The Apostle Paul opens his letter to Titus with a profound self-description: “_Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgement of the truth which accords with godliness_” (Titus 1:1). Paul, once Saul of Tarsus, a Pharisee by strictest sect, trained under Gamaliel, and a man of strong religious pedigree, could easily have boasted in his background and accomplishments (Acts 22:3; Philippians 3:5–6). Yet, having become a new man in Christ, he chose to identify himself not by pedigree, nor merely by office, but as a bond-servant of his Lord, wholly surrendered under the authority of Jesus Christ for the sake of the faith of the elect. In the New Testament, there are different Greek words translated as “servant”, but they do not all mean the same thing. Diakonos means a helper or minister, someone who serves by rendering service. Hupēretēs means an attendant or assistant, one who serves under dir...
The Musings of an Anglican Priest.