Master and Slave - Tuesdays with Timothy #69

1 Timothy 6:1-2  Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.  (2)  And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.

We generally apply this to the employer/employee relationship, which I think is a fair application since the general theme is submission to authority. But Paul isn't talking about employees, he is talking about slaves, douloi, a bondservant with his master, despotas. You may see a familiarity in that Greek word. It is where we get our English word despot. It means master, absolute ruler.

Paul does not condone slavery but Paul also did not call for radical rebellion and anarchy. Paul doesn't seek out a Roman Abraham Lincoln or an abolitionist society. We know were Paul stood on the issue of slavery, as we are familiar with the European slave trade.  If we go back to the first chapter of this book, Paul said 1 Timothy 1:10  For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine. Kidnapping is contrary to sound doctrine. Paul, by no means, condoned kidnapping. Stealing men and making them slaves is sinful and it is wrong and is contrary to sound doctrine. Paul equates such sin with liars, fornicators and any other sin you want to throw in with it. The Bible did not condone chattel slavery.

The fact that men-stealing is wrong and the reality that slavery existed are two very different things. Paul dealt in the reality of how Christians ought to live, not in the dream of a world without sin. Believers who were also slaves were to live in submission to their masters. There was something bigger than individual rights and freedom at stake - the gospel and the honor of Christ. A slave, who has taken the name of Christ, is first of all, a slave of Christ. If the slave is rebellious, and dishonorable in the face of ill-treatment, the unbeliever (or believing) master casts his ire on the gospel and on Jesus. However, the humble servant adorns the doctrine of Christ by honoring those in authority above them. The slave can be a great witness to the saving power of Christ by showing the love of Christ, even to those who rule over them.

Likewise, the master  is not to despise his servants and take advantage of them because they are brothers in Christ. The master should be kind and repay the good work of the servants and be even more generous to them for it. The master shouldn't take advantage of the slave who loves Christ because he knows that he is going to honor him. The slave should honor his master and the master should treat the slave with dignity and fairness. The two men should be able to come to God's house on Sunday morning and shake hands with a clear conscience in regards to how they have treated one another through the week. And guess what happens when the master begins to see and treat his slaves as equals, as men made in the image of God? That's when the foundations of slavery begin to crumble.