φόβου καὶ τρόμου, with fear and trembling, i. 6. with conscientious solicitude. That nothing servile is in- tended by these terms is plain from the context, and from a comparison with other passages in which the same expression is used. It is not the fear of man, but the reverential fear of God of which the apostle speaks, as what follows clearly proves. In 1 Cor. 2, 8, Paul tells the Corinthians that he came among them “with fear and trembling ;” and in 2 Cor. 7, 15, he speaks of their having received Titus, “with fear and trembling;” and in Phil. 2,12, he exhorts believers to work out their salvation “with fear and trembling.” In all of these cases solicitude to do what is right is all the terms imply.
2. This obedience is to be rendered ἐν ἁπλότητι τῆς καρδίας, with simplicity of heart, i. e. with singleness of mind—meaning just what we appear to mean. It is opposed to hypocrisy, false pretence, deceit and cun- ning. Compare Rom. 12, 8; 2 Cor. 8,2; 9,11. The word ἁπλότης signifies sengleness, from ἁπλόος, one-Sold, as opposed to διπλόος, two-fold, or, double. The thing enjoined is, therefore, the opposite of double-minded- ness. ὃ. This obedience is to be rendered ὡς τῷ Χρι- oto, as to Christ. Slaves were to regard their obe- dience to their masters as part of their obedience to Christ. This would give it the character of a religious service, because the motive is regard to divine authority, and its object is a divine person. It thus ceases to be servile, and becomes consistent with the highest mental elevation and spiritual freedom.
CHAP. VI. vs. 6, 7. 365
V.6. The apostle explains in the two following verses what he means by s¢mplicity of heart, or sincere obedience. It is not eye-service. That is, such service as is rendered only when the eye of the master sees what is done; as though the only object were to please men. Servants are required to act as the δοῦλοι τοῦ Χριστοῦ, the slaves of Christ, whose eyes are every where; and, therefore, if their desire is to please him, they must be as faithful in their master’s absence as in his presence. Ποιοῦντες τὸ ϑέλημα τοῦ Θεοῦ, doing the will of God. This is descriptive of the servants of Christ, in opposition to men-pleasers. They act from a regard to the will of God, and from a desire to please him,—逫 ψυχῆς, ex animo, from the soul. Sometimes ψυχή means the seat of the desires and affections, and then agrees in sense with καρδία. Sometimes the two are distinguished, as in Mark 12, 30, “ with all the heart (xapdia,) and with all the soul (ψυχή). Here the sense is, that the principle of obedience is nothing external, but is within. It is an obedience which springs from the soul—the whole inner man. These words are com- monly and most naturally connected with the preceding clause ; ‘doing the will of the Lord from the soul.’ By many commentators and editors they are connected with what follows, ‘from the soul, with good will, doing service.’ This gives δουλεύοντες two nearly equivalent qualifying clauses, and leaves the preceding participle ποιοῦντες Without any.
V. τ. The whole character of the obedience of the slave is summed up in this verse, δουλεύοντες, ὡς TO Κυρίῳ