Titus 2:9-10 NIV
9 Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, 10 and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.
As we saw in the last two weeks of studying this subject the apostle Paul wrote the most to the churches concerning slavery in the New Testament church, five out of the six portions of scripture. 1 Corinthians 7:17-24, Ephesians 6:5-9, Colossians 3:22-4:1, Titus 2:9-10, Philemon 1-25, 1 Peter 2:18-21.
If you have not read the articles and or seen the videos of parts 1 and 2 of this series of studies on Facebook or our web page, please do to have a full understanding of the topic.
As we have stated in the two previous studies, there are two major points that always needs to be understood when reading these particular verses of the New Testament concerning slavery.
First, The New Testament does not condone or condemn slavery, but it teaches both slaves and slave owners who are believers in Christ how to treat and respect one another, living a life that exemplifies and honors Christ Jesus as their Savior.”
Second, with the understanding that slavery two thousand years ago was part of secular society and was also an accepted reality in the life of the church, we should always ask ourselves the following question when reading portions of scripture concerning slavery. How does what I am reading regarding slavery, apply to me today?
When reading Titus 2:9-10 Paul is not talking directly to slaves as he did in the previous portions of scripture that we studied last week. 1 Corinthians 7:17-24, Ephesians 6:5-9, Colossians 3:22-4:1.
Titus is a personal letter from Paul to his younger assistant. It is typically called a “Pastoral Letter” because it deals with matters relating to church organization and ministry. Paul commissioned Titus to continue working with the Cretans to organize churches. Titus 1:5, “The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.”
In chapter one and chapter two, Paul instructs Titus what he should teach various groups of the church. Chapter one are the instructions to Titus of what to teach the Elders or leaders of the church. Chapter two, Paul gives Titus instructions of what to teach, “older men”, “older women”, “younger women” “young men” and lastly “slaves”.
As we stated last week and is also important to understand and apply in this context are the following points.
The slaves that Paul was referring that Titus was to teach were born again believers who were part of the various congregations throughout the island of Crete. The way these Christian slaves were to relate to their master as Christians was to be different than the way they related to their masters before receiving Christ as their Savior and Lord of their lives. Ephesians 4:22-24, 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
As we studied last week of what Paul said to the Christian slaves in the churches Ephesus and Colosse, Paul tells Titus to “Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything” The word “subject” in this context is synonymous or the same as to submit or to obey. As we stated last week, obeying was not when it was convenient or once in a while when they wanted to. This meant that Christian slaves were to be obedient in everything at all times.
Christian slaves were “to try to please them”. Paul was knowledgeable of how some non-Christian slave owners mistreated their slaves; this is why he said “try”. Paul knew that there were going to be times in a slave’s life this would be difficult or even seem imposable. This is in line with what Paul told the Christians in the church in Rome. Romans 12:21, Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Paul knew that under harsh situations it was common for slaves to talk back to their masters, “not to talk back to them…”. However, a Christian slave not talking back to their master was another way of trying “to please them” and also most importantly, it was being a living example of the difference that having Christ as their Savor made in their life. Romans 12:14, Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
Being a Christian slave changed the norm of how slaves responded to their masters and how they acted. Paul continues to tell Titus in verse ten to teach the Christian slaves “…not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted…”. Paul’s purpose for saying this was the relationship that the Christian slave would have with their non-Christian master was different; it was a relationship of “trust”. This trust was developed from the honesty of the Christian slave whose heart was transformed by Christ being their Lord and Savior. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17.
But there was a purpose for Paul telling Titus to teach the slaves of each congregation on the island of Crete about their behavior, it was to win slave owners to Christ, “so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.” The slave owners might not go to the places where the churches (people) gathered to learn about Christ. However, that did not matter, Christ was in the Christian slaves and the slave owners should constantly be able to see and experience the difference that Christ makes in the life of their slaves. Matthew 5:16, In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
1 Peter 2:18-22 NIV
18 Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Peter is talking directly to Christian slaves as did Paul in Ephesians 6:5-9 and Colossians 3:22-4:1. The countless slaves Peter was referring to were born again and were part of the numerous congregations of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia which all were Roman provinces in what is now Turkey.
The way these Christian slaves were to relate to their master now as Christians was to be different than the way they related to their masters before receiving Christ as their Savior and Lord of their lives. However, the difficult and harsh context in which these Christian slaves were living was the point that Peter was addressing. Peter knew that not all slave owners who were not Christians treated their slave’s in a cruel way that is why he said in verse 18a, “Slaves submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate.” But on the other hand, the majority probably did treat their slaves harshly; verse 18b, “but also to those who are harsh.” It was to these slaves Peter was encouraging.
In verses 19, 20 and 21 Peter makes a comparison that addressed an everyday brutal reality. He knew that many slaves whom he was writing to where being mistreated. It is important to see that Peter is knowledgeable and sympathetic of the Christian slave’s harsh situations. What Peter tells the Christian slaves in these verses also serves as an example to us of how we can minister to those who are experiencing harsh and challenging situations of whatever nature they night be.
The following is an excerpt from Warren Wiersbe’s commentary of 1 Peter 2:23-25 which will help us better understand what Peter told the Christian slaves then and how it applies to the Christian today.
“Peter encouraged these suffering slaves by presenting three “pictures” of Jesus Christ.
- He is our Example in His life (vv. 21-23).
- He is our Substitute in His death (v. 24). Isaiah 53:5-7, 9 and 12.
- He is our Watchful Shepherd in heaven (v. 25).
Here, then, is the wonderful truth Peter wanted to share: as we live godly lives and submit in times of suffering, we are following Christ’s example and becoming more like Him. We submit and obey, not only for the sake of lost souls and for the Lord’s sake, but also for our own sake, that we might grow spiritually and become more like Christ.
The unsaved world is watching us, but the Shepherd in heaven is also watching over us; so we have nothing to fear. We can submit to Him and know that He will work everything together for our good and His glory.”
The difficult, physically challenging, unjust and even life threating situations that we will experience will always put our faith and understanding of who God is in our lives to the test. However, these situations will also reveal to us who we still yet need to be and grow in Christ Jesus and what we are still lacking in our relationship with God.
Peter ends his encouraging words of truth by reminding the slaves of a very important spiritual reality that we all need to remember when experiencing harsh situations. Before receiving Christ into our life, we were all by ourselves and had no one could help us. However, now belonging to Christ we need to always remember that Christ is our “Shepherd” and “Overseer” or guardian of our souls.
Hebrews 13:20-21
20 May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Pastor John
