submit to their parents, and bond servants were to submit to their masters. In Colossians 4:1, Paul ended these household instructions and told the masters of the slaves to be honorable (right and fair) to their servants.

In that context, we will be talking about masters/servants, bosses/workers, and leaders/teams today. Paul was communicating that it is not wise to do ministry alone and is always wise to do ministry as a team. Look at the partnerships and teams represented in Scripture:

• Peter and John
• Peter, John, and the Apostles
• Peter, John, the Apostles, and the men of Cypress and Cyrene
• Aquila and Priscilla
• Timothy and Silas
• Barnabas and Mark
• Barnabas and Paul

I believe Paul was in the business of building teams of people whom he knew could carry the torch of spreading the gospel throughout the world. Not only did Paul practice what he preached in terms of building a team, he also practiced what he preached when it came to maintaining a team—his ongoing leadership of people. Note that Paul was already in a master/bond servant-type relationship. There are three ways we can look at the master/bond servant relationship. A bondservant is (1) someone who was unwillingly serving a master; (2) a servant who was willingly serving a master without compensation; or (3) someone who was willingly serving a master with compensation. For the purpose of this discussion, we’ll be looking at the last two options—someone who was willingly serving.

TEACHING

Colossians 4:1-4: Paul instructed the masters to treat their servants justly and fairly (v. 1). Justly can be understood as “rightly,” and fairly can be understood as “favorably.” Ephesians 6:5–9 gives an extended explanation of how masters were to be treated and how masters were to treat their servants—both masters and servants were to treat each other as they would obey Christ, “do God’s will from your heart” (v. 6). In Colossians 4:2, Paul instructed them to pray continuously for each other and to be watchful to see how God was using the team. In verses 3–4, Paul asked for prayers for his team (“us”) that God would continue to open the door for them to share God’s Word, and to give Paul the words to make God’s Word clear. Paul then encouraged them to walk in wisdom and speak with graciousness before others (vv. 5–6).

Colossians 4:7–14: In verse 7, Paul began to name his team:

Tychicus (vv. 7–8) was mentioned four times in Paul’s letters (Ephesians 6:21–22; Colossians 4:7; 2 Timothy 4:12; Titus 3:12). Paul sent Tychicus to Colosse to bring word of Paul’s imprisonment and to encourage the people there. Tychicus must have been dependable and had a shepherd’s heart, and Paul wanted to make sure he was treated fairly.

Onesimus (v. 9) was previously a slave who ran away from his master, met Paul, and was saved. Paul sent Onesimus with a mentor, Tychicus, and Paul wanted him to be treated justly (Philemon 10–12, 17–19).

Aristarchus (v. 10a) accompanied Paul through some of his most difficult circumstances—a riot, imprisonment, a shipwreck—and he stayed with Paul in spite of these. Paul wanted Aristarchus to be treated rightly because he had endured a lot and earned their respect.

Mark (v. 10b) wrote the Gospel of Mark and had accompanied Paul on his first journey together with Barnabas as an assistant. John Mark ultimately abandoned them and went home—he quit. Paul refused to take John Mark on the second journey with Barnabas, but was reconciled with him later (2 Timothy 4:11). Since Mark had been restored, he wanted Mark to be treated justly.

Justus (v. 11) was a fellow worker and a comfort to Paul. Paul wanted him to be treated fairly.

Epaphras (vv. 12–13) was the founder of the church in Colosse (Colossians 1:7–8), and was a servant of Christ (Colossians 4:12). Epaphras was a hard worker and one of Paul’s prayer warriors. He was even Paul’s roommate. Paul wanted him treated fairly.

Luke (v. 14a) wrote the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts. He accompanied Paul to Jerusalem and to Rome and was a great support partner and encourager. Luke had credibility with the Greeks because he was a physician. Paul wanted him treated fairly.

Demas (v. 14b) was labeled as a fellow worker (along with Mark, Luke, and Aristarchus) in Philemon 24, but he fell in love with the world and deserted Paul (2 Timothy 4:10). Note that no adjectives were given to describe him, making it seem he has lost favor with Paul. Paul wanted him to be treated justly.

Colossians 4:15–18: In chapter 2, Paul explained he had never met the believers in Laodicea, but he continued to pour into them (v. 15). Paul also instructed that the letter to the Colossians be shared with the Laodiceans and that the Colossians were to read the letter he sent to Laodicea (v. 16). This suggests there may have been another letter from Paul that did not make it into Scripture. Paul then encouraged Archippus, even from a distance, because he had a desire to see God’s kingdom grow, and he knew it takes an army of believing laborers to do so (v. 17). This is a great example of leadership and discipleship. This is why we don’t do ministry alone! Paul concluded his letter with words of grace.

CLOSING

Paul had a love for the church, for the laborers who worked within it, and for the cause of Christ. Paul demonstrated this through the way he poured into the churches and laborers and the way he demonstrated concern for them consistently throughout his ministry.