Bondservant

Bondservant

As I was reading God’s word, I noticed that Paul, James, Peter and Jude referred to themselves as “Bondservants” to Jesus Christ. The more I read, the more I wanted to do research on this word bondservant. What I found was a well of information that has lead to a deeper understanding of Paul, James, Peter and Jude’s relationship with our Lord and Savior. Also, I have learned that we too can have a deeper more personal relationship with our Lord and Savior by understanding the word “bondservant.
In order to fully understand the word bondservant, we must first understand the master and slave, or master and servant relationship.
During the Roman Empire, their economic foundation was based on a system of masters and servants. Today, our economic foundation is based upon the employer and employee relationship. In order for us to understand God’s word in a deeper way, we need to translate master and servant to employer and employee when we read God’s word. This will allow us to fully apply God’s word to our lives today.
In God’s word, there is a difference between a servant and a bondservant. A servant for the most part was someone who fell into debt to another and committed themself to that person for a period of no more than seven years. The norm was two to five years as a servant in order to repay the debt.
When the debt was fully paid the person who was the servant was free to go. However, if that person wanted to stay in service to the household, he could of his own free will stay.
The commitment was a life long commitment and had to be done of his own free will. Just as when you and I accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we did so as a life long commitment (and into eternity) and of our own free will.
They would seal the deal by placing the ear lobe of the servant against the door post of the house and pierce the ear with an awl (a tool like an ice pick). They would then place a ring in the ear and from that day forward he would be known as a bondservant.
A bondservant is someone who has committed himself to another, of his own free will, for the rest of his life. The deal is sealed by the piercing of the ear.
When you and I, of our own free will committed ourselves to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, it is for life. The deal has been sealed by the Holy Spirit.
We are starting to see the depth and understanding of what our fellow bondservants Paul, James, Peter and Jude meant when they stated that they were bondservants of Jesus Christ.

Continued:
Bro. Dan