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"Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ."

Text: Ephesians 6:5

THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT OF THE FIRST CENTURY

Society under Roman rule allowed for “bondslaves”. The following features may be highlighted to comprehend the Roman society existing in the first century.

1. Bondslaves (NKJV “bondservants”)

Rome was involved in many wars. Many of the people conquered ended up as slaves.

a) Bondslaves who were highly educated served as tutors for the children of the master.

b) Others did menial labour, looking after the property of wealthy owners.

c) Slaves were bought and sold in the market place.

d) Slaves were not paid for their labour.

e) Bondslaves worked till they died.

f) There were situations where bondslaves were given their freedom out of the kindness of their master’s heart.

2. Harsh laws for bondslaves

a) Slaves were seen as chattel; they were “worthless”.

b) Many were subjected to all kinds of abuse.

c) They had no recourse to the courts of law for “justice”.

d) The existing laws did not exist to protect them from abuse.

e) Harsh punishment could be meted out against slaves by their masters for any infringement. Slaves could be beaten, or even put to death if their masters so decided.

CHRISTIAN BONDSLAVES

One of the most significant words that Paul used to describe himself was the word “bondslave” (“doulos”). He saw himself as serving the Lord Jesus Christ as his Master (Cf. Romans 1:1; Philippians 1:1 etc).

What a glorious understanding of the working relationship between Paul and the Lord Jesus Christ. It was through his own manner of serving the Lord as His “doulos” that Paul addressed “bondslaves” in his epistle to the Ephesians.