Cheerfully translates the Greek phrase “with pleasure”; the noun occurs only here in the New Testament (see the related verb which occurs only in Matt 5.25 in the New Testament). Robinson translates “ready good will”; Barclay “with goodwill”; Translator’s New Testament “gladly”; New English Bible “cheerful service.” “Willingly” or “happily” also expresses the idea.

The statement Do your work as slaves cheerfully may be rendered as “As you work as slaves, be happy” or “While you work as slaves, have a happy heart” or in an idiomatic form in some languages “… let your heart dance” or “… let your heart sing.”

Again the standard is displayed: “as though to the Lord and not to men.” The reason Christian slaves should perform their duties cheerfully is that they should consider their service as performed for the Lord Jesus Christ and not only for their human masters. It may be necessary to make the phrase not merely men somewhat more specific, for example, “not merely your owners.”

The heavy emphasis in verses 5-7 on the duty of Christian slaves to serve their masters cheerfully, sincerely, enthusiastically, implies that there might have been at the time the letter was written considerable discussion and even differences of opinion on how Christian slaves should regard their servitude.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert C. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1982. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .