In the biblical context, the concept of an employer is closely tied to the broader themes of work, stewardship, and authority. While the term "employer" as understood in modern times is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible, the Scriptures provide principles and examples that relate to the relationship between those who hire and those who work.

Biblical Principles of Employment

1. Authority and Stewardship: Employers are seen as stewards of the resources and people God has entrusted to them. This stewardship is to be exercised with justice, fairness, and compassion. Colossians 4:1 instructs, "Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven."

2. Fair Wages and Treatment: The Bible emphasizes the importance of fair treatment and timely payment of wages. Leviticus 19:13 states, "You must not defraud your neighbor or rob him. You must not withhold until morning the wages due a hired hand." This underscores the ethical responsibility of employers to honor their commitments to their workers.

3. Respect and Dignity: The relationship between employer and employee should be marked by mutual respect. Ephesians 6:9 advises, "And masters, do the same for them. Do not threaten them, since you know that He who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him."

4. Accountability: Employers are accountable to God for how they treat their employees. James 5:4 warns, "Look, the wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty."

Examples of Employers in the Bible

1. Boaz: In the Book of Ruth, Boaz is portrayed as a model employer. He is generous, kind, and protective of his workers, including Ruth, a foreigner and widow. Boaz ensures that Ruth is treated with respect and provides for her needs (Ruth 2:8-16).

2. The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard: In Matthew 20:1-16, Jesus tells a parable about a landowner who hires workers at different times of the day but pays them the same wage. This parable highlights the sovereignty of God and the principle of generosity, as well as the importance of fulfilling agreed-upon terms.

3. The Centurion: In Matthew 8:5-13, a Roman centurion demonstrates faith and authority. While not an employer in the traditional sense, his understanding of authority and care for his servant reflect principles applicable to employers.

Responsibilities of Employers

Employers are called to reflect God's character in their leadership and management. This includes:

· Justice and Equity: Ensuring that all employees are treated fairly and without discrimination.
· Compassion and Care: Being attentive to the needs and well-being of employees, recognizing their inherent dignity as image-bearers of God.
· Integrity and Honesty: Conducting business with transparency and truthfulness, honoring commitments and contracts.

The biblical view of employment relationships is rooted in the understanding that all authority ultimately belongs to God, and those in positions of power are to exercise it in a manner that honors Him and serves others.(n.) One who employs another; as, an employer of workmen.

The Christian's Fellow Man
... It is said that out of these struggles between competitors, and employer and employee,
there is coming a better understanding between the contending parties ...
/.../sell/studies in the life of the christian/study iv the christians fellow.htm

Monos
... for all men are not perfect, even in Trinidad"the Coolie required protection, in
certain cases, against a covetous and short- sighted employer, who might ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter vi monos.htm

Jacob Jones; Or, the Man who Couldn't Get Along in the World.
... "It must have been somehow or other. I should think, or somehow else,"
returned the employer, half seriously, and half playfully. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arthur/words for the wise/jacob jones or the man.htm

When a Man Sows, He Expects to Reap.
... The employer marked the barrels, "Beans"A 1." The clerk seeing this, said:
"Do you think, sir, that it is right to mark those beans A 1?". ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/sowing and reaping/chapter iii when a man.htm

Verbal Inspiration
... A stenographer in a mercantile house was asked by his employer to write as follows:
"Gentlemen: we misunderstood your letter and will now fill your order.". ...
/.../the divine inspiration of the bible/chapter thirteen verbal inspiration .htm

Eighth Commandment
... Employer, are you guilty of sweating your employees? Have you defrauded the hireling
of his wages? ... And you, employee, have you been honest with your employer? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/weighed and wanting/eighth commandment.htm

The Handwriting Blotted Out
... The young man had a good deal of principle, and at first refused, but he was anxious
to keep in the good graces of his employer and finally yielded. ...
/.../moody/weighed and wanting/the handwriting blotted out.htm

Further Answers to Prayer
... Meanwhile, I continued pleading with GOD, more and more earnestly, that He would
graciously remind my employer that my salary was overdue. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/taylor/a retrospect/chapter iv further answers to.htm

Naaman the Syrian
... it was in a Methodist church. In Scotland a man was converted at one of
our meetings"an employer. He was very anxious that all ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/men of the bible/iii naaman the syrian.htm

They Feared the Lord, and Served their Own Gods. 2 Kings 17:33.
... take care of his store, and suppose the clerk were to continue to attend to his
own business, and when asked to do what is necessary for his employer, who pays ...
/.../finney/lectures to professing christians/they feared the lord and.htm

Employer (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) One who employs another; as, an employer of
workmen. Multi-Version Concordance Employer (2 Occurrences). ...
/e/employer.htm - 7k

Wages (52 Occurrences)
... Laban (employer) said to Jacob (employee): "Appoint me thy wages, and I will give
it" (Genesis 30:28); "If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages ...
/w/wages.htm - 28k

Report (127 Occurrences)
... in return; to relate, as what has been discovered by a person sent to examine, explore,
or investigate; as, a messenger reports to his employer what he has ...
/r/report.htm - 38k

Employed (8 Occurrences)

/e/employed.htm - 9k

Employment (5 Occurrences)

/e/employment.htm - 8k

Grumble (13 Occurrences)
... Grumble (13 Occurrences). Matthew 20:11 So when they had received it, they grumbled
against the employer, saying, (Root in WEY NAS RSV NIV). ...
/g/grumble.htm - 10k

Grumbled (13 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Grumbled (13 Occurrences). Matthew 20:11 So when they
had received it, they grumbled against the employer, saying, (WEY NAS RSV). ...
/g/grumbled.htm - 9k

Refer (4 Occurrences)
... for information or a guarantee of any kind, as in respect to one's integrity, capacity,
pecuniary ability, and the like; as, I referred to his employer for the ...
/r/refer.htm - 8k

Eyeservice (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) Service performed only under inspection, or the eye
of an employer. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. EYESERVICE. ...
/e/eyeservice.htm - 7k

Discharge (30 Occurrences)
... duty. 18. (vt) Release or dismissal from an office, employment, etc.; dismissal;
as, the discharge of a workman by his employer. 19. ...
/d/discharge.htm - 18k

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