Esclave du Christ

New Studies in Biblical Theology #8

by Murray J. Harris

Sans doute la place qu’occupe, dans notre inconscient collectif, l’implication de l’Occident dans la pratique de l’esclavage comme système d’exploitation socioéconomique d’individus a contribué à négliger l’emploi dans le Nouveau Testament de la métaphore de l’esclave pour parler de la relation du chrétien à Jésus-Christ, voire à l’évacuer complètement jusque dans nos traductions bibliques, où nous lui préférons le terme de « serviteur ».

Cette lacune est désormais comblée par cet ouvrage qui allie le survol historique et philosophique, l’étude des textes bibliques et l’application pratique.

Commençant par rappeler la nature de l’esclavage dans le monde gréco-romain et le point de vue du Nouveau Testament à ce sujet, Murray Harris développe l’usage de cette métaphore en lien avec quatre thèmes : la liberté, la seigneurie, la propriété et le privilège.

Il vient ainsi redonner à cette métaphore, essentiellement paulinienne, mais pas exclusivement – Jean l’emploie à plusieurs reprises dans l’Apocalypse –, ses lettres de noblesse et en montrer toute la richesse du contenu. Une richesse à (re)découvrir.

Genres: Theology, Biblical Studies, Christian, New Testament, Christianity, Nonfiction, Academic

256 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1999

Reviews

[John Brackbill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful. An academic treatment of the metaphor slave in the Christian life. He persuasively concludes that translations should not run away from ever using the English word slave in the New testament.

[Neil Kruger · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent study of slavery in the Bible.

Since the New Testament uses the positive connotations of slavery as a helpful metaphor in the context of salvation and our relationship to Christ, we should not be ashamed of using this language.

This book is filled with discussions about important themes.
- Slavery and Freedom
- Slavery and Privilege
- Slavery and Lordship
- Slavery and Ownership
- Modern Slavery, Greco-Roman Slavery and Hebrew Slavery

It comes as a pleasant surprise that this book is also both practical and doxological. Addressing issues such as the misuse of freedom as a licence to sin or becoming enslaved to freedom.

Not only has this volume extended my knowledge on the subject - it is biblical theology at its best - but it has also grown my desire to live in total devotion to my Lord Jesus Christ.

[Timothy L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is immeasureable in value. A construct we love to hate, slavery or servile terminology, is the very terms in which the New Testament authors describe the believer. In fact the degree to which NT authors describe a follower of Christ by servile terms is so extreme few realize just how prevalent it is... There are 178 times NT authors refer to believers this way. Few topics in the NT are more common in occurrence than servile terminology as it directly reflects the believer, which is also unknown, squelched and avoided. This book gives a bigger picture about what it all really meant back in the day. It will show you what it still means today.

[Dominic Venuso · Rating 4 out of 5]

The section on literal, physical slavery was not the best (be sure to supplement with other resources), but for the theme of metaphorical slavery in the New Testament, it was good.

[Craig Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazingly helpful, thorough study of slavery in antiquity and its use throughout the Bible. Murray Harris does a great job compiling the data and clearly walking through the exegesis of slavery’s metaphorical uses as well as systematizing his conclusions.

[Drew Norwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

The New Testament makes liberal use of the imagery of slavery to illustrate the Christian life or some aspect of it. Harris provides a good study of the many connotations of the term “slave” in the New Testament. To understand the NT’s authors use of ‘slave’ and slavery imagery we need to understand ancient slavery and the context of the time, rather than reading back into the text our own associations.

Our modern translations have largely avoided rendering δούλος and similar terms as slave, instead opting for the term ‘servant.’ But when we jettison the concept of slavery, something is lost. For at “the heart of slavery, ancient or modern, are the ideas of total dependence, the forfeiture of autonomy and the sense of belonging wholly to another." This concept carries significant weight and can’t be easily discarded. Harris quotes Dr. Josef Tson who sums up the reason why recovering the slavery image is worthwhile: “In twentieth-century Christianity we have replaced the expression 'total surrender' with the word 'commitment', and 'slave' with 'servant.' But there is an important difference. A servant gives service to someone, but a slave belongs to someone. We commit ourselves to do something, but when we surrender ourselves to someone, we give ourselves up."

Harris covers the various passages that refer to “slave(s) of Christ”, “slave(s) of God” and other similar phrases. He also does a great job in expounding the relation between slavery and freedom, the contrast but also the correlation. In Paul's depiction, "there are only two masters" and "allegiance to either is portrayed as slavery . . . neutrality, or an alternative servitude, is impossible." In other words, outside of God himself there are no autonomous beings—freedom can only be found in slavery to God.

[Harley Cottingham · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is greater? To be a king? To be warrior? To be rich? Paul argues it would be to be a slave of Christ, the king of kings. There has been a notion to run away from the word “slave” in the New Testament and change it to servant - in doing so missing much of the liberation of the phrase. Harris does a great job of explaining the word slave in context to slavery within Jewish, Roman and Greek contexts. These contexts are used to develop the truth of being a slave to sin and the freedom that comes with being a purchased slave of Christ/God. Not only will it help you understand what the phrase means - it will invite you to live in a liberated lifestyle that comes with being set free from sin unto Jesus.
This book is a real page turner, while academic, I was shocked at how devotional and applicable it was.

4.78 stars out of 5 for me.

[Ebookwormy1]

Through a GoodReads review, I discovered that John MacArthur's book, Slave: The Hidden Truth about your Identity in Christ was inspired by this title, Murry J. Harris' Slave of Christ: A New Testament Metaphor for Total Devotion to Christ.

Since it was MacArthur's starting point, and the original author has none of the baggage of MacArthur, I would rather bypass MacArthur, to read Harris' original work. I get the impression that the real revelation on this subject is via Murray J. Harris. MacArthur was captivated by it and, being a highly selling author, kibitzed in his own title.

.... Review coming....

I decided NOT to read John MacArthur's Slave: The Hidden Truth about your Identity in Christ. If you'd like to know more about that, see my thoughts, here:

[Brandon Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful study, illuminating much of the historical context of many Pauline passages. I am preaching in Romans and will refer to this a lot. I plan on working through this series this year.

[Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Servant" in the New Testament mostly really meant "slave".
Period.

North American Christian commentators, preachers, teacher tend to use 'servant' not SLAVE.

Harris makes the case well.

The Gospel of Jesus is even more dramatic, thinking about SLAVE.

[Laura Pepper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is excellent for providing the historical background of slavery in biblical times in the Jewish and Greek cultures. It was short, but dense, and it was great for gaining an understanding in this area.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slave of Christ: A New Testament metaphor for total devotion to Christ by Andrew S. Malone is one of the newest volumes in the longstanding series New Studies In Biblical Theology by IVP Academic Publishing. This admirable series is edited by D.A. Carson is renowned for its impeccable research, its engagement with current scholarship, and conformity to the basic tenants of orthodoxy. The focus of this book is the office of priest in the Bible.

Now the metaphor of being a slave of Christ is not taught one by pastors much but is usually relegated to Scholars. This sad truth is what this book is trying to change. In, Salve of Christ, is a long and broad history of interpretation and this work strives to explore the vast landscape of various Biblical Theological interpretations of this office while evaluating which interpretations are sound with some advice on which interpretive methods to take.

In regard to the text of the book itself, there are nine various interpretive lenses to view the this metaphor, some of which connect well, while others contradict one another. In each of these interpretive systems the author is careful to look at the meaning of the text in its own context as well as the broader view of scripture as a whole. Furthermore in each of the interpretations there are a handful of themes which the author shines a light the importance of this metaphor to the modern believer against that of the modern understanding of slavery. Of these themes the most insightful was the famine theme.

In the end I would wholeheartedly recommend Slave of Christ to any Pastor, Bible Teacher, or Sunday School teacher who is preparing for a long in-depth exposition of the office of priest.

This book was provided to me free of charge from IVP Academic Publishers in exchange for an unbiased, honest review.

[Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely incredible book. It was John MacArthur, in his book, "Slave" who first brought to my attention the idea that the Greek word in the New Testament that is often translated "servant" actually means slave but the majority of modern translations, translate it "servant" because of the baggage that comes with the concept of "slave/slavery." However, in this masterpiece titled, "Slave of Christ," Murray J. Harris provides an indepth study of the concept of slave and slavery, looking at the concept and history of slavery in the Greek and Roman mindset, and then bringing out a biblical understanding of slavery. Many questions about slaves and slavery from a Biblical perspective are answered in the pages of this book. The author does a wonderful job of presenting what both the Old and New Testaments say about slavery, how biblical authors such as Paul and John both used the picture of slavery within their writings, and how we as followers of Christ should see ourselves in an amazing position of being slaves of Christ, a Master who is gentle, wonderful, gracious, loving, merciful, and one who provides what His slaves need. My only negative about this book has nothing to do with the content, but it is related to the price, as I believe the price will keep some who need to read this book, from actually getting their hands on a copy. But all of that to say that I can't recommend this book highly enough to any person who wants to understand the Master/Slave relationship of Christ and His people.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is amazing how much ground is covered in such a relatively short book. The overview of slavery from the OT, through the Greeks, and then more time in Rome, is quite informative and detailed. Especially helpful was a good analysis of the NT view of Roman slavery. This provides a great apologetic to critics who claim that the NT writers should have done more to condemn Roman slavery and that their silence implied approval. The rest of the book applies characteristics of slavery, particularly Roman slavery, to what it means to be a slave of Christ (hence the title of the book). It is challenging and encouraging.

[Joshua Little · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murray Harris provides an extremely helpful resource for those wrestling with the metaphor of slavery in the Bible. In the first section of his book, he provides a brief survey of slavery in the Old Testament, Greco-Roman culture and the New Testament. In the second part of his book, he examines different aspects of the metaphor of slavery in the New Testament & what that means for followers of Jesus.

5/5 Stars

[Douglas W · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very thorough volume. Harris does a good job of taking the concept of "slave" in the Bible and establishing its importance by cutting through modern ideas about it and replacing them with their Biblical context. If read properly - with one hand searching the Bible and the other raised in prayer to God - the concepts in this book will drive you to your knees, grateful for the mercy of our Master.

[Michael Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

I highly recommend anyone that calls themselves a servant or minister of the Gospel to read this book.

It's essentially a study on the Greek work "doulos" that is often translated "servant" or "bondservant" which, on most occasions, isn't a literal rendering on that word.

This book has changed the way I read certain parts of the NT and encourages me to live my life of devotion to Christ that much more.

[Tracy Fabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harris does an excellent job in unpacking both physical and metaphorical slavery in Greco-Roman culture, its ANE context, and in its direct use in both the OT and NT. Bible teachers can benefit from his nuanced understanding of being slaves of Christ, especially in light of the difficulties of this idea to our modern listeners. Harris unpacks the privileges, responsibilities, and joy that lie behind this difficult term for followers of Christ.

[Alex Connell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was going to be my master's thesis. Now I have to stretch out a bit and expand on the topic. This is a great book that answers so many of my questions and shares so many of my critiques about the word doulos in the New Testament.

Great work by Harris.

[Laurent Dv · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good biblical theology of slavery in the New Testament. Also gives interesting extrabiblical clues about slavery among the Hebrews, the Greeks and the Romans.

[Debbie Piper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent theological studies on discipleship and Christian leadership.

[Mark Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

What it says on the tin! An excellent and thoroughly researched book that is both accessible and enlightening.

[Andy Febrico Bintoro · Rating 4 out of 5]

The use of doulos in the new and old testament. How the physical slavery in that time could help us understand what's the right interpretation of this word in spiritual sense.

[Mark A Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The language of slavery is often used in Scripture as a metaphor for the relationship between a believer and Christ. Modern sensibilities notwithstanding, Harris expertly investigates the prominent role of slavery in the Bible. His research is narrowly focused on the slavery metaphor and the result is a comprehensive look that explores lingual, grammatical, historical, and contextual meanings. Though clearly academic in nature, the applicatory nature of the material could easily appeal to a broader audience.

[Matt Ediger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to not only be informative, but practical. Harris explains the Jewish, Greek, Roman, and Ancient and Modern understandings of slavery. He does this to give background for the New Testament usage of slavery, ultimately, in describing followers of Christ. This background gives great depth to the metaphor Paul uses to identify not only himself, but all believers. The less we understand what the NT is saying about this image the less we understand what it truly looks like to be a follower of Christ.

[Gregory Linton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murray Harris provides a rich and clear exposition of the use of slavery metaphors and language in the New Testament. His description of the cultural practice of slavery in the Roman Empire is very helpful. One of the best parts of the book is his explanation of how Paul can paradoxically say that we are both slave and free in Christ.

[Hank Pharis · Rating 2 out of 5]

First half of the book is a good survey of slavery and the Bible, Ancient Near East, Greece and Rome.
Second half of the book explains how slavery is used metaphorically in the New Testament.
Well done.