in all things, offering yourself as a model of good works and in your teaching offering integrity, gravity, and sound speech that cannot be censured; then any opponent will be put to shame, having nothing evil to say of us. Urge slaves to be submissive to their masters in everything, to be pleasing, not talking back, not stealing, but showing complete and perfect fidelity, so that in everything they may be an ornament to the teaching of God our Savior. For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds. Declare these things; exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one look down on you. (Titus 2:7-15, NRSVue)
This passage was one that left stuff out in the middle, and I bet it was those verses, “Urge slaves to be submissive to their masters in everything, to be pleasing, not talking back, not stealing, but showing complete and perfect fidelity, so that in everything they may be an ornament to the teaching of God our Savior. ” Because we do not want to read these verses or have to ponder them. But not saying they are there does not make them magically go away.
The word translated as slave is δοῦλος. The definition from Louw Nida is “pertaining to a state of being completely controlled by someone or something”. This is either slave or servant in the New Testament.
It is actually what we are to God. We are to be submissive to God, following what we are led to do, so that in everything we may be an ornament to the teaching of God our Savior.
Be held to God, and share Their love freely.
