Masters (1203) (despotes; English = despot) means one who possesses undisputed ownership and absolute, unrestricted authority, so that the Greeks refused the title to any but the gods. The despotes was one who has legal control and authority over persons, such as slaves. In the NT despotes & kurios are used interchangeably of God, and of masters of servants. In Greek culture and terminology, servant and despótÄ"s went together. The English word despot often congers up a negative image of one who exercises power tyrannically, harshly or abusively, but the Biblical uses do not convey such a connotation. Despotes is one who has legal control and authority over persons, such as subjects or slaves and was used especially as the ruler over a household. TDNT summarizes the secular Greek uses of despotes: "The first meaning is the domestic one of “owner.” This extends to the political sphere when an alien people takes over a land. The word thus acquires such varied nuances as a. master of the house, b. master as distinct from slave, c. absolute ruler (equivalent to týrannos in Plato), d. powerful divine being, e. the Roman emperor, and f. (astrologically) planet. While the term expresses social rank or position, it is not one of status; hence the Jews can not only follow normal Greek usage but also link the term with God. In the Greek Bible, while strongly subordinate to kýrios, it appears some 56 times (25 times in direct address to God with a special emphasis on his omnipotence). God is kýrios because He is despótÄ"s of all things (cf. Job 5:8ff). Elsewhere in the LXX (Septuagint - Greek translation of the Hebrew OT) we find all the other nuances except a. and f., but these are less prominent compared to that for God." (Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. Eerdmans) Despotes -10 times in NAS translated: Lord, 3; Master, 3; masters, 4. In summary, 6x despotes refers to God or Jesus and 4x to human masters. Luke 2:29 Now (now that the divine promise that he should see the Messiah before dying had been fulfilled) Lord (despotes), Thou dost let Thy bond-servant depart In peace, according to Thy word; for my eyes have seen Thy salvation (the Messiah Who would make redemption possible for Jew and Gentile alike), which Thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples. (Luke 2:29-31) Acts 4:24 And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, "O Lord, it is You who MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM, 1Timothy 6:1 All who are under the yoke as slaves are to regard their own masters as worthy of all honor so that the name of God and our doctrine will not be spoken against.2 Those who have believers as their masters must not be disrespectful to them because they are brethren, but must serve them all the more, because those who partake of the benefit are believers and beloved. Teach and preach these principles. 2 Timothy 2:21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. Comment: Implication? Believers are servants! Servants submit their rights. How are you doing? Titus 2:9 Urge bondslaves to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 1 Peter 2:18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable. 2 Peter 2:1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Comment: Implication? Believers are note their own but have been bought or purchased! Are you living for you SELF or your SAVIOR? It will make a lot of difference in your enjoyment of this life and the one to come! Jude 1:4 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed (Very picturesque verb = pareisduo from para = beside + eis = into + duo = go down, sink = literally means to go into and alongside of, to settle down alongside those already there. In short to slip in secretly as if by a side door!), those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly (asebes = depraved conduct and their corrupt doctrine as if God did not exist) persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness (aselgeia = twist Christian liberty into license) and deny our only Master and Lord (kurios), Jesus Christ." Comment: Implication? What are we doing when we choose to live by a list of rules? Are we not in effect denying our Master and the grace He generously gives to carry out whatever He calls us to accomplish? Revelation 6:10-note and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" Comment: Implication? Pay day will come someday for all who reject God's children because they reject Christ! Do not be deceived for a day of divine avenging is coming! Corollary: Believer, don't seek to take your own revenge! Your command is to forgive! Only possible by the enabling power of the Spirit of Christ! Jettison self reliance and rely fully on Spirit power to live a super-natural life! The first NT use was Simeon's thankful acknowledgment to the Father: Now (now that the divine promise that he should see the Messiah before dying had been fulfilled) Lord (despotes), Thou dost let Thy bond-servant depart In peace, according to Thy word; for my eyes have seen Thy salvation (the Messiah Who would make redemption possible for Jew and Gentile alike), which Thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples. (Luke 2:29-31) In Acts, after their companions heard of the release of Peter and John from prison, the disciples did not ask God to deliver them from future persecution but instead, when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, “O Lord (O despotes, Absolute and Sovereign Master and Master), it is Thou Who didst make the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them... (Acts 4:24) Comment: In this context we see the disciples using despotes as a reflection of God's sovereignty or control over Creation (and by implication over any opposition they might experience to the proclamation of the gospel). Paul uses despotes to speak of human masters (over their slaves and servants) in passages that convey a parallel meaning to that of Peter. In first Timothy Paul writes Let all who are under the yoke (colloquial expression describing submissive service under another’s authority, not necessarily describing an abusive relationship) as slaves regard their own masters (despotes) as worthy of all honor (give them due respect, work obediently and faithfully, and in general seek to be a help rather than a hindrance) so that (the great motive for diligent service for every believer involves the testimony of God and His glory) the name of God and our doctrine (the revelation of God summed up in the gospel) may not be spoken against. And let those who have believers as their masters (despotes) not be disrespectful to them because they are brethren, but let them serve them all the more, because those who partake of the benefit are believers and beloved. Teach and preach these principles." (1Ti 6:1-2) Paul and Peter are both conveying the foundational truth that how believers act while under the authority of another affects how people view the Gospel, the message of salvation. . Displaying a proper attitude of submission and respect, and performing quality work, help make the Gospel message believable. “UNDERNEATH ARE THE EVERLASTING ARMS": "God—the eternal God—is Himself our Support at all times, & especially when we are sinking in deep trouble. There are seasons wh...en the Christian sinks very low in humiliation. Under a deep sense of his great sinfulness, he is humbled before God till he scarcely knows how to pray, because he appears, in his own sight, so worthless. Well, child of God, remember that when thou art at thy worst and lowest, yet “UNDERNEATH” thee “ARE EVERLASTING ARMS.” Sin may drag thee ever so low, but Christ’s great atonement is still under all. You may have descended into the deeps, but you cannot have fallen so low as “the uttermost”; and to the uttermost he saves (Hebrews 7:25KJV). Again, the Christian sometimes sinks very deeply in sore trial from without. Every earthly prop is cut away. What then? Still underneath him are “THE EVERLASTING ARMS!” He cannot fall so deep in distress and affliction but what the covenant grace of an ever-faithful God will still encircle him. The Christian may be sinking under trouble from within through fierce conflict, but even then he cannot be brought so low as to be beyond the reach of the “everlasting arms”—they are underneath him; and, while thus sustained, all Satan’s efforts to harm him avail nothing. This assurance of support is a comfort to any weary but earnest worker in the service of God. It implies a PROMISE OF STRENGTH FOR EACH DAY, GRACE FOR EACH NEED AND POWER FOR EACH DUTY. And, further, when death comes, the promise shall still hold good. When we stand in the midst of Jordan (on "death's doorstep"), we shall be able to say with David, “I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.” (Psalm 23:4) We shall descend into the grave, but we shall go no lower, for the eternal arms prevent our further fall. All through life, and at its close, we shall be upheld by the “EVERLASTING ARMS”—arms that neither flag nor lose their strength, for “THE EVERLASTING GOD FAINTETH NOT, NEITHER IS WEARY!" (Isaiah 40:28) Live the Gospel in your life, so that you can speak in with your lips! Paul writes "Urge bondslaves to be subject to their own masters (despotes) in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering (steal stealthily in small amounts or things of small value and often again and again), but showing all good faith (truly loyal ,entirely reliable, faithful throughout) that they may adorn (be an ornament, to make attractive - used to describe how women make themselves attractive) the doctrine (teaching in context refers to an established body of teaching that is accepted as correct by the Christian community) of God our Savior in every respect." (Titus 2:9-10-note) In explaining to Timothy the qualities that God expected in those He would use in His supernatural work, Paul writes "therefore, if a man cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor (God can use only clean vessels in holy service. “Purify yourselves, you who bear the vessels of Jehovah” - Isa. 52:11) sanctified (set apart from profane use and for holy use), useful (profitable) to the Master (despotes - the One Who has absolute ownership and all power), prepared (fit and ready) for every good work." (2Ti 2:21-note) Peter introduces his great warning passage describing false teachers by reminding the saints that false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce (bring in false alongside the truth, teaching much true doctrine, would cleverly include false teaching with it thus secretly and stealthily smuggling in) destructive (this word speaks of the loss of everything that makes human existence worthwhile) heresies, even denying the Master (despotes - Jesus Christ) Who bought (used of the purchase of slaves in the slave-market) them (paying the ransom price with His precious blood), bringing swift destruction upon themselves." (2Pe 2:1-note) In a parallel passage Jude warns that certain persons have crept in unnoticed (to get in by the side, to slip in a side-door), those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly (depraved conduct and their corrupt doctrine as if God did not exist) persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness (twist Christian liberty into license) and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ." (Jude 1:4) MacDonald writes that these men deny His absolute right to rule (despotes), His deity, His vicarious death, His resurrection—in fact, they deny every essential doctrine of His Person and work. While professing an expansive liberality in the spiritual realm, they are dogmatically and viciously opposed to the gospel, to the value of the precious blood of Christ, and to His being the only way of salvation." (MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments. Nashville: Thomas Nelson) In the final NT use of despotes, we hear the cry of those slain in the last 7 years of Daniel's Seventieth Week (click Summary Chart of Daniel's Seventieth Week), as they cry out "with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord (despotes), holy and true, wilt Thou refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" (Rev 6:10) Wuest notes that There are two classes of these “despots,” the good and kind, and the froward (perverseness, deceit, or falsehood). The word “good” in the Greek refers to intrinsic goodness, namely, good at heart. “Gentle” is from a word meaning “mild, yielding, indulgent.” It comes in its derivation from a word meaning “not being unduly rigorous.” Alford describes the master, “Where not strictness of legal right, but consideration for another, is the rule of practice.” The idea can be summed up in the word “reasonable,” a reasonable man. “Froward” is from a word which literally means “crooked.” The English word “froward” comes from the Anglo-Saxon “from-ward,” namely, “averse.” It describes a master whose face is averse to the slave, whose whole attitude is one of averseness to him. Household slaves are exhorted to put themselves in subjection to both classes." (Wuest, K. S. Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Studies in the Vocabulary of the Greek New Testament: p.23. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans) Despotes denotes the lord as owner and master in the spheres of family and public life, where lordship sometimes entails harshness and caprice. (Brown, Colin, Editor. New International Dictionary of NT Theology. 1986. Zondervan) The fact that Peter singles slaves out for special admonition indicates that slaves, as a class, formed a large part of the early Christian community (by some estimates there were over 60 million slaves in the Roman empire). In Paul’s day, women, children, and slaves had few rights. In Christ however they had freedom that society denied them. Paul explained how masters and slaves should live out the dichotomy of being on different social levels yet one (equal) in Christ. Some newly converted slaves may have reasoned that their spiritual freedom also guaranteed personal and political freedom, and this line of reasoning created problems for themselves and the churches. Paul dealt with this problem in (1Cor 7:20ff), and also touched on it in his letter to his friend Philemon. As a sidelight it is interesting (and encouraging) to note that the Gospel eventually overthrew the Roman Empire and the terrible institution of slavery, even though the early church did not preach against either one! With all respect - Peter could have stopped with "Servants be submissive" but he adds this qualifying phrase. With all respect (en panti phobo) is literally in all fear where respect is the Greek word phobos which means fear but in this context conveys the idea of a reverence toward their masters that induces respect and faithfulness to one's duty. It is an attitude of "healthy fear" which motivates the slave to conduct themselves in a manner that pleases their masters on earth and their Master in heaven. It does not mean in dread of punishment from the master. God wants all believers to have respect for the system of authority in the employer/employee relationship. A reverence for God our true final Master should engender and motivate and empower (by the Spirit) a heart desire to not speak or do anything that would impugn the name of our Lord, and it is this underlying principle which "drives" our desire to submit "respectfully" (in reverential fear) to all those in authority over us! How are you doing with those whom God has placed over you? Application: As a born again believer, our job is full-time Christian service wherever we are placed. If we disagree with management, God wants us to do it "in all fear." To respect authority does not mean that we must respect the person. It does mean that we respect the authority that they represent. NOT ONLY TO THOSE WHO ARE GOOD AND GENTLE (reasonable): ou monon tois agathois kai epieikesin: (2Co 10:1; Gal 5:22; Titus 3:2; James 3:17) Not only - Watch out for the flesh driven tendency to submit with respect to only those who you think "deserve it!" "Go to the page below to access live links related to the material on this page - these links include Scriptures (which can be read in context), Scripture pop-ups on mouse over, and a variety of related resources such as Bible dictionary articles, commentaries, sermon notes and theological journal articles related to the topic under discussion." http://preceptaustin.org/1_peter_218-25.htm#d