Servant or a Slave?: The Translation Confusion
The Greek word “Doulos” which means slave in English has no other meaning but slave. As the society had different understanding of slave and the attached meaning based on the past experience of America and Africa, the translators of the Bible in the past did not want to use the word “slave” but translated as servant.
“Doulos” (slave) is used about 130 times as noun in the New Testament. Unfortunately, it was translated as “bondservant” or simply “servant,” except in contexts such as “slaves of righteousness” or “slaves of sin”.
The greek word “Doulos” = Slave Servant
Who is a slave?
A slave is chosen by the purchaser and bought at a price. He is entirely owned by the Lord or the Master and exists at his mercy. A slave has no will of his own; the Master has absolute authority—to command, feed, clothe or even kill him. The slave’s sole purpose is to fulfil the will of the Master. This was the understanding during New Testament times.
The Bible describes us in similar terms. We are chosen, as stated in Ephesians 1:4–5:
“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.”
We are also bought with the blood of Jesus by God (1Peter 1:1, 2:9; 1Corinthians 6:20):
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your bodies” (1Corinthians 6:19–20).
As slaves of Christ, we are subject to the Master’s will (Romans 6:19), held accountable (Romans 14:12), and evaluated (2Corinthians 5:10). These are all essential aspects of slavery.
Furthermore, one who fails to do the will of the Master is considered wicked and subject to punishment. As Matthew 7:21 warns: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does
the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
The Rewards of being a Slave of the Lord Jesus:
The concept of spiritual slavery to Christ is both scriptural and correct.
1. Freedom from Sin’s Enslavement: Having the Lord as our Master liberates us from the cruel master, the Devil, who enslaves those who sin. As Jesus said in John 8:34, “Everyone who sins is a slave to sin.” Unlike the Devil, God does not deprive us of our essential, God-given freedom to choose at any time.
2. Provision for Our Needs: God, as our Master, provides for all our needs. In Matthew 6:31–32, Jesus assures us: “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.”
3. Freedom from Sin and Death: As slaves of Christ, we are not doing God any favour. Instead, we are the ones who are saved—from the power of sin and death, which are the consequences of our sinful nature and actions.
4. Adopted as God’s Children and Heirs: God elevates us beyond slavery by making us His children, calling us His friends (John 15:15), and making us co-heirs with Christ. As Romans 8:17 states: “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”
Finally, it is our choice to become either God’s slave or the Devil’s slave. As Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24).
There is no neutral ground. Our responsibility is to believe in His finished work on the cross, allow God to reign in our lives and obey the Lord.
“Slave is the universal meaning of the word doulos, and it is the word which most uniquely describes the believer’s relationship to Christ”.