because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
Parallel translations
- WEB knowing that whatever good thing each one does, he will receive the same again from the Lord, whether he is bound or free.
- KJV Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
- NKJV knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.
- NASB knowing that whatever good thing each one does, he will receive this back from the Lord, whether slave or free.
- NLT Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Whatever good anyone does, slave or free, the Lord will reward. God sees and repays faithful service regardless of one's station.
Overview
Paul gives a motivating assurance: the Lord will reward every good deed, 'whether he is bound or free.' Social status does not affect God's just and gracious reckoning. This promise dignifies the humblest faithful labor and encourages believers to serve well, knowing their reward comes from Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Col 3:24because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
- Luke 14:14and you will be blessed. Since they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
- Matt 6:4so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
- Matt 16:27For the Son of Man will come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will repay each one according to what he has done.
- 2 Cor 5:10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.
- Prov 11:18The wicked man earns an empty wage, but he who sows righteousness reaps a true reward.
- Matt 10:41–42Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward.
- Luke 6:35But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
- Col 3:11Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all.
- Prov 23:18For surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
- Rom 2:6–10God “will repay each one according to his deeds.”
- Matt 6:1“Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
- Matt 5:12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.
- Heb 10:35So do not throw away your confidence; it holds a great reward.
- Isa 3:11Woe to the wicked; disaster is upon them! For they will be repaid with what their hands have done.
- Gal 3:28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
- Heb 11:26He valued disgrace for Christ above the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his reward.
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Every spiritual blessing is 'in Christ,' the head over all things for the church, in whom Jew and Gentile are made one new man by his blood.
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Original language
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