URGE BONDSLAVES TO BE SUBJECT TO THEIR OWN MASTERS: doulous idiois despotais hupotassesthai (PM/PN): (Eph 6:5-8; Col 3:22-25; 1Ti 6:1 6:2; 1Pet 2:18-25)
Exhort slaves to be putting themselves in subjection to their own masters with implicit obedience (Wuest)
Urge is not present in the Greek but is added by the NASB translators. The text reads literally "Servants -- to their own masters are to be subject".
Bondslaves (1401) (doulos) refers to one born into slavery in contrast to a person taken in war and sold as a slave (andrapodon). Slaves formed a large class of society in Paul's day.
Doulos conveys the idea of the slave's close, binding ties with his master, belonging to him, obligated to do his will and in a permanent relation of servitude to him. (Click or here for more discussion of doulos).
To be subject (5293) (hupotasso from hupó = under + tasso = arrange in orderly manner, assign or dispose to a certain position or to a particular task) means to cause to be in a submissive relationship, to subordinate or bring one under the firm control of another. Hupotasso was a military term describing soldiers lining up under or rank under their authority. Hupotasso also referred to the arrangement of military implements on a battlefield in such a way as to facilitate effective warfare.
Hupotasso focuses on function, not essence. Submission to political authorities (Ro 13:1-note), wives to husbands (Col 3:18-note), young to elders (1Pe 5:5-note).
In non-military use, hupotasso refers to a voluntary attitude of placing one's self under the authority of another. In the present context, the bondslave is exhorted to continually (present tense) place himself or herself (middle voice = reflexive or if passive to be subjected to) in subjection to the master who for the most part were pagans. Submission in such potentially adverse circumstances represents an act of faith. The born again bondslave would be trusting God to direct his or her life and to work out His purposes in His time. Clearly, there is a danger in submitting to others, especially if they have a different world view (pagan or Cretan in this case) for they might take advantage of us. Ultimately however their submission to their master, pagan or not, would reflect submission to God's authority and He is responsible for the care.
How is it possible to surrender one's rights to a master in authority?
In Ephesians Paul writes that believers should "not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be (continually) filled with (controlled by) the Spirit" (Eph 5:18) and then should "be subject to one another in the fear of Christ" (Eph 5:21) Slaves filled with the Spirit would be enabled to obey the spirit of the law to the glory of God.
Masters (1203) (despotes) means lord or one with absolute, undisputed ownership of and unchallenged power over another. Five of the nine uses in the NT refer to the master of the house who had unrestricted authority. (Luke 2:29; Acts 4:24; 1Ti 6:1, 2; 2Ti 2:21; Titus 2:9; 1Pe 2:18; 2Pe 2:1; Jude 1:4; Rev 6:10)
IN EVERYTHING TO BE WELL-PLEASING: en pasin euarestous einai (PAN):
"in all things; to give them satisfaction" (Wuest)
To be (1511) (eimi = to be, present tense = continuous action, active voice = subject makes volitional choice to carry out the action)
Everything (3956) (pas) means no exceptions. Notice it precedes the verb emphasizing the importance of "no exceptions" It means whether they treat you well or not. God's children are never to return evil for evil or insult for insult to anyone, so that they may show a proper opinion of their Father and the supernatural life He gives us to the lost world.
Why is this so critical that bondslaves (and all spiritual bondslaves of Christ) adorn (make attractive) the doctrine of God our Savior? In an article in Breakpoint entitled "Drawn to the Light - Why Muslims Convert to Christianity" read and be convicted/motivated...
Dr. Dudley Woodberry, professor of Islamic Studies... aware that throughout the world Muslims have been turning to Christ, was curious about the reasons why -- especially in countries where the cost of converting is so high. To find the answer, he created a detailed questionnaire. Over a 16-year period, some 750 Muslims from 30 countries filled it out -- and the results are eye-opening. The number one reason Muslim converts listed for their decision to follow Christ was the lifestyle of the Christians among them.
As Woodberry, Russell Shubin, and G. Marks write in CHRISTIANITY TODAY, Muslim converts noted that "there was no gap between the moral profession and the practice of Christians" they knew. An Egyptian convert contrasted the love shown by Christians "with the unloving treatment of Muslim students and faculty he encountered at a university in Medina." Other converts were impressed that "Christians treat women as equals" and enjoy loving marriages. And poor Muslims observed that "the expatriate Christian workers they knew had adopted, contrary to their expectations, a simple lifestyle." They wore locally made clothes and abstained from pork and alcohol, so as not to offend Muslim neighbors. (Read the full discussion - Drawn to the Light - Breakpoint)
Well pleasing (2101) (euarestos from eu = good, well + arestos = pleasing, desirable, proper, fit, agreeable from aresko = to please or be pleasing/acceptable to) means that which causes someone to be pleased. It is something which is well approved, eminently satisfactory, or extra-ordinarily pleasing.
Euarestos is used 9 times in the NT in the NASB (Rom 12:1f; 14:18; 2 Cor 5:9; Eph 5:10; Phil 4:18; Col 3:20; Titus 2:9; Heb 13:21) and is translated in the NAS as: acceptable, 3; pleasing, 3; well-pleasing, 3. Note that the predominant usage refers to well-pleasing to God and most often describes the goal of a believer's life.
Romans 12:1 (note) I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
Romans 12:2 (note) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 14:18 (note) For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.
2 Corinthians 5:9-note Therefore also we have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.
Ephesians 5:10 (note) trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
Philippians 4:18 (note) But I have received everything in full, and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.
Colossians 3:20 (note) Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord.
Titus 2:9 (note) Urge bondslaves to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative,
Hebrews 13:21 (note) equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
These bondslaves are to be continually well approved, eminently satisfactory, or extra-ordinarily pleasing to their masters.
It is possible to obey externally, but not “from the heart” (Eph 6:6). It is possible to do a job grudgingly. This exhortation however would not be easy to comply with as some unsaved masters would not be thoughtful and would overwork their slaves.
In Romans we can see a sense of what euarestos means where Paul writes that the will of God is
good and acceptable (euarestos) and perfect. (see note Romans 12:2)
God's will is well-pleasing because you cannot add anything to the will of God and in any way improve it. You could not take anything away from it and make it better. God's will is totally acceptable. And this is the attitude and actions Paul is calling for in servants here in Titus and in every saint in Romans 12 where he exhorts us
"by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable (euarestos) to God, which is your spiritual service of worship." (see note Romans 12:1)
In using euarestos Paul borrows from Old Testament sacrificial language to describe the kind of holy living that God approves, a “living sacrifice” that is morally and spiritually spotless and without blemish, and which He finds well-pleasing.
In his second letter to the Corinthians Paul writes that
"we have as our ambition (Greek root means loving what is honorable), whether at home or absent, to be pleasing (euarestos) to Him." (2Cor 5:9-note).
Paul's service on earth was designed to bring pleasure to the heart of his Lord, whether Paul was still here on earth or whether he was standing before the Judgment Seat of Christ. To be well pleasing was Paul’s highest goal, and should also be for every believer.
Writing to the saints at Ephesus Paul encouraged them to be "trying to learn (idea of testing or proving to learn by clear, convincing evidence what is truly honoring to God) what is pleasing to the Lord." (Eph 5:10) In other words, these saints were to be putting every thought, word, and action to the test to discern "What does the Lord think about this?" "How does this appear in His presence?" Every area of our life should come under this searchlight, our...conversation, standard of living, clothes, books, business, pleasures, web surfing habits, friendships, sports, etc. The ultimate question should be... Will it be well pleasing (euarestos) to the Lord?
NOT ARGUMENTATIVE: me antilegontas (PAPMPA):
not answering again (KJV)
not talk back (NLT)
They are not to "answer back" (Phillips)
not crossing them (Wuest)
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Greek Word Studies ( - )
Read freely Greek Word Studies from the Austin Precept text commentary of the Bible in text and pdf format. Precept Austin is an online free dynamic bible commentary similar to wikipedia with updated content and many links to excellent biblical resources around the world. You can browse the entire collection of Commentaries by Verse on the Precept Austin website.We have been "bought with a price" to be "ambassadors for Christ" and our "salvation is nearer to us than when we believed" so let us "cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" "so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming." (1Cor 6:20, 2Cor 5:20, Ro 13:11, 2Cor 7:1, 1Jn 2:28)