doulos denotes a person under a master’s authority, in household service, relation to God or Christ, or bondage to sin.

The term most often identifies persons under a human master’s authority, including household workers and servants assigned duties; it also describes persons in relation to God, Christ, or others, and portrays bondage to sin or corruption in contrast with freedom.

1. Person under a human master’s authority · dominant

   In Ephesians 6:5, nominative plural δοῦλοι addresses those commanded to obey masters, and the APB renders the clause “Slaves, obey your masters according to the flesh.” In Luke 17:7, accusative singular δοῦλον names the worker who plows or shepherds, while Matthew 18:23 speaks of a king settling accounts with his servants.

   Ephesians 6:5Colossians 3:22Luke 17:7Matthew 18:23John 18:10Luke 19:13
2. Designation in service to God, Christ, or others · common

   Nominative singular δοῦλος identifies James in relation to God and the Lord Jesus Christ in James 1:1 and Epaphras in relation to Christ in Colossians 4:12. In 2 Corinthians 4:5, accusative plural δούλους presents the speakers as “your slaves for Jesus' sake,” linking the designation to their relation toward the readers.

   James 1:1Colossians 4:122 Peter 1:1Galatians 1:102 Corinthians 4:52 Timothy 2:24
3. Bondage opposed to freedom · occasional

   In John 8:34, nominative singular δοῦλός describes everyone who commits sin as under sin’s control; the APB renders “a slave of sin.” In 2 Peter 2:19, nominative plural δοῦλοι describes those who promise freedom while being “slaves of corruption,” and the verse explains that a person is enslaved by what overcomes him.

   John 8:342 Peter 2:19Galatians 4:71 Corinthians 7:22

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB commonly uses “slave” across these verses, while also using “bondservants” in 1 Timothy 6:1 and “servants” in some household and parable contexts. These English choices show the verse-level presentation rather than fixed translations of each form.