“Paul and Timotheus, the servants of JESUS CHRIST”
“Paul and Timotheus, slaves of CHRIST JESUS.”
The “signatures” (if we may call them this) in the salutations of the Epistles come at the beginning of the letters, instead of at the end, as with us. They are full of the deepest interest and instruction. Perhaps none more so than in the little Epistle before us. Let us review them: (quotations are from the New Translation by J.N. Darby).
1 Corinthians: “Paul, (a) called apostle of Jesus Christ, by God’s will, and Sosthenes the brother.”
Galatians: “Paul, apostle, not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ, and God (the) Father who raised Him from among the dead, and all the brethren with me.”
Philippians: “Paul and Timotheus, bondmen of Jesus Christ” (vs. 1).
1 Timothy: “Paul, apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus our hope.”
2 Timothy: “Paul, apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, according to promise of life, the (life) which is in Christ Jesus.”
Philemon: “Paul, prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timotheus the brother.”
Hebrews: None.
1 Peter: “Peter, apostle of Jesus Christ.”
1 John: None.
2 & 3 John: “The elder.”
It will be noticed that 1 & 2 Thessalonians contain no title, but the names only of Paul and his two companions. In Philemon Paul takes the title of “prisoner” only, and links Timothy with himself. In every other of his epistles, except Philippians, Paul uses the title of “apostle.”
This title included in it the authority that the Lord had given him (see 2 Cor. 10:88For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed: (2 Corinthians 10:8)), and in most of these epistles he is exercising this authority. In Corinth and Galatia the churches had challenged his authority.
In Philemon Paul says, “I might be much bold to enjoin thee that which is convenient, yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged.” That tells us plainly why he does not wish to exercise his authority here; so we would not expect to find the title “apostle.” We do not know the human author of Hebrews, and it is best for us not to guess at what the Lord has seen best to hide: but we can well understand the reason that we find no title, or “signature,” of author here, for in Hebrews Christ Himself is the Apostle, the High Priest, the Author and Finisher of faith (3:1 & 12:2). How unseemly would it have been for any man to have assumed a place or title in the face of such an array of titles of our Lord Himself!
And I think this is the key to the salutation in Philippians, where Paul omits “apostle” entirely and links himself with Timothy as “slaves,” or bondmen, of Jesus Christ. In this little book the Lord presents Himself to us as the One Who “took upon Himself the form of a slave” (2:7). How could Paul take any title higher than his Master, Who had gone to the very lowest depths for his sake? And so we gaze with wonder and delight at this mark of perfection in the opening words. In Hebrews the writer cannot use the title “Apostle” for his Lord has taken that title Himself. In Philippians the writer cannot use the title “apostle” for his Lord has taken the form of a “slave”!
Our thoughts go back to Ex. 21, where we see the Hebrew servant, who, of his own free will, became “a slave forever,” because of love: love to his master, his wife, and his children: and so he would not go out free: he would rather suffer, he would have his ear pierced through with an awl, as proof that now he is a “slave forever.” And so, Christ Jesus, being in the form of God, took upon Himself the form of a slave: hands and feet and side pierced, as proof that He is the Slave forever. (The words for “form” are the same). And we see this beautiful picture drawn for us long ago in the Old Testament.
There are three special marks that should characterize “a slave of Jesus Christ” —redemption, ownership, and devotedness. We were slaves of sin and Satan, but our Lord Jesus Christ redeemed us. Perhaps you recall the story of the man who bought a slave at a very high cost: and when he had paid the price, and the slave was his own, he took the chains from his hands and feet, threw them away, and said, “I bought you to set you free. You are a free man!” He was redeemed. The freed slave fell at the feet of him who bought him, crying: “I am your slave forever!” It was love, the bonds of love, which are stronger than the bonds of steel, that made that free man once again a slave, “a slave forever.” Only one other of Paul’s friends bears this honorable title of “slave”: and that is Epaphras, in Col. 4:1212Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. (Colossians 4:12), who is called “slave of Christ Jesus” (Greek). In passing we might note the peculiar beauty of the salutation of James, and also of Jude, if they are the brothers of our Lord; and we may see that each salutation is a proof of His deity, by those who had probably been “brought up” with Him.
And so we read, “Paul and Timotheus, slaves of Christ Jesus.” Slaves, because they were bought with a price: (1 Cor. 6:2020For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. (1 Corinthians 6:20) & 7:23): but slaves also because they were bound to their Master, Christ Jesus, with the strongest of all bonds, the bonds of love. Can I, can you, truthfully be called “slaves of Christ Jesus”? That men may be His slaves, we can in measure understand: but when we come to Chapter 2 and find that Christ Jesus has taken upon Himself the form of a slave: when we find that He is “a Slave forever”, that is beyond us: and we joyfully fall at His feet, and cry, “Whose I am, and Whom I serve” (Acts 27:2323For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, (Acts 27:23)). Well may we sing:
“I am His, and He is mine,
Forever and forever!”
I need no call at His feet to fall,
For I cannot turn away.
I am the captive led along
With the joy of His triumphal song;
In the depths of love do I love and move,
I joy to live or to die;
For I am borne on the tide of His love
To all eternity.”
(Mechthild of Hellfde)