Colossians 3:24

However their earthly master may reward their service, there is a Master who will give them a just recompense; although they cannot receive an earthly, He will give them a heavenly inheritance. ἀπὸ Κυρίου : in Ephesians 6:8 παρὰ Κ. The absence of the article is noteworthy. It emphasises the position rather than identifies the Person of Him who gives the reward (cf. the anarthrous ἐν υἱῷ, Hebrews 1:1). Haupt thinks that there is no significance to be attached to its omission; but, as Lightfoot says, “it is studiously inserted in the context”. ἀνταπόδοσιν τῆς κληρονομίας : the “just recompense consisting in the inheritance”. κλ. is a genitive of apposition. δουλεύετε. This may be taken as an indicative (Lightf., Findl., Moule, Haupt) or as an imperative (Mey., Ell., Alf., Abb.). The indicative is defended on the ground that it is needed to explain who is meant by ἀπὸ Κυρίου (but this was surely obvious), and that the imperative seems to require ὡς τῷ Κ. But Lightfoot himself quotes Romans 12:11, where ὡς is absent. On the other hand the indicative gives a somewhat flat sense, and the imperative seems to yield a better connexion with Colossians 3:25. It is best then to take it as an imperative.