Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.
- Titus 2:9-10
As Paul continues to write to Titus, he addresses various groups in the church – older men, older (and younger) women, younger men – and finally, those who were in the lowest position socially: slaves. Though slavery in the ancient Roman world differed in some respects from the slavery of more recent centuries, it still placed people in situations of limited freedom and often harsh conditions. Yet Paul does not dismiss this group as powerless or irrelevant; instead, he calls them to live in such a way that the gospel shines brightly through their conduct.
Today, while most of us are not slaves in the ancient sense, the principles Paul lays out for Titus have direct relevance for our modern work environments. Our attitudes toward authority, our work ethic, and our trustworthiness either promote the gospel or detract from it.
In the first century Roman Empire, slavery was deeply embedded in the economic and social systems. Estimates suggest that up to one-third of the population was slaves. They served in households, agriculture, industry, and government. Some slaves were highly educated, functioning as teachers, doctors, or accountants, while others were laborers in grueling conditions. Unlike the chattel slavery of the transatlantic slave trade, Roman slavery was not racially based, and being set free was relatively common.
Paul’s words here are not an endorsement of the institution but an instruction to believers within that system about how to live faithfully in their present circumstances. Elsewhere (in 1 Corinthians 7:21-23, for example), Paul encourages slaves to gain their freedom if possible. Yet he consistently emphasizes that, whatever one’s station in life, one can live for the glory of God.
Paul gives four specific behavioral directives to slaves in verses 9-10: be subject to their masters, try to please them, don’t talk back, and don’t steal.
The call to be subject means to willingly place oneself under the authority of another. In the context of slavery, this was already a legal obligation, but Paul elevates it from mere compliance to a voluntary, God-honoring choice. This echoes the broader Christian teaching that submission to human authority, whether government (Romans 13), church leaders (Hebrews 13:17), or in marriage (Ephesians 5:21-33), is ultimately about submission to God. For us today, this translates into a call to respect and follow the lawful directives of our supervisors, managers, or team leaders, even when we may not agree with every decision.
Aiming to please our masters is not about becoming a people-pleaser in an unhealthy sense but about working with an attitude that seeks the good of one’s employer. It implies diligence, a positive spirit, and a willingness to go beyond the bare minimum. Paul is urging believers to approach their work as an offering to God, which naturally leads to conscientiousness and excellence.
The Greek term for not talking back suggests argumentative, disrespectful responses. Paul warns against verbal resistance that undermines authority or breeds conflict. In a modern workplace, this could apply to gossiping about the boss, speaking disrespectfully to colleagues, or maintaining a negative, critical spirit.
Theft in the ancient world among slaves could range from skimming money, taking goods, or misusing resources. Today, workplace theft could be obvious—like stealing office supplies or falsifying expense reports—or subtle, like excessive personal use of company time, resources, or technology. Integrity means being trustworthy with what belongs to others.
The main point of Paul’s instructions comes in the last phrase of verse 10: “so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.” The goal of Christian conduct in the workplace is not simply to avoid trouble, gain promotions, or win human approval; it’s to promote the gospel. Paul is saying that the way believers live can make the gospel message look beautiful and desirable to others. Conversely, poor conduct can make the gospel appear unattractive or even hypocritical. The gospel is inherently glorious, and it does not need us to improve it, but we can either highlight its beauty through our lives or obscure it through our actions.
Even though the context of this passage is slavery in the ancient world, its principles apply to modern work relationships. We can live out these verses today by respecting authority (even when we don’t agree with our leaders), working with excellence, watching our speech, and living with integrity. This passage applies to every believer who finds themselves under someone else’s authority in any capacity, which is likely all of us. Whether we are employees, students, or volunteers, the way we conduct ourselves says something about the God we serve.
We live in a culture that often values self-promotion over service, personal rights over responsibility, and comfort over commitment. Against that backdrop, a believer who works diligently, speaks graciously, acts honestly, and respects authority stands out. Such a life promotes the gospel, making the teaching about God our Savior attractive to a watching world. May we, like the slaves in Crete whom Paul addressed, embrace our roles with a Kingdom mindset, so that in every way, we will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.
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