Summary
The New Testament does not hesitate to describe believers as slaves of Christ, a metaphor that can jar modern ears. This volume sets out to explain the meaning, range, and theological force of that language. We are helped to see that the metaphor is not a licence for harshness, but a way of expressing rightful ownership, joyful allegiance, and costly devotion to the Lord who has redeemed His people.
The author works carefully through key vocabulary and passages, especially in Paul, and asks how the metaphor functions within early Christian identity. The focus is not to win a culture war, but to understand what the text actually says and why it says it. That is particularly useful when the church is tempted either to soften the metaphor until it disappears, or to press it in ways the New Testament does not.
Strengths
The strength lies in linguistic and exegetical precision. The discussion is careful, and the conclusions are drawn with restraint. We appreciated the attention to nuance, especially where the metaphor intersects with themes of freedom, adoption, and service.
It also helps pastors speak about obedience as belonging to grace. The metaphor is set within the gospel, not detached from it.
Limitations
The topic requires technical work, and the book at times reads like specialist scholarship. Those looking for immediate sermon illustrations may find it more analytical than devotional.
It also needs thoughtful pastoral translation, because modern associations with slavery can overwhelm the biblical point if handled clumsily.
How We Would Use It
We would use this when preaching through letters where the language of servanthood and lordship is prominent. It is also a good resource for training preachers to handle difficult metaphors with both honesty and sensitivity.
To test the volume, read the chapters on the key Pauline texts and then check the author’s summary of implications. That will show how usable the conclusions will be for your ministry context.
Closing Recommendation
We recommend this as a careful study that repays pastors who want to handle the New Testament’s language with precision and pastoral wisdom.
Murray J. Harris
Murray J. Harris is a New Zealand born New Testament scholar of the late twentieth and early twenty first centuries, recognised for careful evangelical work with Greek and doctrine.
He has contributed substantial studies on Pauline theology, Christology, and key New Testament texts, often combining linguistic precision with theological depth. His writing is frequently consulted where pastors need help with contested passages, especially where translation and grammar shape the theological conclusion.
Harris is valued for exactness, fairness with scholarly debate, and a clear concern for the confession of Christ. He models the kind of scholarship that serves the pulpit by doing the hard work quietly, then presenting conclusions with calm restraint and reverent seriousness.
Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical