Colossians 3:24

Colossians 3:24 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
• New International Version (NIV)since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
• English Standard Version (ESV)knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
• New King James Version (NKJV)knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

Context of Colossians 3:24

22Servants, in everything obey those who are your masters on earth, not only with external service, as those who merely please people, but with sincerity of heart because of your fear of the Lord. 23Whatever you do [whatever your task may be], work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort], as [something done] for the Lord and not for men, knowing [with all certainty] that it is from the Lord [not from men] that you will receive the inheritance which is your [greatest] reward. It is the Lord Christ whom you [actually] serve. 25For he who does wrong will be punished for his wrongdoing, and [with God] there is no partiality [no special treatment based on a person’s position in life].

Colossians 3:24 word by word

εἰδότες ὅτι ἀπὸ κυρίου ἀπολήμψεσθε τὴν ἀνταπόδοσιν τῆς κληρονομίας· τῷ κυρίῳ Χριστῷ δουλεύετε.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Knowingεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• ofἀπόapo · away fromG575
• the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
• ye shall receiveἀπολαμβάνωapolambanō · to get backG618
• the rewardἀνταπόδοσιςantapodosis · rewardG469
• of the inheritanceκληρονομίαklēronomia · inheritanceG2817
• forγάρgar · forG1063
• ye serveδουλεύωdouleuō · be a slaveG1398
• ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547

Cross-references for Colossians 3:24

• Colossians 2:18Let no one defraud you of your prize [your freedom in Christ and your salvation] by insisting on mock humility and the worship of angels, going into detail about visions [he claims] he has seen [to justify his authority], puffed up [in conceit] by his unspiritual mind,
• Genesis 15:1After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; Your reward [for obedience] shall be very great.”
• Ruth 2:12May the Lord repay you for your kindness, and may your reward be full from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”
• Proverbs 11:18The wicked man earns deceptive wages, But he who sows righteousness and lives his life with integrity will have a true reward [that is both permanent and satisfying].
• Matthew 5:12Be glad and exceedingly joyful, for your reward in heaven is great [absolutely inexhaustible]; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
• Matthew 6:1“Be [very] careful not to do your good deeds publicly, to be seen by men; otherwise you will have no reward [prepared and awaiting you] with your Father who is in heaven.
• Matthew 10:41He who receives and welcomes a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and he who receives a righteous (honorable) man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward.
• Luke 6:35But love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; for your reward will be great (rich, abundant), and you will be sons of the Most High; because He Himself is kind and gracious and good to the ungrateful and the wicked.
• Luke 14:14and you will be blessed because they cannot repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous (the just, the upright).”
• Romans 2:6He will pay back to each person according to his deeds [justly, as his deeds deserve]:
• Romans 4:4Now to a laborer, his wages are not credited as a favor or a gift, but as an obligation [something owed to him].
• 1 Corinthians 3:8He who plants and he who waters are one [in importance and esteem, working toward the same purpose]; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
• 1 Corinthians 9:17For if I do this work of my own free will, then I have a reward; but if it is not of my will [but by God’s choosing], I have been entrusted with a [sacred] stewardship.
• Ephesians 6:8knowing that whatever good thing each one does, he will receive this back from the Lord, whether [he is] slave or free.
• Hebrews 9:15For this reason He is the Mediator and Negotiator of a new covenant [that is, an entirely new agreement uniting God and man], so that those who have been called [by God] may receive [the fulfillment of] the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has taken place [as the payment] which redeems them from the sins committed under the obsolete first covenant.
• Hebrews 10:35Do not, therefore, fling away your [fearless] confidence, for it has a glorious and great reward.

Commentaries on Colossians 3:24

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 24The reward of the inheritance - Here, ye have neither lands nor property; ye are servants or slaves; be not discouraged, ye have an inheritance in store; be faithful unto God and to your employers, and Christ will give you a heavenly inheritance.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 22-25Verses 22-25 Servants, obey in all things … - ; see the notes at Ephesians 6:5-8.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-25Verses 18-25 The epistles most taken up in displaying the glory of the Divine grace, and magnifying the Lord Jesus, are the most particular in pressing the duties of the Christian life. We must never separate the privileges and duties of the gospel. Submission is the duty of wives. But it is submission, not to a severe lord or stern tyrant, but to her own husband, who is engaged to affectionate duty. And husbands must love their wives with tender and…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 22-24Slaves have masters on earth they must obey. Slavery was central to life and the economy in the ancient world. The New Testament does not directly oppose slavery. Yet, Christian faith creates relationships that change the nature of the social structure (see Philemon 1:15–16). It is the Lord Christ you are serving: All Christians, whether slave or free, serve a higher Master. His will is most important.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2424. the reward of the inheritance--"Knowing that it is from the Lord (the ultimate source of reward), ye shall receive the compensation (or recompense, which will make ample amends for your having no earthly possession as slaves now) consisting of the inheritance" (a term excluding the notion of meriting it by works: it is all of grace, Ro 4:14; Ga 3:18). for ye serve--The oldest manuscripts omit "for," then translate as Vulgate, "Serve ye the Lord…Read the comment

Topics related to Colossians 3:24

• Jesus Continued
• Righteous
• Servant

In the dictionaries

• Christ
• Christ, Messiah
• Admonish
• Bond
• Charity
• Covetousness
• Discourage
• Ephesians, Epistle to
• Fit
• Lord

Commentaries on Colossians 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings