Sound%20Doctrine%20for%20the%20Worker

1
Sound Doctrine for the Worker
2
Why special mention of bond-servants?

• Some writers point out that minority religions
  like Christianity were suspect in the first
  century of subverting the traditional family
  values of the Roman Empire. Pauls instructions
  may have been intended as a household code to
  be practiced by the church, especially since
  churches often met in the homes of their patrons.

3
Social Classes in the 1st Century

• Patricians
• Equestrians
• Plebians
• Slaves

4
Conditions of slaves

• How slaves were treated depended upon their
  masters. Since moving up in the world depended
  upon wealth, masters had a vested interest in
  taking care of their slaves, providing medical
  care, food, and housing. However, slaves could
  also be severely mistreated. They could be
  beaten or even sexually abused. They were
  considered property and could at one time even be
  killed by a displeased master. All of this was
  the lot of a person for no other reason that
  where he happened to be born!

5
Urge bondslaves to be subject to their own
masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not
argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all
good faith that they may adorn the doctrine of
God our Savior in every respect. (Titus 29-10)
6
Adorn the gospel in
every respect

• Adornfrom kosmeo meaning to arrange so that
  beauty can be seen
• The gospelthe message of Christ
• In every respectin all ways
• The stereotypical view of slaves was that they
  were always ready to disobey, argue, and steal.

7
Characteristics of servants
8
Subject to their masters in everything

• Hupotasso means to place oneself under the
  authority of another
• The stress is on an attitude of submissiveness
  toward the master

9
Well pleasing, not argumentative

• It only other occurrence is Heb. 1321 in the
  expression, with such sacrifices God is well
  pleased. The servant adorned the gospel by
  wanting to please his master in everything.
• The slave was not to be argumentative but
  cooperative.

10
Not pilfering but showing all
good faith

• There was always a temptation to steal. The word
  pilfer suggests the idea of petty larcenies.
• To show all good faith is to prove oneself
  trustworthy or honest.

11
Application for our time
12
Lessons for us!

• Like servants of the Biblical culture, we often
  may find ourselves in a disadvantaged position
  for no other reason than how we were born but
  even so, rather than be resentful, we need to
  start where we are and seek to glorify God in our
  condition.
• We need to be thankful for freedom and good
  working conditions. God has truly blessed us
  with opportunity for a much higher quality of
  life than any other people who have ever lived!

13
Lessons for us!

• We need to let the principles of the Scriptures
  determine the kind of workers that we are!
• Submissive
• Cooperative
• Honest
• We need to use our jobs as a means to adorn the
  gospel of Christ. When your job becomes your
  pulpit, you can preach the gospel without
  speaking a word!