Lexical Summary sundoulos: Fellow servant, fellow slave Original Word: σύνδουλος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance fellow servant. From sun and doulos; a co-slave, i.e. Servitor or ministrant of the same master (human or divine) -- fellowservant. see GREEK sun see GREEK doulos HELPS Word-studies 4889 sýndoulos (from 4862 /sýn, "closely identified with" and 1401 /doúlos, "bond-slave") – properly, a fellow bond-servant (slave), belonging to the same master. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom sun and doulos Definition a fellow servant NASB Translation fellow bond-servant (2), fellow servant (2), fellow servants (1), fellow slave (2), fellow slaves (3). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4889: σύνδουλοςσύνδουλος, συνδούλου, ὁ (σύν and δοῦλος), a fellow-servant; one who serves the same master with another; thus used of a. the associate of a servant (or slave) in the proper sense: Matthew 24:49. b. one who with others serves (ministers to) a king: Matthew 18:28, 29, 31, 33. c. the colleague of one who is Christ's servant in publishing the gospel: Colossians 1:7; Colossians 4:7 ((where cf. Lightfoot)). d. one who with others acknowledges the same Lord, Jesus, and obeys his commands: Revelation 6:11. e. one who with others is subject to the same divine authority in the Messianic economy: so of angels as the fellow-servants of Christians, Revelation 19:10; Revelation 22:9. (Moeris says, p. 273, ὁμόδουλος ἀττικως, σύνδουλος ἑλληνικως. But the word is used by Aristophanes, Euripides, Lysias.) Sýndoulos expresses the bond of those who serve under the same Master. While doulos already speaks of whole-life ownership, the prefix syn (“with”) adds the dimension of shared identity and mutual accountability. The word therefore highlights both humility (we are slaves, not lords) and unity (we are in this together). Occurrences and Narrative Contexts • Matthew 18:28-33; 24:49 – relationships among household slaves in Christ’s parables. Together these ten occurrences paint a picture of believers (and even angels) linked in service under God’s sovereign rule. Lessons in Forgiveness and Accountability (Matthew 18) The parable of the unforgiving servant pivots on the word: “Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant as I had on you?” (Matthew 18:33). Because all disciples stand on equal footing before a gracious Master, failure to extend forgiveness to a syndoulos is an affront to divine mercy. The other “fellow servants” who inform the king (18:31) illustrate proper corporate concern for holiness and justice within the community. Faithful Service in Apostolic Ministry (Colossians) Paul calls Epaphras “our beloved fellow servant” (Colossians 1:7) and Tychicus “a beloved brother, a faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord” (Colossians 4:7). The titles dissolve rank: apostle and envoy alike are simply slaves of Christ. Authority in the church is exercised not as domination but as shared stewardship. Eschatological Solidarity of the Saints (Revelation 6) The souls beneath the altar receive white robes and are told to wait “until the number of their fellow servants, their brothers, who were to be killed as they had been, was completed” (Revelation 6:11). Martyrs on earth and martyrs in heaven are bound together; suffering is neither random nor unnoticed but is measured by the Lord who will vindicate them all at once. Servanthood and Angelic Fellowship (Revelation 19; 22) When John falls before the radiant messenger, the angel replies: “Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you…” (Revelation 19:10; 22:9). Even celestial beings define themselves not by superiority but by common service. Worship belongs to God alone. The scene demolishes every temptation to exalt human or angelic intermediaries. Theological Themes 1. Equality before Christ – Social, ethnic, and celestial hierarchies collapse in shared slavery to the Lord. Historical Setting of Servitude in the First Century In the Greco-Roman world a slave’s status depended wholly on the master. Early Christians borrowed this social language but transformed it: service to Christ dignifies rather than degrades, and His yoke is easy. By calling one another syndouloi, believers subtly undermined prevailing class consciousness and modeled a new household where love governed every relationship. Implications for Church Life and Leadership • Leaders serve alongside the flock, not above it (1 Peter 5:3 echoes the same spirit). Practical Applications Today • Cultivate humility: remember that every title—pastor, elder, missionary—reduces to fellow servant. The term sýndoulos therefore invites believers to see themselves and one another in light of a single sovereign Lord, fostering unity, compassion, and unwavering devotion until He returns. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 18:28 N-GMPGRK: ἕνα τῶν συνδούλων αὐτοῦ ὃς NAS: one of his fellow slaves who KJV: one of his fellowservants, which owed INT: one the fellow servants of his who Matthew 18:29 N-NMS Matthew 18:31 N-NMP Matthew 18:33 N-AMS Matthew 24:49 N-AMP Colossians 1:7 N-GMS Colossians 4:7 N-NMS Revelation 6:11 N-NMP Revelation 19:10 N-NMS Revelation 22:9 N-NMS Strong's Greek 4889 |
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