Niewolnicy i panowie jako słudzy jedynego Pana (Ef 6, 5–9)
Slaves and masters as servants of the one Lord (Ephesians 6: 5–9)

Summary/Abstract: The article deals with the issue of mutual relations between slaves and masters in Christian communities. Their relations were a revolution in a pagan world where slaves were sometimes treated as animals by their owners. A radical change in mutual relations took place thanks to Christ. The entire pericope is Christocentric. In just five verses, the term Christ appears five times. The author of Ephesians does not call slaves to rebellion, but commands submissive, motivated, and full of respect service to their masters. The principal point of reference for slaves is no longer their earthly master, but Christ Himself. Recognition and reward come from him. The surprising thing in the text is only one verse dedicated to masters, as opposed to four verses addressed to slaves. This clear disproportion may result from the social structure of the Church at that time, in which there were definitely more slaves than masters. The latter also have obligations to slaves. They are united by the same Lord, for whom social rank, property and education do not matter. Before Him all are equal, which is also brought out by our text using the double eidotes – knowing (cf. vv. 8: 9) which places both slaves and masters on the same level of equality. The entirety of the pericope suggests that solutions to all social dissonances should be sought in faith in Christ that creates mutual benefits in human relations.

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