As commentators point out, there were probably very few Christian slave-owners at the time. Be fair and just translates two words meaning “the right thing” and “the fair thing.” The command to them is enforced by the reminder that they too are slaves of the Master in heaven. (Phillips “you employers” is an unwarranted modernization of the text.) In place of a literal translation of be fair and just in the way you treat your slaves, it may be more satisfactory to say “treat your slaves in a fair and just way.”

As in verse 24, remember signifies “bear in mind” or “continually keep in mind.”

It may be quite impossible in some languages to say “you too have a Master in heaven.” People do not “possess masters”; rather they “belong to masters” or “masters possess them.” Accordingly, remember that you too have a Master in heaven may be translated as “bear in mind that you belong to one in heaven” or “bear in mind that the one who owns you is in heaven.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Colossians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1977. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .