The slaves should be submissive (Titus 2:9)

“Tell the slaves

To be submissive

To their masters

In all things,

Being grateful.

They are not

To talk back.”

δούλους ἰδίοις δεσπόταις ὑποτάσσεσθαι ἐν πᾶσιν, εὐαρέστους εἶναι, μὴ ἀντιλέγοντας,

Paul said, “Tell the slaves (δούλους) to be submissive (ὑποτάσσεσθαι) in all things (ἐν πᾶσιν) to their masters (ἰδίοις δεσπόταις), being grateful (εὐαρέστους).  They are not to talk back (μὴ ἀντιλέγοντας).”  Only the Pauline letters used this word εὐαρέστους, that means well-pleasing, acceptable, or grateful.  There was no hint of any anti-slavery movement in Paul’s letters.  He told Titus to tell the slaves to be submissive in all things to their master slave owners.  They should be grateful to them and not talk back.  In many of the Greek urban areas, slavery was an important part of the economic and social life.  Most Jewish and Christian writers accepted slavery as the way that things are.  Many slaves were part of the households that had converted to Christianity.  What do you think about slavery?