Topical Bible: Servants: The Term often Used to Express Humility

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In the biblical context, the term "servant" is frequently employed to convey humility, submission, and dedication to God and others. This concept is deeply rooted in both the Old and New Testaments, where being a servant is often portrayed as a noble and virtuous position, reflecting one's devotion and obedience to the divine will.

Old Testament Usage

In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for servant, "ebed," is used extensively to describe individuals who serve God, leaders, or others. Notably, many of the patriarchs and prophets are referred to as servants of the Lord. For instance, Moses is repeatedly called a servant of God, highlighting his role as a humble leader and mediator between God and the Israelites. In Numbers 12:7, God Himself states, "Not so with My servant Moses; he is faithful in all My house."

The concept of servanthood is also evident in the lives of other key figures such as David, who is described as a servant of God in 2 Samuel 7:8: "Now then, you are to tell My servant David that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: 'I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be ruler over My people Israel.'" This designation underscores David's humility and his role as a shepherd of God's people.

New Testament Usage

In the New Testament, the Greek word "doulos" is often translated as "servant" or "slave," and it carries a similar connotation of humility and submission. Jesus Christ Himself exemplifies the ultimate servant, as described in Philippians 2:7: "but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness." This passage highlights the humility of Christ, who, though divine, chose to serve humanity through His life and sacrificial death.

Jesus also taught His disciples about the importance of servanthood. In Matthew 20:26-28, He instructs them, "It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." Here, Jesus redefines greatness in terms of service and humility, setting a standard for His followers.

The apostles, too, embraced the identity of servants. Paul frequently refers to himself as a servant of Christ, as seen in Romans 1:1: "Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God." This self-identification reflects Paul's commitment to serving the Lord and spreading the gospel, emphasizing the humility and dedication required of those who follow Christ.

Servanthood as a Christian Virtue

Throughout Scripture, servanthood is presented as a key virtue for believers. It is a call to humility, selflessness, and a life dedicated to serving God and others. In Galatians 5:13, Paul exhorts the church, "For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love." This call to serve one another in love encapsulates the essence of Christian servanthood, where freedom in Christ is expressed through humble service.

The biblical portrayal of servanthood challenges believers to adopt a posture of humility, recognizing that true greatness lies in serving others and submitting to God's will. As followers of Christ, Christians are encouraged to emulate the example of Jesus, who, in His humility, became the ultimate servant for the salvation of humanity.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Genesis 18:3
And said, My LORD, if now I have found favor in your sight, pass not away, I pray you, from your servant:
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Genesis 33:5
And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with you? And he said, The children which God has graciously given your servant.
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1 Samuel 20:7
If he say thus, It is well; your servant shall have peace: but if he be very wroth, then be sure that evil is determined by him.
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1 Kings 20:32
So they girded sackcloth on their loins, and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, Your servant Benhadad said, I pray you, let me live. And he said, Is he yet alive? he is my brother.
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Library

Attributes of Love.
... very hairs of the heads of his servants, and that ... Are these representations of what
we so often see among ... The term holiness may, in a general sense, be applied ...
/.../finney/systematic theology/lecture xv attributes of love.htm

Abraham, his Trial in Egypt; his Humility
... not armeth, evil men, [765]400; threatens often without punishing ... God, used in a
lower sense, [772]318. ... Heresies, what meant by the term, [832]158; must needs be ...
/.../abraham his trial in egypt.htm

The Last Interview of Paul with the Elders of Ephesus.
... that this is a new sense affixed to the term. ... religion, as in medicine, things are
often wholesome which ... of God, who, in recompensing his servants, will regard ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xxiv the last interview.htm

Homilies on the Gospel of John.
... 71]ib.; deformity of, [72]92; with servants, reproved, [73]93 ... "Can, cannot," sometimes
express choice, not ... to the dull hearers, [268]82; why used often the sign ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homilies on the gospel of.htm

And Disputes
... to eat bread with him were often vexed and ... When the king's servants chafed, and would
have spurred him on ... The word Transubstantiation (an ambiguous term to the ...
/.../marson/hugh bishop of lincoln/chapter vii name disputes.htm

Concerning Justification.
... be admired, because that sentence or term (so frequently ... the men good and faithful
servants that improved ... circumcision (which word is often used to comprehend ...
/.../proposition vii concerning justification.htm

The Miracle of Pentecost and the Birthday of the Christian
... sons and daughters, young men and old men, servants and handmaidens. ... It is this
heteroglossolalia, as I may term it, which ... (huperoon, ?lyh) as often used as a ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 24 the miracle of.htm

Of Faith. The Definition of It. Its Peculiar Properties.
... 15. We add, that it is sure and firm, the better to express strength and constancy
of ... So true is this, that the term faith is often used as equivalent to ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 2 of faith the.htm

The Duty of Reproving Our Neighbour
... Immediately after these are our servants, whether bound to us for a term of years
or any shorter term. ... a serious air to what you speak, is, as often as may ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 65 the duty of.htm

1 Cor. Ix. 13, 14
... done all, say, We are unprofitable servants; for we ... See how throughout he uses the
term "right," intimating this, as I have often observed; that ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xxii 1 cor ix.htm