Elder Devotional Titus 2:9-10

English Standard Version Chapter 2

9 Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

The Principle (9a): Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything;

The term for “bondservants” is denoting the idea of a slave or a servant. Much of the population of the Roman Empire in the Apostle Paul’s day were slaves. It is estimated that the slave population could have been as much as 10- 20% in the first century.

Someone could be a slave for a variety of reasons. With so many slaves making up the population it would be inevitable that some of these slaves would become “born again” and find themselves among other believers in Crete at a local congregation.

The New Testament doesn’t condemn the practice of slavery in the culture. Someone could be a slave for economic reason due to their financial debt to their master. Some could have been taken captive during wartime and made a slave because the people group they belonged to were conquered by the Roman army. Slavery would have been preferred over being killed in such situations. Some were slaves or servants because they wanted to be. They had masters that they loved and voluntarily served their masters for their daily needs and provisions.

Slaves are to be “submissive” to their masters in everything. This denotes that the slave is to be obedient to their master and to follow all of his commands. Paul then gives Titus some brief instruction regarding what that looks like in practice.

The Practice (9b-10a): they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith,

Well-pleasing- Denotes the idea of exercising acceptable behavior before one’s master (BAGD).

Not argumentative- Denotes speaking respectfully and not in opposition to one’s master (BAGD).

Not pilfering- Denotes not putting aside for oneself, keeping back, of engagement in a type of skimming operation (BAGD).

Showing all good faith- Denotes the idea of living in a trustworthy manner (BAGD).

A slave or servant that seeks to live in submission to their earthly master should strive to implement such characteristics in their lives. But this is not ultimately for the benefit of their earthly master nor is it ultimately to find favor in the eyes of their earthly master. There is a higher purpose!

The Purpose (10b): so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

The primary purpose for such behavior on the part of slaves is to adorn the doctrine of God our Savior. Paul instructs slaves to live out submission to their earthly masters so that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

The term “adorn” denotes the idea of making something beautiful or attractive. In this case the thing that is to be made attractive is “doctrine” regarding God our Savior. Paul was very aware how a christian’s behavior was reflective of God’s glory.

Why is it critical to have a higher purpose as a slave? Is this true for all Christians?

How might this apply to our current modern day context where slavery doesn’t exist as a cultural norm?