Grace Fellowship Church Pastor / Teacher James H. Rickard Thursday, February 28, 2008

Memory Verse 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

The Upper Room Discourse John 13-16; John 13:16, Servant-hood, Pt. 1

Doctrine of DOULOS Slave, Servant

A DOULOS - slave, servant or bond servant, refers to the disciple from the standpoint of his discipleship. He is a slave under strict discipline.

To the Greeks a slave was to be subject to an utterly debasing social and anthropological position.

The O. T. has application and guidelines for becoming and the treatment of a slave.

The Hebrew concept of slaves was far different from that of the Greeks.

1) People could become slaves as a result of choice.

2) Slaves served only for 6 years, Ex 21:2, and the Old Testament provided for the protection of slaves from mistreatment, Ex 21:14,

3) It had a religious relationship regularly conveyed by servant hood,

a) David was a slave of God, 1 Sam 23:11-12; Psa 89:50.

b) God considered David His slave, 2 Sam 3:18; Psa 89:3, 20.

c) God's people are His chosen servants, Psa 105:6;134:1; Isa 49:3; 2 Kings 10:21-23; 17:23; Amos 3:7; Zech 1:6.

1) There were two sources of slavery in the ancient world: poverty in peacetime and captured prisoners in war.

2) A man could sell himself into slavery, Lev 25: This was a way of declaring bankruptcy and paying off his debts.

3) A father could sell his daughter or son into slavery to pay off the debts, Ex 21:7; Neh 5:5.

4) A widow's children could be sold to pay off their father's debt, 2 Kings 4:1.

5) A woman could sell herself into slavery, Deut 15:12-17.

6) Slaves were often acquired through trade, purchase, payment of debt, as a gift, through birth, plunder in war, or by self-determination.

7) Slaves were manumitted by redemption or purchase, by the elapse of time (six years), Ex 21:2-4, by the year of jubilee (the fiftieth year), Jer 34:8-10,...

… through physical disability or being maimed, Ex 21:26. In this case the master was responsible to take care of the slave for life.

Slavery could be a voluntary action and provided for the welfare of those in service.

The Bible also depicts rights for both the Master and the Slave.

Grace Fellowship Church Thursday, February 28, 2008 Tape # Servanthood, Part 1 Upper Room Discourse, Pt 157 John 13:16; 1 Sam 23:11-12; Lev 25:39-41; Ex 21:2-4 James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2008