And, you masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.
Read Chapter 6
Cyprian of Carthage
AD 258
Also in the same place: "And, ye masters, do the same things to them, forbearing anger: knowing that both your Master and theirs is in heaven; and there is no choice of persons with Him."
Serving is to be done “in singleness of heart.” One is called to “do the will of God” and to do it “with a good will,” that is, with benevolence from the heart. Everyone will finally receive just judgment from the Lord for whatever good he has done. If he has served as a lowly one in the household, he will be judged justly according to his responsibility. The master of the household is not to be overbearing, not quick to punish. He should know that he too has a master in heaven who will judge justly, who will judge fairly according to our own willing, who will judge by deeds, not status. .
Society arrangements, like laws made by sinners, acknowledge these distinctions of classes. But we are all called to accountability before the law of the common Lord and Master of all. We are called to do good to all alike and to dispense the same fair rights to all. God’s law does not recognize these social distinctions. If anyone should ask where slavery comes from and why it has stolen into human life—for I know that many are keen to ask such things and desire to learn—I shall tell you. It is avarice that brought about slavery. It is acquisitiveness, which is insatiable. This is not the original human condition. Remember that Noah had no slave, nor Abel nor Seth nor those after them. This horrid thing was begotten by sin. It does not come from our earliest ancestors. We pay our ancestors no respect by blaming them. We have insulted nature by this system…. Note how Paul connects everything to the idea of headship. As to the woman he says to the husband: “love her.” As to children he ...
And ye masters, he continues, do the same things unto them.
The same things. What are these? With good-will do service. However he does not actually say, do service, though by saying, the same things, he plainly shows this to be his meaning. For the master himself is a servant. Not as men-pleasers, he means, and with fear and trembling: that is, toward God, fearing lest He one day accuse you for your negligence toward your slaves.
And forbear threatening; be not irritating, he means, nor oppressive.
Knowing that both their Master and yours is in Heaven.
Ah! How mighty a Master does he hint at here! How startling the suggestion! It is this. With what measure you measure, it shall be measured unto you again Matthew 7:2; lest you hear the sentence, Thou wicked servant. I forgave you all that debt. Matthew 18:32
And there is no respect of persons, he says, with Him.
Think not, he would say, that what is done towards a servant, He will therefore forgive, because done to a se...
But the freemen shall be tried by penance for three years, both for their dissimulation, and for having compelled their fellow-servants to offer sacrifice, inasmuch as they have not obeyed the apostle, who would have the masters do the same things unto the servant, forbearing threatening;
