For cultural reasons most translations have opted for either “servant” or “bondservant” for the Greek doulos. When one chairman of a major translation was asked about the choice of “servant” instead of “slave” for doulos, he said that it was shameful and difficult became of dark history of slavery in America.
What about slavery in the New Testament world? A rabbi would pray, “Thank you Lord that you didn’t make me a slave.” The stigma was there too, yet the Spirit breathed out doulos for the believer’s relationship to Messiah, Jesus Christ.
So these translations translated doulos “slave” when it is obviously referring to the New Testament world of slavery (Eph 6:5). But those same translations equivocated and choked when it came to the Spirit’s use of the kyrios/doulos relation to refer to the Lord’s relationship to those he has redeemed with his blood—kyrios/douloi—He is our Lord and we are His slaves.
A kyrios purchased a doulos from the slave market and made that doulos his. This concept is at the heart of the New Testament. Jesus our kyrios has purchased us believers and made us his (1 Cor 6:19, 20; 1 Pet 1:18, 19).
Only the HCSB has faithfully and consistently translated doulos and its cognates as “slave and so on.”
TC,
Have you seen Dr. MacArthur’s sermon on this issue? It is called “The Revolutionary Life of a Slave To Christ”. Very good. I got a dvd copy.
Great post, btw.
Sadly too many “Christians” know nothing about this truth. We are slaves to Christ, He is our Master and LORD, we no longer belong to ourselves.
Martin.
It’s funny you should bring this up. Kurk asked in his blog for a translation of the beginning phrase in James’ epistle. One of the ways I preferred to translate it was:
James, slave to god and master Jesus the anointed one;
My preference is to see a more dirty translation with the historic details intact, rather than have it polished in translation.
Martin, I haven’t seen that one, but I’m sure Dr. MacArthur got the significance of doulos and its cognates.
Nathan, I noticed that you commented on My Three Marks of a Good Translation and Cultural Relevancy is one of them. I believe this is what you have in mind when you speak of keep a translation dirty with the historic details intact.
Yep. I had forgotten that was one of your three points. Given the age of scripture I don’t understand why culture is not retained more often in translation. It’s part of the reason I’m going to the source now, and to be honest I’m loving every minute of it.
Back to your post though, I can understand why master/slave has specific connotations with Americans, but I would still prefer to see those terms used more often. I could probably ramble at length on this so I’ll cut myself short.
Nathan, I really admire your effot to get into the original languages. You will not be disappointed.
A servant is only for hire, whereas, a slave can be bought out. “Slave” is the only accurate word and I don’t know why translators are so afraid to use it. Maybe it’s time they should get over it, accept history, and portray the real meaning in the bible.
Kevin said:
A servant is only for hire, whereas, a slave can be bought out. “Slave” is the only accurate word and I don’t know why translators are so afraid to use it. Maybe it’s time they should get over it, accept history, and portray the real meaning in the bible.
Kevin, this is spot on, and I which translators will really get it. Thanks.
http://www.gty.org/AudioPlayer/Sermons/GTY112
In the New American Bible (NAB), doulos is translated slave. Fr. Joseph Fitzmyer translated it slave as well (Romans, Anchor Bible Series).
I just recently heard about this subject and decided to do some searching. I am not sure “slave” is the “best” description for those in Christ. Why? Because although I agree with the aspects of slavery that have been shared, there is one aspect of being a Christian that does fit better as a servant. That being a choice. As Joshua says, “choose this day who you will serve, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Hardly a declaration a slave can make. So maybe doulos, is better translated servant…