My purpose in writing this blog is to express my own thoughts [pensees if you are “into” French] based upon my inquiry into the New Testament’s use of the term “bond-servant” as a self-described term used by the Apostles in reference to themselves and sometimes others. I would also like to share my own life experiences as someone attempting to learn how to become a more serious follower of Christ and one who grows in “bond-servant-hood”.
The term bond-servant seems like an awkward word and not one that is necessarily self-revealing as to its meaning. The actual Greek word used in the NT is the word “doulos“, a term for a person who was simply a slave. Thus, a bond-servant is a servant who is in “bonds”, i.e. not a free person but instead a person “bound” to another. Sometimes a particular bible translation may use the word servant for the word doulos . Certainly a slave is a servant but of course not all servants are slaves.
The world over and particularly for those living in the West, the idea of being someone’s slave is repugnant, and understandably so. It can be somewhat shocking to understand for the first time how the apostles often referred to themselves and sometimes others as “bond-servants”, i.e. slaves of Christ [e.g. Romans 1;1, James 1:1, II Peter 1:1, Jude 1]. Who in their right mind would want to be a slave of another? But if that “other” were none other than the God of the universe, would it then seem more “palatable” if you or I were His slave?
To your last sentence, yes, it is palatable. Especially when being Bonded to the Master sets you free in ways you never imagined!
The “slave” does carry associations with “the loss of freedom” or “passiveness” for most people due to its historical connotations. I was wondering if “bond-servant” might avoid some confusion though in my eyes the latter can indicate the relationship between a lower being and the heavenly father.
My understanding is that a bond-slave is a voluntary servant, and seeing myself as one shows my determination to serve like Christ.