Titus 2:9-10 Slaves and Masters
Advice to Servants and
Masters
Titus 2:9-10 WEL
[Tell]
servants to be under
the authority
of
their own masters, to be well pleasing in everything, not talking
back [to them], 10
Not stealing [from them], but demonstrating complete trustworthiness,
so as to adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in everything,
Notes
B1
Ephesians 6:5-9 NLT Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep
respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. 6
Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you.
As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. 7 Work
with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than
for people. 8 Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for
the good we do, whether we are slaves or free. 9 Masters, treat your
slaves in the same way. Don't threaten them; remember, you both have
the same Master in heaven, and he has no favorites.
B2
Does God like slavery?
C1
Often atheists will make a statement
(this
link is dead. A link
to another
atheist
site writing about slavery) as
“Slavery
remains a modern day travesty—a travesty with the Bible and the
Koran on the wrong side of the issue. You would never think that
owning people as slaves is immoral if you rely on the Bible or the
Koran as your source of morality. If you need the Bible or Koran to
tell you something as obvious as owning people as slaves is immoral,
then you would never think that because neither the Bible nor the
Koran says a word against slavery.
C2
Two types are spoken of in the Bible
D1
Voluntary—because of debt, etc.
D2
Involuntary—because of war, etc.
E1
Old Testament
F1
Cities that are not in the land of Canaan (Deuteronomy 20)
G1
Offer peace. If they agree, they will serve you.
G2
Offer peace. If they reject, the men die and the others are spoils of
war to enjoy, thus the people were to be treated kindly (see
Jamieson, Faussett, Brown commentary).
F2
Cities in the land of Canaan. (Deuteronomy 20) All must die, because
they have sinned so much, that God has judged them, and Israel was to
carry out the sentence.
E2
New Testament. The saints lived in the Roman culture and were under
Roman laws.
F1
1 Corinthians 7:21-23 GW Were you a slave when you were called?
That shouldn't bother you. However, if you have a chance to become
free, take it. 22 If the Lord called you when you were a slave, you
are the Lord's free person. In the same way, if you were free when
you were called, you are Christ's slave. 23 You were bought for a
price. Don't become anyone's slaves.
F2
Ephesians 6:5 GW Slaves, obey your earthly masters with proper
respect. Be as sincere as you are when you obey Christ.
C3
Old Testament rules for slaves (Jews could not be considered
property)
D1
If one is a thief (to serve until restitution is paid in full):
Exodus 22:2-3 NKJV If the thief is found breaking in, and he is
struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt for his bloodshed. 3
If the sun has risen on him, there shall be guilt for his bloodshed.
He should make full restitution; if he has nothing, then he shall be
sold for his theft.
D2
If one sells himself because of debt (as in indentured servant):
E1
Leviticus 25:39-41 NKJV 'And if one of your brethren who dwells by
you becomes poor, and sells himself to you, you shall not compel him
to serve as a slave. 40 As a hired servant and a sojourner he shall
be with you, and shall serve you until the Year of Jubilee. 41 And
then he shall depart from you—he and his children with him—and
shall return to his own family. He shall return to the possession of
his fathers.
E2
Deuteronomy 15:12-15 NKJV "If your brother, a Hebrew man, or
a Hebrew woman, is sold to you and serves you six years, then in the
seventh year you shall let him go free from you. 13 And when you send
him away free from you, you shall not let him go away empty-handed;
14 you shall supply him liberally from your flock, from your
threshing floor, and from your winepress. From what the LORD has
blessed you with, you shall give to him. 15 You shall remember that
you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed
you; therefore I command you this thing today.
D3
War (possibly slaves until they die): 2 Samuel 12:29-31 NKJV So
David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah, fought
against it, and took it. 30 Then he took their king's crown from his
head. Its weight was a talent of gold, with precious stones. And it
was set on David's head. Also he brought out the spoil of the city in
great abundance. 31 And he brought out the people who were in it, and
put them to work with saws and iron picks and iron axes, and made
them cross over to the brick works. So he did to all the cities of
the people of Ammon. Then David and all the people returned to
Jerusalem.
D4
If the master causes an injury to a slave (injured and dies, the
slave owner will be given the death penalty. If the slave is injured
and lives, the slave owner loses a worker. My understanding is that
if injured, the slave is to be set free, see verses 26-27): Exodus
21:20-21 NKJV "And if a man beats his male or female servant
with a rod, so that he dies under his hand, he shall surely be
punished. 21 Notwithstanding, if he remains alive a day or two, he
shall not be punished; for he is his property.
D5
Master abuses slave (Slave goes free): Exodus 21:26-27 GNB "If
someone hits his male or female slave in the eye and puts it out, he
is to free the slave as payment for the eye. 27 If he knocks out a
tooth, he is to free the slave as payment for the tooth.
D6
If slave runs away (They
must not be returned to
their master): Deuteronomy 23:15-16 GNB "If
slaves run away from their owners and come to you for protection, do
not send them back. 16 They may live in any of your towns that they
choose, and you are not to treat them harshly.
D7
Slave traders are to receive the death penalty. Exodus
21:16 NKJV He who kidnaps a man and
sells him, or if he is found in his hand, shall surely be put to
death.
C4
New Testament rules for slaves (remember that the Christians lived
under the laws of the Roman Empire)
D1
Be calm and choose freedom if offered: 1 Corinthians 7:21-23 GW Were
you a slave when you were called? That shouldn't bother you. However,
if you have a chance to become free, take it. 22 If the Lord called
you when you were a slave, you are the Lord's free person. In the
same way, if you were free when you were called, you are Christ's
slave. 23 You were bought for a price. Don't become anyone's slaves.
D2
Be doing the best work as you can: Ephesians 6:5 GW Slaves, obey
your earthly masters with proper respect. Be as sincere as you are
when you obey Christ.
D3
Paul’s appeal to Philemon to free Onesimus from slavery. See
Philemon
1:8-21.
C4
The Bible teaches that freedom is better.
D1
Philemon and Onesimus
E1
Philemon, the slave owner, is a Christian.
E2
Paul makes an appeal to Philemon to free Onesimus, so he can help
Paul.
E3
Paul does not condone Onesimus’ running away.
E4
We don’t know why Onesimus ran away.
D2
I cannot find the introduction to Philemon from the IVP Background
Commentary NT (by Craig Keener) online. It’s introduction to the
letter of Philemon is instructive on slavery, so if you have it is
helpful to read.
C5
The Bible does not teach us to overthrow government. We are to fight
a spiritual warfare, not physical. The Gospel is freeing, not
enslaving. For example, see Some
Initial Reflections on Slavery in the New Testament.
C6
Slavery is spoken against in Ephesians 6:9 NLT Masters, treat your
slaves in the same way. Don't threaten them; remember, you both have
the same Master in heaven, and he has no favorites.
D1
Slaves in the Roman Empire had masters.
D2
These masters also had a master in heaven—God Himself. Paul reminds
the slave owners that they are slaves, too.
D3
God has no favorites. He treats all people with justice and equity.
C7
God demands kindness, gentleness, love
D1
It is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Is there no showing of kindness and
compassion, then that master is going to hell. He is a fake.
Galatians 5:22 NLT But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit
in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness,
D2
A master must show gentleness. No gentleness seen? They are fake. God
will punish.
E1
Colossians 3:12 NLT Since God chose you to be the holy people he
loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness,
humility, gentleness, and patience.
E2
1 Timothy 6:11 NLT But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from
all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along
with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.
D3
We are to love even our enemies. Surely, these slaves were NOT their
enemies; they were to be loved.
E1
Luke 6:35 NLT Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them
without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be
very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most
High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.
E2
The actions of love show that
no one
can treat any person
any
other way except
God’s way. The actions are love are in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a WEL
Love
is very patient and kind; love is not envious; love doesn’t brag
about itself, is not haughty. 5
Doesn’t behave improperly, is not self-seeking; love isn’t easily
aggravated, doesn’t keep a list of wrongs, 6 Doesn’t rejoice in
injustice, but rejoices in the truth, 7 Bears all things, believes
all things, hopes all things, calmly
endures
all things. 8
Love never ends…
D4
God shows goodness to all, so should we. Slavery is wrong. It is not
God’s way of doing things. Slave owners are doing evil. Acts
14:16-17 NLT In
the past he permitted all the nations to go their own ways, 17 but he
never left them without evidence of himself and his goodness. For
instance, he sends you rain and good crops and gives you food and
joyful hearts."
D5
God wants freedom, not slavery:
E1
2 Corinthians 3:17 NLT For
the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there
is freedom.
E2
Galatians 4:5 NLT God
sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he
could adopt us as his very own children.
E3
1 Timothy 2:6 NLT He
gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message
God gave to the world at just the right time.
E4
1 Peter 2:16 NLT For
you are free, yet you are God's slaves, so don't use your freedom as
an excuse to do evil.
D6
God sent His Son, Jesus, to free slaves:
E1
Prophesied: Isaiah 61:1 CSB The
Spirit of the Lord GOD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to
bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the
brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the
prisoners;
E2
Fulfilled: Luke 4:18-19 WEL The
Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach the
Gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to
preach deliverance to the captives, restoring sight to the blind, to
set free those who are oppressed, 19 “And to announce the favorable
year of the Lord.”
C8
William Wilberforce (1759-1833)
D1
Fought to abolish slavery in the British Empire due to Christian
principles.
D2
Two links for studying him.
C9
Slavery and its statistics can be found here: EPCAT
USA
B3
Some
thoughts on the
slavery that is most dangerous
C1
Some verses
D1
Romans 6:20 LEB For
when you were slaves of sin, you were free with respect to
righteousness.
D2
John 8:34 NKJV Jesus
answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits
sin is a slave of sin.
D3
Sin is an addiction. Sin controls us. Romans 6:16 NLT Don’t
you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey?
You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to
obey God, which leads to righteous living.
C2
The end result of this slavery leads to death just like most
addictions:
D1
Romans 6:23 NKJV For
the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in
Christ Jesus our Lord.
D2
Galatians 3:22 NLT But
the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we
receive God’s promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ.
C3
The rescue from this addiction, slavery, to sin is only through grace
alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. No one can do this
themselves.
D1
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 NLT I
passed on to you what was most important and what had also been
passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures
said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third
day, just as the Scriptures said.
D2
1 Corinthians 15:57 NLT But
thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord
Jesus Christ.
D3
Acts 4:12 NLT There
is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven
by which we must be saved.
B4
Application
C1
It is not God’s will for people to be slaves. God does not have
that kind of leadership. He is a shepherd, but most of those with
authority are slave owner style of leadership.
D1
John 10:11 NKJV I
am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
D2
Matthew 20:25 NLT But
Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers
in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their
authority over those under them.
C2
Sin is addictive. All humans are addicted to sin.
C3
Jesus died for us to be free from the addiction to sin: 1 Timothy 2:6
NLT He
gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message
God gave to the world at just the right time.
C4
We are to use our body to honor God: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NLT Don’t
you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who
lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to
yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God
with your body.
C5
Jesus didn’t live and die to change the government, but if all were
real Christians, society and government would change.
No comments:
Post a Comment