knowing that whatever good thing each one does, he will receive this back from the Lord, whether 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.
- BSB because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
- NKJV knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a 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 3:24knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
- Luke 14:14and you will be blessed, because they don’t have the resources to repay you. For you will be repaid in the resurrection of the righteous.”
- Matt 6:4so that your merciful deeds may be in secret, then your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
- Matt 16:27For the Son of Man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will render to everyone according to his deeds.
- 2 Cor 5:10For we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
- Prov 11:18Wicked people earn deceitful wages, but one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
- Matt 10:41–42He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. He who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward.
- Luke 6:35But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back; and your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil.
- Col 3:11where there can’t be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all.
- Prov 23:18Indeed surely there is a future hope, and your hope will not be cut off.
- Rom 2:6–10who “will pay back to everyone according to their works:”
- Matt 6:1“Be careful that you don’t do your charitable giving before men, to be seen by them, or else you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
- Matt 5:12Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
- Heb 10:35Therefore don’t throw away your boldness, which has a great reward.
- Isa 3:11Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them; for the deeds of his hands will be paid back to him.
- Gal 3:28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
- Heb 11:26accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the 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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