In the English Standard Version (ESV) translation of the Bible, there is always a notation beside the word “servant” that tells the reader that the word in Greek actually translates into “bondservant”. That got me thinking as to what difference it makes if the Greek word doulos is rendered as “servant” or “bondservant”.
Apparently there is a difference, it seems, when I checked the word in Strong’s Concordance.
The Greek word doulous used throughout the New Testament to denote servanthood primarily means that one is a slave, but it also adds that someone who refers to himself thus (such as Paul) is saying that he is
- one who gives himself up to another’s will those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing his cause among men
- devoted to another to the disregard of one’s own interests
Probing further into this “office” of a bondservant, I was reminded of the laws given to the Israelites by God on slavery in the book of Exodus. At this point, I feel that it is pertinent that we must also understand that slavery in those days was part and parcel of economic life, and that it was legitimate for one to serve as a slave in order to eke out a living, exchanging one’s service for shelter and food. And if you think about it seriously, we are all slaves in some ways to our employers even today though the term is discarded in favor of euphemisms like “employee”.
God gave specific instructions to the Israelites on the treatment of Hebrew slaves, mandating that slaves be set free after serving a period of six years.
Now these are the rules that you shall set before them. When you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go out free, for nothing. If he comes in single, he shall go out single; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him. If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master’s, and he shall go out alone.
When we read on to verses 5 and 6, we find the concept of a bondservant.
But if the slave plainly says, “I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,” then his master shall bring him to God, and he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall be his slave forever.
This was fascinating to me in light of the probe into the “office” of a bondservant! Previously, I had just read this passage in Exodus 21 superficially as just laws given of God to the Israelites for the treatment of Hebrew slaves, but the revelation that a slave can willingly choose to serve his master for the rest of his life if he loved his master was an eye-opener when we put this into the context of Christians being servants of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I know some teachers teach that while we have been slaves to sin previously, we now have a new master in Christ Jesus who sets us free by His perfect sacrifice, but when you compare “slave to sin” against “bondservant to Christ Jesus”, do you just not feel the elation that comes with discovering our real relationship with our Lord?
We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.
I came to the following exciting conclusions on what it means to be a bondservant of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Firstly, we are His bondservants because first and foremost we love Him and plainly declare it, as set out in Exodus 21:5.
Secondly, as His bondservants we seek to do His will and should, as the meaning of the Greek word suggests, be devoted to Him to the disregard of our own interests.
Thirdly, we do not need to worry about our needs when we do His will because our master shall take care of us. Notice that I specified when we do His will, because as bondservants we should seek only to be provided for when we are obedient and do the will of our master.
What a difference the translation of a single Greek word makes in looking at our relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ!
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As I re-read Exodus 21:5-6, it also dawned on me that the bondservant who pledges his lifetime service to his master is brought to God by the latter and “marked”.
Aren’t we also presented before God as acceptable, and the dwelling of the Holy Spirit in us is our “mark”?
Dulos actually means SLAVE!!! not servant or bond servant
Yes, it can mean a voluntary or involuntary slave, according to Strong’s Concordance. In the case of the voluntary slave where the person chooses to be a servant after the 6 years are up, he is in effect a bondservant.
Hi Isaiah, I like the new site. I don’t know what your vision, inspiration, or reason is for changing, but nevertheless, I like the site. Anyway, with regard to your post, I have been reading a book by John Piper, entitled “Don’t Waste Your Life”. (Have you heard of it, or read it?) In this book, which is very good, he talks about what truly living a life as a slave/ servant of God really looks like- or should look like. He really does a good job of illustrating just why so few see Christians today, in this Western culture (that I live in) no longer have need to be able to answer the question “What is the reason for your hope?” The answer is that to all outward appearances, unfortunately most Christians look like they hope for the same things that unbelievers hope for. That we don’t adequately show an image of God as our hope. We are so much more “of” the world than we ought to be. No wonder so many call themselves Christians, and yet have no actual faith in Jesus as their Savior, and only actually live “good lives.” As you well know, living a “good life” and being a “good person” won’t get anyone into Heaven. I hate to think of standing in front of the Lord on Judgement Day and having Him tell me that He never knew me, simply because I never truly went about HIS business, with an obedient, loving heart, in this life. It’s been an eye opener. If you haven’t read the book, you should really see about getting it. Blessings to you, and I’ll try to come back again soon. (BTW I added this link to the blogroll.) Talk to you later.
–Your Sister in Christ
Isaiah,
I remember finding a passage about servants/slaves in Deuteronomy a couple of years ago. Deu. 23:15-16–”You shall not give back to his master the slave who has escaped from his master to you. He may dwell with you in your midst, in the place which he chooses within one of your gates, where it seems best to him; you shall not oppress him.”
I always remember this one when I think about how we have escaped from our old master (Satan) and have found refuge within the gates of our new Master, Jesus Christ, and Christ will never, NEVER send us back to our old master, if we truly belong to Him.
May we always remember we are a doulos to our Lord Jesus Christ!
Shalom, Shalene:
Thank you for visiting, the compliments and adding my blog to your links! I really appreciate it. Perhaps one day I’ll write what the inspiration is for the restart.
Thank you for the recommendation, Shalene. I’ve heard about that book by John Piper. In fact, it’s free to read on the Internet at the resource page at Desiring God dot Org. They’ve got quite a few good books there too.
Tried reading it but I’m not someone who can read a book off the computer screen so I will need to save some before I go get it (if it’s available in bookstores here, that is).
God bless!
Thank you for dropping by, brother Four* Pointer! Appreciate it.
That’s a great verse to remember too. AMEN!
Yeah, true. =)
I rather tend to agree with the author’s definition and have heard it put this way before. It is actually very much in line with Paul, a servant to the most high God first, while concurrently in his ignorance of Christ, a persecutor to Him through His Son, the Christ. A real dichotomy. Just as slave and today’s definition of servant are different. A servant was a slave but in his slavery, he was a servant. As was I believe properly identified, the reference to the old testament whereby a slave could choose to remain of his own accord under the law, he gave his word. Which is of course a bond. Since this principle was of the law and Paul was a pharisee, would it not also be consistent that his (Paul’s) use of the word servant/slave/bondservant all be consistent? Considering context and time, wouldn’t the definition below respond to the author’s apparent intent as well as identifying with your correction? Which is correct, partially. I don’t think the author was trying to ‘enslave’ us to a word definition which was wrong. The key words below are ‘one who gives himself’. If I have mis-understood the intent of your written reply, my sincere apologies. But just as you have written to correct, if you are right, is it said in love, but if you are wrong and not in love, is it relevant? Paul also said, ‘ with me all things are possible, but few are beneficial’. It is important to test all spirits. But we are I assume all Christian brothers so we must do it in love perhaps as an inquiry, rather than an indictment?
Matthew 7:3
This ususally keeps me from commenting on things like this. Forgive my directness. I am sure your intentions were good but to non-believers who read these things it is just more amunition used to divide us further.
God Bless
1.) a slave, bondman, man of servile condition
2.) a slave metaph., one who gives himself up to another’s will; those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing his cause among men devoted to another to the disregard of one’s own interests
a servant, attendant
@Alastair -
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