Bond-Servants of Christ Jesus

When I was in high school, it was uncommon and somewhat controversial for men to have pierced ears. I still remember the night a middle-aged man stood before my high school youth group and explained that he pierced his ear for Jesus. Calling us to live lives wholly submitted to the Lord, his earring was a reminder that he was a doulos, “bond-servant” of Jesus. Today, we will delve into the meaning of doulos, what it meant for Paul, and what it tells us about Jesus.

Throughout the #WhoAreYouLord series, we are studying Paul’s greetings in his letters to the churches to better understand who Jesus is. Today’s greeting is found in Paul’s letter to the Philippians.

Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus…” (Philippians 1:1, NASB)

Doulos in the Old Testament

Derived from the root word deō, meaning “tie” or “be in bonds,” doulos is translated as “bond-servant.” It describes a situation where the slave/servant yields their will completely to another. The slave’s will is tied to the master’s. Regarding slaves, God commanded the Israelites to free their slaves after six years of service. However, a slave could choose bond-service. God says,

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. (Exodus 21:5-6)

It is important to note that becoming a bondservant was voluntary, public, and a life-long commitment. Signaling servant status, the pierced ear was the mark of a doulos. It was a mark of complete obedience to the will of the master. It was not a fashion statement.

Doulos as Demonstrated in Paul’s Life

The slave to master relationship detailed in the Old Testament became a metaphor for whole-hearted obedience to God’s will in the New Testament. Certainly Jesus called men and women to servanthood: “‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me’” (Luke 9:23). Paul was chief among those who answered this call.

From the outset of Paul’s conversion experience, he knew that following Jesus was costly. Regardless, Paul committed himself to be a bond-servant of Jesus. With full understanding of doulos and its Old Testament context, Paul’s knowledge of and experiences with Jesus led him to be a slave of Christ.

Truly, Paul gave all he had to serve Jesus. Paul writes, “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10). No matter what and in response to God’s grace, living life fully subservient to Jesus and His will was Paul’s purpose.

Doulos as Modeled by Jesus

Not only did Jesus call people to surrender their will to God, but He demonstrated how. Jesus shows us how to be a doulos:

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross. (Philippians 2:5-8, NASB)

The King of Kings and Lord of Lords humbled himself in complete service to His Father’s will. Losing position or power was not Christ’s concern. Rather, Jesus forsake everything to fulfill God’s will. Jesus is the ultimate doulos.

#PreachingToMyself

In light of Christ’s love for me and His willing sacrifice, am I willing as Paul did to set aside pride and position to serve God’s will and His alone? What am I holding onto that I need to yield to God? What keeps me from being wholly devoted to God and being a doulos for Him?

Will you join in me in asking these questions?