Rom 1:1 – Slaves of Christ

Romans 1:1

“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,” (Rom 1:1 ESV).

Many English translations translate the word “δοῦλος” (Doulos) used in this verse, as “servant”, just as ESV did. That is an incorrect translation. Doulos means a slave, not a servant. There is a significant difference between a slave and a servant.

Consider the following definitions and explanations:

• Strong’s concordance: doulos (1401) = “a slave”.
• HELPS Word-studies: 1401 doúlos (a masculine noun of uncertain derivation) – properly, someone who belongs to another; a bond-slave, without any ownership rights of their own.
• Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: From deo; a slave (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary; frequently, therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency) — bond(-man), servant.

Therefore, a proper rendition of this verse will be:

“Paul, a slave (doulos) of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,”

1. The first question we need to ask is “How would the recipients of this letter have understood this sentence?” or “What would it have meant for the Roman Christians to read that Paul was a slave of Christ?”

To answer these questions, we first need to understand what it means to be a slave in Roman society, during Paul’s time. Then, we can consider what it must have meant to be a slave of Christ.

• In Paul’s time, slaves were purchased by their masters. Since they were bought at a price, slaves were treated as possessions of their masters. This meant that slaves existed not for their own will but to do whatever their masters wanted.
• Being a slave meant that one would have no identity of his/her own. The only identity a slave had was that he/she was a slave of so and so.
• Slaves had no rights under Roman law. They could be well-treated or ill-treated at will by their masters.
• Slaves had no say in who got to be their masters. It wasn’t the slaves who chose their masters but the masters chose who their slaves would be. If a master chose to purchase a slave in the market, the slave would have no right or ability to reject the potential buyer.
• Not only that, but slaves couldn’t choose to leave their masters at will. There were a few ways in which a Roman slave could obtain freedom but all of them involved the master making a way or permitting the slave to attain his freedom.
• While servants were generally paid their wages, slaves had no such wage payments. Instead, slaves (with their entire families) used to live in their masters’ houses and were given food, clothing and shelter by their masters. This means slaves had security that servants didn’t have. This security is not just limited to receiving food, clothing and shelter from their masters but it even extended to physical safety. No one could attack or abuse another person’s slaves. That would be seen as an attack on the owner himself!
• Of course, that was contingent upon the masters’ character. If a slave master/slave owner was ruthless and harsh, he may not provide food, clothing, and proper shelter to his slave. Worse, he may mistreat and abuse the slave. But, if the master was of a good character, then his slaves would have enjoyed greater security than his hired servants.
• Sadly, in the Roman world, many slave owners were abusive and slaves were often mistreated and brutalised. Therefore, slaves always sought freedom and whenever they could avail freedom from their masters, they did.
• Slaves were seen as the lowest, deprived of any honour or worth, in Roman society.

There is a lot more that can be said about slavery in ancient Rome but the summary provided above is sufficient for the sake of the current study. If you wish to learn more about slavery in ancient Rome, consider reading this article from the British Museum:

One thing is immediately clear based on what we know about slavery and the plight of slaves in the Roman world. No one, especially no citizen of Rome would ever willingly choose to be a slave. It is unimaginable that someone would willingly become a slave. For all we know, slaves were almost always forced into slavery.

So, in one sense, it is a shocking thing that Paul, a metropolitan Roman citizen and a proud Jew who valued his ethnic and national independence, opens this letter by calling himself a slave.

Since Paul called himself a slave of Christ, given what we highlighted above regarding slaves in Rome, we can conclude the following:

• Paul was purchased by Christ at a price. Christ was his Master. Paul belonged to Christ and existed not for his own will but solely to do the bidding of his master, Christ.
• Paul had no identity of his own anymore. Paul no longer could bring his credentials into the picture, to brag about himself. His identity now is simply that he was a slave of Christ.
• Paul had no rights that he could hold on to. His Master Christ could treat him any way he wanted.
• Paul did not choose Christ to be his master. Paul could not have resisted or rejected the ownership of Christ over him, even if he wanted to. Christ chose to purchase him and so he did.
• Paul couldn’t run away from his master and separate himself from Christ at his will. The only way Paul could have severed his ties with Christ was if Christ permitted it.
• Paul had security in the house of his master, Christ. No one could attack, abuse or charge him except his own master. And he could look up to his master for all his needs.

This is what the readers of his letter would have understood and concluded when they read that Paul was a slave of Christ.

2. Was this slave-master relationship with Christ unique to Paul or does this apply to all Christians?

As we read through the scriptures we see other apostles calling themselves slaves of Jesus Christ (James 1:1, 2 Peter 1:1, Jude 1:1). We would be mistaken to think that this is somehow only limited to the apostles. The Bible calls all Christian leaders such as elders and pastors, slaves of the Lord (2 Tim 2:24). But, it isn’t limited to just the leaders either. The Bible makes it clear that we are all slaves of Christ.

Romans 6:17-18, 22 says that all of us were once slaves to sin but now we have been set free from sin and have become slaves of righteousness! 1 Corinthians 6:20; 7:23 uses the language of slavery and makes it clear that all Christians are slaves of Christ. Ephesians 6:6 teaches that we are slaves of Christ. Jesus Christ himself taught that we, his disciples, are his slaves and that we ought to live our lives in light of that fact (Luke 17:7-10).

3. Does our slavery to Christ include all aspects of Roman Slavery? Sure, we are purchased by Christ but aren’t we reading too much into it by projecting all facets of Roman slavery on our relationship with Christ?

Yes! Our relationship with our Lord includes all the features that were highlighted above from the Roman system of slavery. This is why Paul used the term “slave” to describe our relationship to Christ.

Consider these truths:

• We were purchased at a price by our master. Consequently, we now exist to please our master and do his will. (1 Cor 6:20, 7:23).
• We have no identity of our own except that we belong to him (Colossians 3:3, 11; Romans 6:17-18, 22).
• We do not have the right to question our Master. Our Lord can do whatever he pleases (Romans 3:5-6, 9:20).
• We did not choose our Master. Our Master chose us (Romans 9:16, John 6:44).
• We cannot sever our bond with our Master. Our Master holds us fast (John 6:44, Romans 8:29-30, 38-39).
• We are secure in our Master’s house. Our Master meets all our needs, provides for us and cares for us (Romans 8:32, Matthew 6:32-33) No one can bring any charge against us (Romans 8:33-34).

Of course, the key difference between Roman slave masters and our Lord Jesus is that, unlike them, our Lord is a just and gracious master. While the Roman masters often mistreated and tortured their slaves out of their greed and selfishness, our Lord gave himself up for us and instead of giving us the punishment we deserve, he pours out grace upon us each day. Our master is a kind and loving master whom we can approach without fear.

4. What does it mean for us today?

Let us ask ourselves whether we are living in light of this reality. Do we recognise that we are slaves of Christ? Do we realise that we are purchased by him at a great cost? Are we living our lives in gratitude and servitude to Jesus, our Lord? Are we living for our own dreams, desires, and wishes, no matter how noble they are, or are we living to please Him and glorify him?