Was Paul a bondslave or a prisoner of Christ?
Paul was both a bondslave of Christ and the literal prisoner of Christ. Ephesians 3:1 calls him "the prisoner of Jesus Christ" for the Gentiles' sake. The context states he was not only a bondslave but also a literal prisoner for that distinct purpose. Both terms therefore apply.
Les teaches that Paul was not only a bondslave of Christ, but also the literal prisoner of Christ for a distinct purpose: to bring pagan Gentiles out of their sin and spiritual darkness into the knowledge of his gospel. He points to Ephesians 3:1, where Paul calls himself "the prisoner of Jesus Christ" for the Gentiles. Les then goes back to Acts 9 to explain Paul's background as a religious zealot who thought he was serving the God of Abraham by stamping out anything that referred to Jesus of Nazareth in Israel. God stopped him on the road to Damascus. While Saul was still blind and making his way into Damascus, the Lord spoke to Ananias, telling him to go to the street called Straight and inquire in the house of Judas for Saul of Tarsus, who was praying and had seen a vision of Ananias coming to restore his sight. This prepared Saul for something special.
For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
More Questions
Why did Paul say he was a prisoner of Jesus Christ for the Gentiles?
Paul's ministry was directed specifically at pagan Gentiles, to bring them out of their sin and spiritual darkness and into the knowledge of the gospel.