Stewards, servants and slaves

November 2022. A few weeks ago, Bill Maher, in a treatise on the history of slavery, derided the biblical stance as basically, "a handbook on slavery." Shortly thereafter, Matt Walsh pooh-poohed that idea with a dismissive tone. Sadly, I think Maher might be on to something.

In preparing for my eighth grade religion class, I came across a critique of the use of the term 'servant' as an inaccurate, politically correct translation of the original Greek term, doulon, which was the Greek word for 'slave,' not servant, even if it is common today to use 'servant.' The replacement of 'slave' with 'servant' changes the way we look at some bible stories, including the accompanying passage (Luke 17:7). Is Jesus saying that a slave has an obligation to his master? If so, does this also suggest that Jesus did not speak against the practice of slavery and, instead, tacitly endorsed it, with admonitions to slaves to "serve one master"?

This led me to a further search of interpretation of this seemingly casual substitution of terms, and another way of looking at some parables, including the claim that a servant (or 'slave'') can not serve two masters. In fact, the author, a popular California minister, claimed that while a slave can only be beholden to his master, a servant can be employed by multiple masters. Thus, he implied that the phrase must be about slaves and masters, not servants and masters.

Confused? You should be. As it gets worse. As detailed here (see graphic, to the left) there appears to be no single, clear definition of the term, with a range of meaning, from a slave to a servant, with variations in between the two words.

Or look here (see graphic at right). Apparently, the word can be used to mean several different levels or types of servitude, and the context must reconsidered, although there is often noting in the context to provide an explanation. An earlier critique I read, explained the shift from 'servant' to 'slave' to be the result of an early form of political correctness, or cleansing of the more onerous aspects of the bible, centuries ago.

'Stewards' can be another matter of confusion. While the duties of a steward are more limited and often different from those of a slave, it seems fair to say that almost every steward is a servant and few, if any, would be a slave. It makes no sense to me to think that a slave could be steward.