Issue 1270 – Misunderstood – October 12, 2023
We have all heard the old saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” We know that it isn’t true. Words have power and can cut deeper or lift higher than anything physical ever dreamed of.
There is a word in the Bible that is almost universally mistranslated. I understand and can appreciate the mistranslation of the word. It has been softened because of particular cultural sensitivities.
The word is the Greek word doulos. Doulos and its various forms appear more than 150 times in the New Testament, most typically translated as servants. A few translations will sometimes render it as bondservant in places. Only one translation (to my knowledge) translates the word for what it truly means … slave.
If you were to research doulos in any of the ancient documents, you would find it universally used to mean slave. It isn’t even questionable. It never implies servant or even bondservant.
I understand the use of the word as “”servant”” in most English translations because of our cultural sensitivity to slavery. With the abuses we know of in the slave trade, the concept of slavery is abhorrent to us, and rightfully so. Yet, without going into deep historical detail (after all, part of the fun is for you to check things for yourself), slavery in the past wasn’t always about brutality and treating your slave as a mere chattel.
In ancient Rome, slaves could become as valued as many family members and had better living conditions than many ordinary people. In the Bible, there are provisions for those so content in their position of slavery that enabled them to choose to stay on as slaves when the time for their release was up.
Every person in the world is a slave. We are either slaves to sin or slaves to Christ.
To be a slave is to be totally obligated to and sold out for the master. It is a far deeper commitment.
We were purchased from sin and death by the shed blood of Christ.
…do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
For a moment, put aside your preconceptions and baggage with the word and compare the renderings.
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures. Romans 1:1-2
Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle and singled out for God’s good news— which He promised long ago through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures
Romans 1:1-2 HCSB
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: Philippians 1:1
Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus: To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons. Philippians 1:1 HCSB
In each case, the word slave conveys much more of an impact than the word servant. Bondservants strikes a middle ground.
For a variety of reasons, I personally prefer the ESV over the HCSV (although it is one of my favourites). Still, in the case of doulos, it gets the word more correctly.
We are slaves, it is true. Yet, we are slaves to a perfectly loving God who wants nothing for the best for us. Owned by a master who gave His Son that we might be His.
Let us rejoice in the own that bought us out of death and destruction and serve Him as He deserves.
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV).
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