Whether intentional or not, most English translations of the Bible, beginning with the King James Version, have consistently mistranslated an important NT description of Christianity. The Greek word doulos occurs 124 times in the NT documents. The meaning of doulos in the NT, in secular Greek literature, and in theological dictionaries is always “slave.” However, English translators have replaced “slave” with “servant.” According to MacArthur, this has yielded dramatic results as Christians in the Western world have not fully understood their relation to Christ. I think he’s right!

MacArthur notes that English translators probably shied away from translating doulos as “slave” for two reasons. First, they did not want readers to mistakenly associate slavery in Roman society or in the biblical framework with the harsh, unjust, and evil form of slavery in our recent history. To be sure, injustices took place in biblical times within the institution of slavery, but the institution itself had built-in advantages for slaves, especially those who had good masters. This was the context of “slave of Christ” that the NT authors had in mind. Second, English versions were influenced by the Latin version, which translated doulos as “servus.”

As a result, while Christians in the NT and in the early Church understood their relation to Christ primarily as that of slave, we in the modern context, have understood our relation as that of servant. The problem is that there are crucial differences between servants and slaves. MacArthur concludes,

...while servants are hired, slaves are owned. Believers are not merely

hired servants; they are His slaves, belonging to Him as His possession.

He is their Owner and Master, worthy of their unquestioned allegiance

and absolute obedience. His Word is their final authority; His will, their

ultimate mandate. Having taken up their cross to follow Him, they have

died to themselves...(p. 198).

Therefore, we have missed out on the fullness of gracious freedom that living as the slave of Christ produces! Yes, it is a paradox but it is still true in God’s economy of grace: being the slave of Christ is the greatest, most satisfying, most thrilling freedom one can ever know! In addition, MacArthur devotes a sizable amount of material to explain how viewing our existence biblically as either slaves of sin or slaves of righteousness (cf Rom 6:15-23), compliments the doctrines of grace.

I don’t think it’s possible for Western readers not to cringe at the first glance of defining their relation to Christ as that of slave. However, if we will push through our context and enter the world of the biblical authors, we will discover the joyful truth that they knew and wrote about. Namely, as a believer, I am slave to the most gracious, most loving, providing Master of all! As a believer, I have been freed from slavery and bondage to the most cruel of all masters, sin! As a believer, my status of slave to Christ carries with it my status of adoption into God’s family. O happy slavery is mine for Christ is mine, and I am His..........completely His!!!!