the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Bible Dictionaries
Servant
Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words
or an adjective, signifying "in bondage," Romans 6:19 (neuter plural, agreeing with mele, "members"), is used as a noun, and as the most common and general word for "servant," frequently indicating subjection without the idea of bondage; it is used (a) of natural conditions, e.g., Matthew 8:9; 1 Corinthians 7:21,22 (1st part); Ephesians 6:5; Colossians 4:1; 1 Timothy 6:1; frequently in the four Gospels; (b) metaphorically of spiritual, moral and ethical conditions: "servants" (1) of God, e.g., Acts 16:17; Titus 1:1; 1 Peter 2:16; Revelation 7:3; 15:3; the perfect example being Christ Himself, Philippians 2:7; (2) of Christ, e.g., Romans 1:1; 1 Corinthians 7:22 (2nd part); Galatians 1:10; Ephesians 6:6; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 4:12; James 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1; Jude 1:1; (3) of sin, John 8:34 (RV, "bondservants"); Romans 6:17,20; (4) of corruption, 2 Peter 2:19 (RV, "bondservants"); cp. the verb douloo (see B). See BONDMAN.
for which see DEACON and Note there on synonymous words, is translated "servant" or "servants" in Matthew 22:13 (RV marg., "ministers"); 23:11 (RV marg., ditto); Mark 9:35 , AV (RV, "minister"); John 2:5,9; 12:26; Romans 16:1 .
for which see CHILD , No. 4, also denotes "an attendant;" it is translated "servant" (a) of natural conditions, in Matthew 8:6,8,13; 14:2; Luke 7:7 ("menservants" in Luke 12:45 ); 15:26; (b) of spiritual relation to God, (1) of Israel, Luke 1:54; (2) of David, Luke 1:69; Acts 4:25; (3) of Christ, so declared by God the Father, Matthew 12:18; spoken of in prayer, Acts 4:27,30 , RV (AV, "child"); the argument advanced by Dalman for the rendering "Child" in these passages, is not sufficiently valid as against the RV, "Servant" in Acts 4 , and the AV and RV in Matthew 12 (cp., e.g., the use of pais in the Sept. of Genesis 41:38; Jeremiah 36:24 ). The Matthew 12 passage by direct quotation, and the Acts 4 passages by implication, refer to the ideal "Servant of Jehovah" (Sept., pais Kuriou), of Isaiah 42:1 and following passages, thus identifying the Servant with the Lord Jesus; for the same identification, cp. Acts 8:35 .
"a house servant" (oikeo, "to dwell," oikos, "a house"), is translated "servant" in Luke 16:13 (RV marg., "household servant"); so Romans 14:4; 1 Peter 2:18; in Acts 10:7 , AV and RV, "household servants."
for which see MINISTER , No. 3, and OFFICER, is translated "servants" in the AV of Matthew 26:58; Mark 14:65 (RV, "officers"); in John 18:36 , AV and RV (RV, marg., "officers").
akin to therapeuo, "to serve, to heal, an attendant, servant," is a term of dignity and freedom, used of Moses in Hebrews 3:5 .
"a fellow servant," is used (a) of natural conditions, Matthew 18:28,29,31,33; 24:49; (b) of "servants" of the same Divine Lord, Colossians 1:7; 4:7; Revelation 6:11; of angels, Revelation 19:10; 22:9 .
Note: For misthios and misthotos, see HIRED SERVANT."to enslave, to bring into bondage" (akin to A, No. 1), e.g., 1 Corinthians 9:19 , RV, "I brought (myself) under bondage (to all)," AV, "I made myself servant," denotes in the Passive Voice, "to be brought into bondage, to become a slave or servant," rendered "ye became servants (of righteousness)" in Romans 6:18; "being ... become servants (to God)," Romans 6:22 . See BONDAGE , B, No. 2.
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Vines, W. E., M. A. Entry for 'Servant'. Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ved/s/servant.html. 1940.
