The literal translation of this passage given in the Emphatic Diaglott is “Not by eyeservice as men pleasers but as slaves of the anointed doing the will of the God from the soul.” (Ephesians 6:6)
Being members of a civilized community and having much of the modern viewpoint, the idea of slavery is repugnant to us.
We claim no right to the ownership of other people, and we certainly would not like to be owned, in the sense usually associated with slavery. In a matrimonial sense husband and wife own each other, and should they be inclined to doubt that fact the coming of a family soon establishes a definite ownership of this useful working pair. This, however, is voluntary bond service and is generally accepted with joy. With regard to slavery, had we been born in the time of Abraham, having grown up used to the idea, we should have accepted it as a matter of course. (And in the time of Christ and Paul (1 Corinthians 7:21–23).—Editor)
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Author: J. V. Collyer
Keywords: slave, servant, bond servant, bondservant, Slavery, freeman, servitude, bond servant of Christ, bondservant of Christ, servants of Christ, servant of Christ
Bible reference(s): Matthew 8:6, Matthew 8:8, Matthew 8:9, Matthew 8:13, Matthew 10:24, Matthew 10:25, Matthew 12:18, Matthew 18:26, Matthew 18:27, Matthew 18:28, Matthew 18:32, Matthew 20:27, Matthew 23:11, Matthew 24:45, Matthew 24:46, Matthew 24:48, Matthew 24:50, Matthew 25:21, Matthew 25:23, Matthew 25:26, Matthew 25:30, Matthew 26:51, Mark 9:35, Mark 10:44, Mark 12:2, Mark 12:4, Mark 14:47, Luke 1:54, Luke 1:69, Luke 2:29, Luke 7:2, Luke 7:3, Luke 7:7, Luke 7:8, Luke 7:10, Luke 12:43, Luke 12:45, Luke 12:46, Luke 12:47, Luke 14:17, Luke 14:21, Luke 14:22, Luke 14:23, Luke 16:13, Luke 17:7, Luke 17:9, Luke 19:17, Luke 19:22, Luke 20:10, Luke 20:11, Luke 22:50, John 8:35, John 12:26, John 13:16, John 15:15, John 15:20, Romans 1:1, 1 Corinthians 7:21, 1 Corinthians 7:22, 1 Corinthians 9:19, 1Co 12:13, Galatians 1:10, Gal 3:28, Galatians 4:1, Galatians 4:7, Eph 6:6, Eph 6:8, Philippians 2:7, Col 3:11, Colossians 4:12, 2 Timothy 2:24, Titus 1:1, Philemon 1:16, Hebrews 3:5, James 1:1, 2 Peter 1:1, Jude 1:1
Source: “Bondservants of Christ,” The Christadelphian, Vol. 67, No. 797, 1930.
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