Slave of Christ: A New Testament Metaphor for Total Devotion to Christ

The New Testament finds many ways to depict Christians' relationships to their Lord. They are his disciples, sons, daughters, friends. But it is perhaps too little recognised that they are also his slaves. This study sets out to uncover what it means to be a slave of Christ. Harris begins by assessing the nature of actual slavery in the Greco-Roman world and the New Testament's attitude towards it. Drawing insights from this, he goes on to unfold the metaphor of slavery to Christ. Among the topics discussed are slavery and spiritual freedom, lordship, ownership and privilege.

Publisher: IVP
Type: Paperback
ISBN: 9780851115177

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Murray Harris is professor emeritus of New Testament exegesis and theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. Formerly, he was warden of Tyndale House at Cambridge University in England. His Ph.D. is from the University of Manchester, where he studied under F. F. Bruce.

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This book is a thorough and scholarly treatment of the New Testament metaphor of slave of Christ. Harris provides excellent background material on slavery in the Roman world that serves as a backdrop for the biblical use of the metaphor. The introductory chapter explains the rationale for the book well and sets the stage for the rest of the book by listing the occurrences of the expression slave of God in Scripture. Harris’ use of question and answer format throughout the book serves to keep the reader interested in the theme. This book revives the importance and poignancy the slave of Christ theme that has often been lost in modern English translations. Harris writes with clarity, concern, and the necessary sensitivity and balance required by this theme. All of the major texts about slave of Christ are covered with a grammatical precision that is also informed by scholarly reference material. Particularly helpful is the four part explanation of the doulos word group as freedom, lordship, ownership, and privilege. Harris insightfully explains how the slavery to Christ image is a wholly positive—someone who is humble in submission, obedient to the Master’s will, and preoccupied with pleasing Christ (143). Harris also carefully explains the limitations of the metaphor. Harris’ explanation of the life and ministry of Pricilla and Aquila as slaves to Christ is particularly thorough and perceptive. Andrew T Hancock