A 'Slave' of Jesus Christ
A Slave of Jesus Christ
(The word most English Bibles hide from you)
If you open almost any English Bible today, you’ll meet a small but devastating mistranslation. The Greek word δοῦλος (doulos) appears over 120 times in the New Testament. It means slave — not servant, not employee, not volunteer. Yet from William Tyndale (1526) through the KJV, NIV, ESV, and most modern versions, you will almost always read “servant” instead. That is not a minor stylistic choice. It is a 500-year-old edit that softens the radical claim Jesus and the apostles made over our lives.
They All Called Themselves Slaves
· James, Jesus’ own brother: “James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” (James 1:1)
· Peter: “Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:1)
· Jude: “Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ” (Jude 1)
· Paul and Timothy: “Paul and Timothy, slave of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:1)
The Pierced Ear Every Jewish Reader Pictured
Exodus 21:5–6
“But if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master… I will not go free,’ then his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall be his slave forever.”
That is the image every apostle had in mind when they signed their letters “slave of Jesus Christ.”
When You Confess Jesus as “Lord,” You Are Using Slave Language
Romans 10:9 (literally from the Greek)
“If you confess with your mouth Κύριον Ἰησοῦν — ‘Jesus is Lord (Kurios)’ — and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Paul did not choose a soft word here.
Κύριος** (Kurios) is the exact word used in the Greek Old Testament for Yahweh, and in everyday first-century life it was the legal title for the absolute owner of a slave.
When a slave spoke to or about his master, he called him ho kurios mou — “my Lord / my Owner.”
Paul, a brilliant Roman citizen and former Pharisee, knew exactly what he was demanding. Confessing “Jesus is Kurios” was never meant to be a quick sinner’s-prayer phrase. It was the slave’s oath of allegiance:
“I publicly acknowledge that Jesus of Nazareth now legally owns me — body, future, family, possessions, time, everything. I have no more rights. He has all authority to do with me whatever He pleases.”
That is why the early church got in trouble with Rome. When Christians said “Jesus is Kurios,” Caesar heard, “Jesus, not Caesar, is my absolute Master.” That confession cost many their lives.
Jesus Claimed the Same Ownership
“You call me Teacher and Lord (Kurios), and you are right, for so I am.” (John 13:13)
Then He drove the point home:
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46)
You Have Been Bought
“You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.” (1 Cor 6:19–20)
So What Does “Slave of Christ” Actually Mean Today?
1. Christ owns your future — dreams, career, marriage, location, retirement.
The question is never “What do I want?” but “What does my Master want?”
2. Christ owns your body — eyes, hands, tongue, sexuality, appetite.
3. Christ owns your money — it is His before it hits your account.
4. Christ owns your time — all 168 hours this week already belong to Him.
5. Christ owns your reputation — you absorb slander, forgive repeatedly, speak truth when it costs.
6. You do not negotiate with your Master’s commands.
Slaves don’t get a vote.
7. You wear His mark publicly — baptism was your pierced ear.
The Only Real Question Left
When Jesus paid your unpayable sin-debt and unlocked the prison door, He offered you freedom. Most Christians step out and live as independent contractors who occasionally do favors for the Lord. A slave of Christ looks at the open door, looks at the nail-scarred hands that paid the price, and says with tears: “I love my Master. I will not go out free.”
Will you say it with your mouth — and mean it with your life — today?
“Jesus is Kurios. Jesus is my absolute Owner. I am His slave forever.”