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easily be abused. Paul says: "Masters give to bondmen what is just and fair, knowing that ye also have a Master in [the] heavens" (Colossians 4:1); and again: "And, masters, do the same things towards them, giving up threatening, knowing that both their and your Master is in heaven, and there is no acceptance of persons with him" (Ephesians 6:9). These quotations follow exhortations to bondmen so that the teaching is balanced. Neither bondmen nor masters are favoured. That some masters were good and gentle while others were ill-tempered was certainly true and Peter speaks of this (1 Peter 2:18). It is also certainly true that some servants can be very difficult and Scripture acknowledges this: "A servant is not corrected by words: he understandeth indeed, but he will not answer" (Proverbs 29:19). Christ also speaks about an evil bondman (Matthew 24:48/49).

Paul deals with the difficult case of a runaway bondman in the epistle to PhiIemon. From this we gather that whatever may be said in favour of bondservice the position of a beloved brother is something preferable as he says: "Above a bondman, a beloved brother" (verse 16). Further Christ spoke of sonship being greater than bondmanship (John 8:35/36) and friendship is more desirable than the relationship of master and bondman (John 15:15). However, whatever Christ may call us we should on our side always remember that we are Christ's servants (bondmen). We must be subject to him (1 Corinthians 9:21). He himself will always be subject to God (1 Corinthians 15:28). If God's ordering is not thus recognised confusion of face results (Daniel 9, particularly verse 7).

July 1999