Ever heard the word “doulos” before? In my experience not many people have. And not only is the word unknown, but even when it is acknowledged it is quickly dismissed in the Western church.
This happens too frequently in my own life, so what follows is for my own reminding as well.
This happens too frequently in my own life, so what follows is for my own reminding as well.
Let me say that again, lest anyone think what follows is finger-pointing.
What I’m about to blog I need to hear as much if not more than anyone who may read this.
Since my thoughts became lengthy, I decided to split this over 3 posts.
PART I: Doulos?
Doulos (δοῦλος): The term appears in the New Testament about 130 times, almost always in observance of the relationship Christians have to our God.
Doulos (δοῦλος): The term appears in the New Testament about 130 times, almost always in observance of the relationship Christians have to our God.
In fact, the authors Paul, Peter, Jude, James and John each call himself the Lord’s ‘doulos’ at the outset of his letters. (These are all the New Testament writers after the Gospels and Acts)
Jesus uses the term of His followers in the book of Revelation 10 times, and in both Psalm 40 and Hebrews 10 the prophecies given through the Spirit and spoken by David and Christ about the Christ indicate that He viewed Himself as a ‘doulos’ of God.
Jesus uses the term of His followers in the book of Revelation 10 times, and in both Psalm 40 and Hebrews 10 the prophecies given through the Spirit and spoken by David and Christ about the Christ indicate that He viewed Himself as a ‘doulos’ of God.
So what is a ‘doulos’?
The term hearkens back to Exodus 21:1-6
If you’re not familiar with the term, here’s a blurb I found in an online forum that was succinct:
“doulos and its cognates contains[sic] various nuances which range from what in English might be classified anything from a slave to a servant. When it is considered, for example, that a doulos was sometimes put in a position of responsibility over the affairs of the master's household, it is difficult to conceive of the person as a slave in the proper sense of the term. OTOH [On the other hand], a doulos works without profit or thanks, so he is more akin to a slave in that sense.”
Even more helpful to me is this:
“doulos is a Greek word that means bondservant. In the New Testament times, it was not uncommon for a freed slave to voluntarily re-enter servitude to a master whom he loved. This servitude was called bondservice. Only a freed slave could be a bondservant and once he had chosen to become one, he could never be freed again. Neither could he be bought or sold, and he served his chosen master until death. When a man chose bondservice, he was taken to the front entrance of the house, and his right ear was laid against the doorpost. A nail was driven through his ear and a golden earring was placed in it. This golden earring was a symbol to all, of the servants choice and of his immunity to being made merchandise. Paul and Peter spoke of themselves as being bondservants to Christ. There is a service whose true name is freedom. (read I Peter 2:15-17; Luke 12:37)."
The doulos recognizes the freedom he is given and the price for that freedom. In love, he willingly surrenders the rest of his life to his master’s service, and this service is not oppressive. As Crabb so wonderfully says above – “there is a service whose true name is freedom.”
But what does it mean to be a “doulos” today?
I’ll explore that over the next 2 posts: The call to be counted as a doulos both externally and internally.
preview of part II: "...in America we want the easy ‘ticket to heaven.’ We want to live without the ‘bonds’ of ‘servitude.’ And we certainly don’t want anyone to suggest that the doulos mindset is a normal and expected part of our faith. We want to hear a Gospel heavy on ‘grace alone’ – whose end effect is that we should do nothing in service to Christ, lest that be ‘legalism’ or ‘works salvation.’ "
I’ll explore that over the next 2 posts: The call to be counted as a doulos both externally and internally.
preview of part II: "...in America we want the easy ‘ticket to heaven.’ We want to live without the ‘bonds’ of ‘servitude.’ And we certainly don’t want anyone to suggest that the doulos mindset is a normal and expected part of our faith. We want to hear a Gospel heavy on ‘grace alone’ – whose end effect is that we should do nothing in service to Christ, lest that be ‘legalism’ or ‘works salvation.’ "
