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Slave: The Hidden Truth About Your Identity in Christ

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MacArthurs's latest book, Slave, begins with the question "What does it mean to be a Christian?" MacArthur contends that some of the confusion over what an authentic Christian is stems from an unfortunate mistranslation of the Greek word doulos. Doulos always means slave in the Greek, yet it is often translated servant in our English translations. MacArthur gives 2 reason why he believes this mistranslation has occurred:


1) Given the stigmas attached to slavery in Western society, translators have understandably wanted to avoid any association between biblical teaching and the slave trade of the British Empire and the American Colonial era.

2) From a historical perspective, in late-medieval times it was common to translate doulos with the Latin word servus. Some of the earliest English translations, influenced by the Latin version of the Bible, translated doulos as servant because it was the more natural rendering of servus.
The main thrust of the book is two fold. The first is to demonstrated why slave is the proper translation of doulos and second to examine the implications of viewing ourselves as slaves of Christ. I thought the book handled both of these issues with thoughtfulness and especially appreciated the connection between being slaves of Christ to being sons of God.

As with all MacArthur's writings, scripture was found abundantly throughout. I especially enjoyed the chapters detailing the life of John Newton and the chapters detailing the doctrines of salvation. I think this book is a great addition to anyone's library and I wholeheartedly recommend it.

Did you know that the Bible you own is more than likely involved in a cover-up of biblical proportions? According to John MacArthur "centuries ago, English translators perpetrated a fraud in the New Testament, and it's been purposely hidden and covered up ever since. Your own Bible is probably included in the cover-up!"

What is that cover up? The use of the word servant instead of slave. The slave/master relationship is the key to understanding a right relationship with God. In fact, MacArthur believes that if this is understood many of his earlier works would have been moot (2). Through thirteen chapters MacArthur explores the theme of the slave/master relationship in the hopes that our relationship with the Lord would be more fulfilling and correct.

I am conflicted at how to review this book. I have learned a ton from John MacArthur. He certainly loves the Lord and has an enduring ministry that is passionate about proclaiming the truth of God's Word. At times his tone will put many people off. This same conflict is present in this book. In my opinion, MacArthur is a very faithful expositor, but is often given to overstatement and his tone can be quite off-putting.

Take this as an example. On the back cover it refers to this idea of being a slave as an "essential and clarifying revelation that may be keeping you from a fulfilling--and correct--relationship with God." Fair enough. But check out what MacArthur says on page 1. Referring to this concept of slave/master relationship he says it, "escaped me and almost everyone else". So, are we to conclude from this that until 2007 (when he discovered this) that his relationship with the Lord was incorrect and unfulfilling?

Now granted, these are probably just sensationalistic comments on the back cover to try to sell a book. MacArthur tends to tone down the "cover-up" language even in the beginning. But these overstatements, in my opinion, make the book almost non-credible. Honestly, if I had not been given this book for free from Thomas Nelson in exchange for a review, I would not have purchased this book because of this sensationalism.

However, once I was able to get past the ridiculous overstatements on the back cover and beginning of the book it was actually pretty good. The first couple of chapters may be worth the cost of the book. What MacArthur says here is indeed true, the image of the believer as a slave is missing from much of our Christianity.

I hope that this book gets the ball rolling on that discussion. I hope that others pick up this work by MacArthur and add to it. There is much that is commendable in this work but also a decent amount that is missing. I was really intrigued in the beginning of the book and longing to see some application of what this looks like in the Christian life. But honestly, it seems that the discussion only touched on the typical MacArthur polemics. I'm convinced that MacArthur is right about the importance of this topic--and it's more important than just serving as a polemic against those MacArthur disagrees with.

This book is certainly worthy of buying. In fact I hope many of you do buy this book so that you can read it, interact with it, and move this conversation along. MacArthur's name tagged onto this book will cause people to begin looking at and discussing this biblical metaphor. This is a good place to start but it certainly is not the place you want to end.

In his book "slave" John MacArthur uses a plethora of scripture to expose a "cover up" in the modern translations of the scripture. Retuning to the original languages and writing MacArthur shows how often the word slave is replaced by softer more autonomous phrases such as servant. While servant is a good word in does not convey the original message that scripture intended. To be a servant allows you to maintain a certain amount of uniqueness that allows me to be myself while still serving God. When I become a slave suddenly I am nothing but what my master wants me to be and that is all. This is a candid unapologetic look at our Identity in Christ and how we have allowed culture to dictate how nonchalantly we approach our life in Christ. This is a challenging book that is packed with scripture so the point has to be considered carefully. MacArthur asks you to view your life in Christ differently and transition from willing servant to sold out slave.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson as part of the BookSneeze program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

John MacArthur is a Bible teacher that I have a great deal of respect for. He refuses to compromise. He is committed to telling people what they need to hear, not necessarily what they may want to hear. He also has an amazing way of taking complex subjects and discussing them in a way that is easy to understand. I have read many of his other books, so when I was offered a chance to get his newest book for free, I jumped at the chance.

Now, I want to make something very clear. I don't agree with everything John MacArthur teaches (I especially disagree with his views of women, but that's another discussion). But I agree with a large portion of what he writes. To me, it's sad that we in America and the west have become so biblically illiterate that he even has to address some of these subjects. But the sad truth is, we have and he does.

There is perhaps no concept or word that offends our Western sensibilities more than the word slave. I mean, just the word itself is offensive and distasteful. The idea that God wants to have that type of relationship with us is at first, repugnant at best. However, even though you won't find the word "slave" in most modern translations of the Bible, the concept is definitely there. I think every Christian needs to realize that we don't get to choose whether or not we want to be a slave. Every single person is a slave to something. We are either a slave to sin, or a slave to righteousness. If we are going to be a slave regardless, doesn't it make sense to choose to be a slave a righteousness? Our negative opinions of slavery won't change reality. Like it or not, we are all slaves to something. The beauty of it is that we get to choose what we want to serve.

I really liked the way that John MacArthur described slavery in the ancient world and the widespread effects it had on everyday life. I found that very insightful and I learned a lot.

Another reason I choose this book is to get a different perspective on slavery. Modern Day slavery and human trafficking are issues that are very close to my heart. It breaks my heart to know that in this day and age, people are still being forced to work in terrible conditions, long hours, and for no pay. But it happens in every country around the world, including the United States (as an aside, for readers who want more information on this subject, I highly recommend Not for Sale by David Batstone) So I have read quite a few books about the negative aspects of slavery. So I was interested in a book that presents a completely different perspective on the issue. I believe that modern day slavery is something that we should pray against and do what we can to help. It is an evil institution that needs to be abolished.

At first, the thought of having a slave mentality towards our relationship with Jesus Christ is incredibly offensive. But the important thing is to remember the character of our God. He is not asking us to have this type of relationship with a person, but with Himself. We need to remind ourselves of His character and what the Bible says, then, we don't need to be afraid. We serve a good God, and He will NEVER take advantage of our trust or use our weaknesses against us, the way people so often can and do.

If you want a book that will tickle your ears and make you comfortable, then this definitely isn't the book for you. But if you are looking for a book that will completely turn your Christian life upside down, and give you a completely different view of God and what He expects of us, then this book is for you. There is no easy-believe ism here. John MacArthur tells the hard truth. Truth, many people, probably won't want to hear. I applaud John MacArthur's courage in writing a book like this. In addition to this book, I also recommend John MacArthur's other books "Hard to Believe" and "Ashamed of the Gospel."

John MacArthur's Slave: The Hidden Truth About Your Identity in Christ is packed with historical, cultural, and theological gems regarding the role of slaves; and the use of this imagery in the Bible. What starts out reading like a theology book--dealing first with Biblical texts, and then ancient Rome, and it's influence on the writers of the New Testament--ends with a challenge to accept the role of Jesus Christ not just as Savior, but also Lord. With every other line either followed by a parenthetical reference or footnote, this powerful study is worthy of both your living-room and the classroom.

Not what I was expecting (in a good way)! Honestly, I was expecting this book to just scream, "Die! Die! Die!" But, instead, I was challenged to take a look at my own understanding of what the role of a slave was historically and culturally, and then allow the Holy Spirit to show me my own role as a "slave of Christ". Throughout the book, the paradox of slavery to sin and slavery to Christ is revisited. What was beautiful, though, was that MacArthur then takes us on the journey through the process of being first slaves of sin, to slaves of Christ, then sons of God, to finally being citizens of Heaven. The idea of slavery being supported by the Bible may go against moral standards in your body; but, understanding your role in Christ as a slave will help you understand that the world's view of freedom is really the worst kind of slavery there is... "if the Son sets you free, you are truly free" (John 8:36).

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the [...] [...] book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 [...] [...] : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"Of all the dreams that ever deluded men and probably of all blasphemies that were ever uttered, there has never been one which is more absurd and which is more fruitful in all manner of mischief than the idea that the Bishop of Rome can be the head of the Church of Jesus Christ. No, these popes die and how could the church live if it's head were dead" (Charles Spurgeon).

Who is the head of the church, and what is our relationship to Him? This is a question that holds many implications. In his new book Slave: The Hidden Truth About Your Identity in Christ, John MacArthur attempts to correct our understanding about this all important question. As expected, MacArthur starts with the Bible as his authority.
The word "slave" has come to be looked at with contempt. It's a word that most of us would not use in polite company. However, as MacArthur points out, slavery was a common concept in the Roman era. Most shocking of all, first century Christians co-opted this word and used it to describe their relationship and responsibilities toward Jesus Christ the HEAD of the Church. The writers of the New Testament didn't shy away from the concept of slavery, using the Koine Greek term doulos (correctly translated: slave) over 130 times. Sadly, it seems that English translators of the Bible are not as enthusiastic about using the word, slave. They often translated doulos as servant, which holds a slightly muted meaning. This is MacArthur's main thrust.
This book was hard to put down. Each page held my attention and was well documented. If you like footnotes, this book has them! I will be passing this book around my church and asking each person that reads it to question their own identity in Christ. Are we merely hirelings or are we indeed slaves to the great master Jesus Christ?


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their [...] book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

In this age of vending-machine Jesus and no-commitment Christianity, it's refreshing to read a book where the author has the audacity to suggest that maybe the demands of the gospel are even less politically correct and more costly than we may have thought. That's exactly what John MacArthur suggests in Slave: The Hidden Truth About Your Identity in Christ.

MacArthur argues that most of our English translations have gotten a major theme in the New Testament dead wrong. Instead of translating the Greek word doulos as "servant," it should really be understood to mean "slave." This means that the apostles and we ourselves are not just servants of Christ, but His slaves. And this means that our freedom from sin necessitates becoming slaves of Jesus, a thought that at first sounds like a contradiction. This slavery to Christ, though, is one of the defining metaphors of the Christian life, such that we can't simply ignore it, no matter what our English translations might say.

While I agree with MacArthur that the basic meaning of doulos is "slave," I don't believe that the translators of most English translations set out to deceive anyone (and neither does MacArthur by the way). The fact is that our modern understanding of slavery, taken largely from the the British and American slave trades that ended in the nineteenth century, shares certain characteristics with first century slavery, but the two systems were hardly the same thing. What then is a translator to do? If he renders doulos as "slave," he's liable to communicate something foreign to the text, since most modern readers would think of Roots or Amistad rather than the slavery of the Roman world. This is why our translations often translate doulos as "servant" or "bondservant."

MacArthur explains in some detail what first century Roman slavery was like, what the original hearers of the New Testament documents would've understood when they heard Jesus and the apostles' call to become slaves, and he draws out the ramifications for us today. All in all, Slave is worth reading. At times, it's illuminating. At other times, it's convicting. It's the kind of book I would recommend to someone who's not sure what the Christian life ought to look like. The concept of slavery is helpful because a slave has one job: to please the Master.

There are still a few pastors and Bible teachers who give the Word of God its proper place; a few who believe that, through the Word, we can know truth about God, Jesus, and salvation; and a few who are willing to fearlessly defend the Word and the truth that it conveys. Of these few, there are perhaps none more fearless or faithful in the teaching and defending of the Gospel than John MacArthur.

The release of John MacArthur's new book, Slave: the Hidden Truth about Your Identity in Christ, interested me for several reasons. First, whether we agree with him or not on every point of doctrine, anything that MacArthur writes is worth consideration. Second, his writings on the Lordship of Christ, specifically The Gospel According to the Apostles, have had a big influence on me. And last, I've heard him speak on the word "slave," which is the proper translation of the Greek word duolos. Unfortunately, he says, most of our English translations use the words "servant" or "bond-servant" instead. While servant is a good word, it doesn't carry the full meaning of the word "slave." MacArthur's comments interested me, so I was eager to read more on the subject.

MacArthur says that duolos is used in the Greek New Testament 124 times, usually in describing the believer's relationship to Christ: "Paul, a bond-servant [duolos] of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God..." (Romans 1:1, NASB). At the same time, the Greek word kyrios, translated as "master," is often used for Christ. In first century Rome, where the slave/master relationship was well known, there was no avoiding what these terms signified.

Not only do most of the New Testament writers describe themselves and other believers as slaves of Christ, but Jesus, through his choice of words and his parables, uses slavery to illustrate a believer's relationship to Himself and God. MacArthur fully explores how believers are slaves to Christ. His arguments, as usual, are strictly based upon Scripture, which this book is full of:

"Do you not know...that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body" (1 Cor. 6:19-20).

What does this mean in the life of a believer? MacArthur says that, "As those who confess the Lordship of Christ, believers are duty bound to obey Him in everything." But, since believers have a good and perfect master, it also means that they will have all of their needs met. It is comforting to be the slave of such a great master. It is also an honor:

"...If it was considered an honor to be the slave of one of the Caesars, it is infinitely more so to be the slave of Christ--the King of kings and Lord of lords! Is it any wonder that the New Testament writers eagerly attributed the title `slave of Christ' to themselves and others? It was not only an affirmation of their complete submission to the Master; it was also a declaration of the privileged position every Christian enjoys by being associated with the Lord. No affiliation could be greater than that."

MacArthur reminds believers that they are slaves to Christ because they have been redeemed from their old master sin, that "cruel tyrant." All are born in bondage to sin, but God redeems His own people, those who were "purchased with [Christ's] own blood" (Acts 10:28).

MacArthur goes on to say that, "we are not just the slaves of God. We are also His citizens, friends, and family members." From that point he explores the theme of adoption and all that it means to be a member of God's family.

Subjects like the bondage of sin, redemption, and adoption lead MacArthur to dwell long on the doctrines of grace (total depravity, election, particular redemption, irresistible grace, and the perseverance of the saints.) His discussion of these difficult and controversial doctrines is thorough, balanced, and convincing, ties in perfectly with the overall theme of the book, and makes a great introduction for those who aren't familiar with reformation theology. And, since Thomas Nelson is the publisher, I'm confident that this book will reach many who aren't familiar with these doctrines, or at least who aren't convinced.

In this new book, MacArthur, the untiring foe of "easy believism," presents a very un-watered down version of the Gospel. Believers should remember that they are not just saved by grace, but "slaved by grace": "Freedom in Christ...is not freedom to sin but freedom from sin--freedom to live as God intends, in truth and holiness." In these times of what Bonhoeffer called "cheap grace," times when few live as though Jesus is truly their Lord, we need men like John MacArthur who, like Spurgeon in a previous century, will preach the truth even if all of earth and hell stand against him. I hope that this book is widely read. It deserves and needs to be.

I received a complimentary review copy of this book from Thomas Nelson.

"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus..." (Rom. 1:1). Over and over again, the New Testament's writers refer to themselves by this one word--doulos. Typically, we see it translated in English as "servant" or "bondservant;" but is that most accurate way to translate it?

Does doulos really mean "servant?"

According to John MacArthur, it would be better translated as "slave." In his latest book, Slave: The Hidden Truth About Your Identity in Christ, he examines the implications of what it means for each of us to be a slave of Christ.

MacArthur's teaching gifts are on full display in Slave as he provides valuable insight into slavery in first century Rome, and illustrates how that understanding allows Christians today to better appreciate much of the language of Paul and the New Testament writers as they describe their relationship to Christ.

"Against the historical backdrop of slavery, our Lord's call to self-sacrifice becomes that much more vivid. A slave's life was one of complete surrender, submission, and service to the master--and the people of Jesus' day would have immediately recognized the parallel. Christ's invitation to follow Him was an invitation to that same kind of life." (p. 43)

In reality, Slave isn't simply about making readers see themselves as slaves of Christ. MacArthur, by focusing on the doctrines of grace--the total depravity of man, God's unconditional election, particular redemption, irresistible grace and the perseverance of the saints--gives readers a complete picture of who we are in Christ.

This ultimately culminates in MacArthur's exposition of the doctrine of adoption. That is, all who put their faith in Christ are not merely slaves, we are also His sons and daughters adopted into God's family with all the rights of a natural born child.

Reading these chapters, being reminded of this truth, that Christians are both slaves and sons, this is what gives us hope and assurance as believers. If God is our Father, then there is nothing we can do to make Him love us any more or any less. There is nothing that can snatch us from His hand. And because He is our loving Father, our greatest desire is that we should want to serve Him and be wholly devoted to Him in every aspect of our lives. This reminder is a great gift to me as a reader and as a Christian.

What's surprising is MacArthur's uncharacteristic use of hyperbole in the opening pages of the book. MacArthur writes that "it almost seems like a conspiracy" that doulos, which exclusively describes "the status of a slave or an attitude corresponding with that of a slave," is almost universally translated as "servant" in English (p. 16). However, immediately after making mention of this seeming conspiracy, he gives sound reasons for why, perhaps, this word has not been translated as accurately as it should.

The first is related to the stigma of slavery in Western civilization, and the understandable desire to "avoid any association between biblical teaching and the slave trade of the British Empire and American colonial era" (p. 17). The other is that the earliest English translations were influenced by the Latin version of the Bible, which translated doulos as servus, which more naturally translates into "servant" (p. 18).

These are great explanations for the "why" on the translation issue; indeed, they're actually quite compelling. I can't help but wonder if the "conspiracy" language of the early pages of the book (and its marketing in particular) is unnecessarily inflammatory and might hurt it in the long run.

"To be a Christian is to be a slave of Christ" (p. 212). Throughout Slave, MacArthur does a tremendous job of illustrating this glorious truth and the freedom that comes through slavery to our great God and King. Despite the noted flaw (as well as a couple of references to the rapture & a subtle dig at guys like Mark Driscoll), Slave is a book I would wholeheartedly recommend to any believer wanting to better understand their identity in Christ.

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A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review purposes by the publisher

Over and Over again, the Bible uses the word slave to denote followers of God. English versions have tended to use another word for the Hebrew ebed and the Greek doulos. Servant or bondservant is preferred more often than not, but why? The Hebrew and Greek words both imply more than a servant but a possession; a person that is wholly owned by the master. There are theological implications for using "servant" instead of "slave." A servant has a choice, where a slave does not. A servant works on his own time, a slave is completely subject to the master. A servant does what he can, a slave does what the master demands. Does "servant" soften the meaning of ebed and doulos? John MacArthur believes is does.

The reclaiming of the term "slave" is the topic of John MacArthur's Slave: The Hidden Truth about Your Identity in Christ. Certainly, the term offends modern, Western sensibilities. However, MacArthur argues that a proper understanding of the term is crucial to understanding the teachings of Jesus. First century, Roman slavery was the context of many of the parables. Such slavery defines discipleship. MacArthur draws five parallels between ancient slavery and Biblical Christianity: 1) Exclusive Ownership, 2) Complete Submission, 3) Singular Devotion, 4) Total Dependence, and 5)Personal Accountability.

Detailing the trial and execution of John Huss, MacArthur writes, "the faithful throughout church history have always preserved by the Holy Spirit wholehearted devotion to the true head, Jesus Christ. He alone is Lord of His church, and the position cannot be occupied by another." He gives examples of movements that deny Christ as the head such as Free Grace, church growth, and prosperity preachers. He claims some in conservative circles do this as well with "crass humor and coarse speech." This connection is not obvious and comes across as methodological axe grinding more than it bolsters his argument.

That aside, MacArthur does well to show the connection between the Greek words doulos (slave) and kyrios (lord). They are two sides of the same relationship. However, when the bible is interpreted in light of our modern sensibilities, if we are not careful, we may loses the significance of such terms.

MacArthur points out that scripture refers to Christ Lord in the exact same way it calls Yahweh, Lord. Thus, such Lordship demands more than just lip service. We are slaves to Christ, but this gives us status in our relationship with God.

The struggle with this argument is the idea of freedom. Why would any free person choose slavery? How could someone claim that Christ set them free if they are to be slaves to Christ? The answer is that no one is free. A sinner is a slave to sin; subject to a master that is a "cruel tyrant." "He is not only powerless to free himself, but he wears his chains with willing eagerness." (127) This is certainly not a new argument for MacArthur. This was the very subject of his 2008 Together For the Gospel sermon, "The Sinner Neither Willing Nor Able."

One of the most important reasons to argue for the use of the word "slave" is that it is crucial to the process of redemption. Sinners are redeemed at the cross, purchased from the master of sin, to be slaves of Christ. Is this freedom? Freedom to sin, lead to slavery to cruelty, but slavery to Christ leads to the freedom of a perfect master!

MacArthur also examines other metaphors used in scripture to describe a believer's relationship with God: adoption and citizenship. Certainly both show the freedom of Christ; to be a child of God and a citizen of the Kingdom. However, both also show being subject to authority; a father or a king.

What of the life of a slave of Christ, a son of God, and a citizen of Heaven? Macarthur goes to the parable of the talents and reminds the reader that the master will return and the slave will be held accountable. Referring to John Piper's book, Macarthur encourages such slaves, sons, and citizens, "Don't waste your life."

Ultimately, the argument of this book is for a return to slave language in translation and interpretation. Macarthur argues that slavery ends prejudice, magnifies grace, and pictures salvation. The loss of the slave language that is so prevalent in the Greek and Hebrew texts, and found throughout church history, is a significant loss to modern Christianity.

Slave is insightful and thought-provoking, though not without its weaknesses. MacArthur's examples of various movements of false doctrines are helpful, though it would be more helpful to have more detail. Further, the not-so-subtle slight of Mark Driscoll in that section seems out of place and weakens to overall argument. MacArthur's issues with Driscoll are well known, but it would be better if pastors could deal with these things in the context of Christian fellowship rather than the pages of books.

Also, though MacArthur does excellent work tying the metaphors of slavery, adoption, and citizenship, he ignores that of marriage. Marriage is a common metaphor in scripture and it would be interesting to see MacArrthurs handling of it in this context.

Ultimately, this is a thought-provoking book. The issue of slave language in modern translation and interpretation is hardly on the radar of Christian debate, but maybe it should be.