Bible Questions and Answers

What was a bondservant in the Bible?

Bondservant occurs in the following places in the New King James Version of the Bible:

Romans 1:1  Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God

Galatians 1:10  For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Colossians 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

Titus 1:1 Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness

James 1:1 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.

2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

Jude 1:1 Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ:

Using Strong’s Concordance: Bondservant <1401> δοῦλος doulos from <1210> δέω deo: to bind; n; Translated in the King James Version – ‘servant’ 120 times, ‘bond’ 6 times, ‘bondman’ 1 time. Meaning: 1) a slave, bondman, man of servile condition 1a) a slave 1b) metaph., one who gives himself up to another’s will, those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing his cause among men 1c) devoted to another to the disregard of one’s own interests 2) a servant, attendant

I hope you find this helpful.

God bless,
Glenn