Who really is the faithfuland discreet slave?

[Rotherham]

Amid the prophecies of Jesus Christ concerning his parousia and revelation, or as many would refer to as the last days prophecy, beginning at Matthew 24:3 and continuing into chapter 25, we find a statement or two at 24:45-47 about a "faithful and wise servant" which has caused a great deal of discussion as to who is designated by that title and what exactly is their role within Christianity.

Let's first look at the passage in question and follow what it says.
Matthew 24:24-47:
45 “Who really is the faithful and discreet* slave whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Happy is that slave if his master on coming finds him doing so!+47 Truly I say to you, he will appoint him over all his belongings.

Luke's version of the account reads as follows:
Luke 12: 42-44 And the Lord said: “Who really is the faithful steward, the discreet one, whom his master will appoint over his body of attendants to keep giving them their measure of food supplies at the proper time? 43 Happy is that slave if his master on coming finds him doing so! 44 I tell you truthfully, he will appoint him over all his belongings.

Since these words were amid an array of parousiac events, we should understand this appointment spoken of as being "during" the parousia as all the prophecies in this passage are likewise, parousiac events.

What can we tell about the nature of this appointment? How would they be OVER the household of God? Notice how this same passage is rendered in other translations. (The above was from the New World translation of Jehovah's Witnesses.)

Matthew 24:45New International Version (NIV)

45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time?

Matthew 24:4521st Century King James Version (KJ21)

45 “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

Matthew 24:45American Standard Version (ASV)

45 Who then is the faithful and wise [a]servant, whom his lord hath set over his household, to give them their food in due season?

Matthew 24:45Amplified Bible (AMP)

45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant whom his master has put in charge of his household to give the others [in the house] their food and supplies at the proper time?


Matthew 24:45BRG Bible (BRG)

45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

BRG Bible (BRG)
Blue Red and Gold Letter Edition™ Copyright © 2012 BRG Bible Ministries.

Matthew 24:45Darby Translation (DARBY)

45 Who then is the faithful and prudent bondman whom his lord has set over his household, to give them food in season?

Matthew 24:45Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)

45 Who, thinkest thou, is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath appointed over his family, to give them meat in season.

Matthew 24:45International Standard Version (ISV)

The Faithful or the Wicked Servant

45 “Who, then, is the faithful and wise servant whom his master has put in charge of his household to give the others[a] their food at the right time?

Matthew 24:45-51J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)

Vigilance is essential

45-47 “Who then is the faithful and sensible servant whom his master put in charge of his household to give others their food at the proper time? Well, he is fortunate if his master finds him doing that duty on his return! Believe me, he will promote him to look after all his property

Matthew 24:45King James Version (KJV)

45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

Matthew 24:45New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)

45 “Who, then, is the faithful and prudent servant, whom the master has put in charge of his household to distribute to them their food at the proper time?[a]

AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON WITH SIMILAR RENDITION.

From the above renditions we see that someone, called a faithful and wise/discreet servant/slave would be in CHARGE OF, APPOINTED OVER, BE RULER OF GOD'S HOUSEHOLD which would include the whole of Christianity.
The greek words in question are "kathistēmi epi". The meaning of kathistemi is given as:

I.to set, place, put

A.to set one over a thing (in charge of it)
B.to appoint one to administer an office
C.to set down as, constitute, to declare, show to be
D.to constitute, to render, make, cause to be
E.to conduct or bring to a certain place
F.to show or exhibit one's self
i.come forward as

The meaning of "epi" is given as:
ἐπί epí, ep-ee'; a primary preposition; properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.:—about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, × have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with.




This would be the case for Christianity during the parousia of Christ according to where this prophecy is found.

This reminds us of the role of the Apostles during the first century when Christianity was in its beginning phase of existence.

Notice what is revealed for us in the following passages and related comments:

Hebrews 13:17 told the first century Christians to be obedient to those who were taking the lead among them. Hebrews tells us that those ones ‘will render an account for our souls’. Who would that have been in the 1st century? Would it not have been the Apostles, who were acting as a governing element among the congregations of Christianity?

Paul said that there were those who gave ORDERS in connection with ‘how to walk and be pleasing to God’;

1 Thessalonians 4:1,2-
Finally, brothers, we request YOU and exhort YOU by the Lord Jesus, just as YOU received [the instruction] from us on how YOU ought to walk and please God, just as YOU are in fact walking, that YOU would keep on doing it more fully.2For YOU know the orders we gave YOU through the Lord Jesus.

The first century Christians were said to adhere to the ‘teachings of the APOSTLES’. (Acts 2:42)
Acts 2:42
And they continued devoting themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to sharing [with one another], to taking of meals and to prayers.

It is abundantly clear that the Apostles had a special authority in the 1st century congregation.

In reality, the idea of a governing element, made up of men, is everywhere apparent in the Christian Greek Scriptures. Consider the following points and questions:

Romans 16:17 17 Now I exhort YOU, brothers, to keep your eye on those who cause divisions and occasions for stumbling contrary to the teaching that YOU have learned, and avoid them.
Divisions in ‘what? What teachings are they in reference to? Would it not be the teachings of the Apostles? (Acts 2:42)

2 Thessalonians 3:6 6 Now we are giving YOU orders, brothers, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to withdraw from every brother walking disorderly and not according to the tradition YOU received from us.

Who is the WE giving the orders if there is no such thing as a Christian governing element?
What is it they received from the US that they needed to adhere to?
Again, does this not bespeak Apostolic authority?


2 Thessalonians 3:13-15 13 For YOUR part, brothers, do not give up in doing right. 14 But if anyone is not obedient to our word through this letter, keep this one marked, stop associating with him, that he may become ashamed. 15 And yet do not be considering him as an enemy, but continue admonishing him as a brother.

Where did this letter come from that they had to be obedient to? Why was it spoken of as OUR WORD, and not God’s word?

Who was the OUR? Where was this obvious authority coming from?

Titus 3:10-11 10 As for a man that promotes a sect, reject him after a first and a second admonition;

11 knowing that such a man has been turned out of the way and is sinning, he being self-condemned.
How would you know if someone was promoting a sect if there was no governing element in regard to doctrine? Who determined what the ‘promotion of a sect’ entailed? Answer: APOSTOLIC TEACHING.

Titus 2:15 15 Keep on speaking these things and exhorting and reproving with full authority to command. Let no man ever despise you.

Who had “full authority to command” and what did that mean for those under their authority?

Notice 1 Thessalonians 4:1,2-
Finally, brothers, we request YOU and exhort YOU by the Lord Jesus, just as YOU received [the instruction] from us on how YOU ought to walk and please God, just as YOU are in fact walking, that YOU would keep on doing it more fully.2For YOU know the orders WE gave YOU through the Lord Jesus.

Throughout his letters to the different congregations we here Paul speaking of the ‘orders’ or ‘instructions’ that the congregations had been given by the WE. Who was the WE? Did you notice Paul didn’t say to them “God instructed you”, but he said “WE” instructed you? Why did he not say ‘God instructed them’? Why does it say that THEY INSTRUCTED them on HOW TO WALK AND BE PLEASING TO GOD?

It should be readily apparent that the Apostles were speaking with authority to the congregations scattered about. The Apostles were in CHARGE OF, Appointed OVER, or had RULERSHIP over the household of God, the whole of Christianity.


Titus 1:5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you might correct the things that were defective and might make appointments of older men in city after city, as I gave you orders.
Correction. Appointment. Again, clealry indicative of an element of authority.

And again, Hebrews 13:17 “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.”

If there was no governing element within the 1st century congregation, who were the leaders that they were to submit to and obey? How were these ones responsible for the souls of the congregation to the extent that they would have to make an accounting for them?

This idea of a governing element within Christianity is embedded within many passages of the Bible.
Consider: Paul said at 1Cor. 13:11: “Finally, brothers, continue to rejoice, to be readjusted, to be comforted, to think in agreement, to live peacably, and the God of love and of peace will be with you.”
“The apostles and older men… to those brothers in Antioch… Since we have heard that some from among us have caused you trouble with speeches, trying to subvert your souls, although we did not give them ANY INSTRUCTIONS” – Acts 15:23-24

Titus 1:5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you might correct the things that were defective and might make appointments of older men in city after city, as I GAVE YOU ORDERS.

2 Thes. 2:1,2 However, brothers, respecting the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we request of YOU 2 not to be quickly shaken from YOUR reason nor to be excited either through an inspired expression or through a verbal message or through a letter as though from us, to the effect that the day of Jehovah is here.

Many more examples can be offered if necessary. But a careful reading of the Christian Greek Scriptures will reveal in undeniable fashion that the first century congregation continuously functioned with the backdrop of a governing element within it, primarily recognized through the Apostles. After the Apostles would pass from the earthly scene and much later in history, another ruler over the household of God would be appointed. So again, how do we identify them? That becomes the noteworthy question at this time.

The answer can be found in the very passage that we started with. Notice that it states that this slave/servant would be giving food at the proper time. Naturally this FOOD would be Biblical truths and their aim or goal would to be to always teach the truth. Does this mean that they would speak infallibly? No, no one today is inspired by God in an infallible manner. But we would surely expect them to teach correctly the fundamental or elementary teachings of Christianity.

Those elementary teachings are listed for us in the bible itself at Hebrews 6:1,2. Notice: Therefore, now that we have moved beyond the primary doctrine+ about the Christ, let us press on to maturity,+ not laying a foundation again, namely, repentance from dead works and faith in God, 2 the teaching on baptisms and the laying on of the hands,+ the resurrection of the dead+ and everlasting judgment.

They would surely be teaching the correct identity of God, the proper view of faith, the proper view of repentance, the correct understanding of baptism, the correct understanding of the laying on of hands, the correct understanding of resurrection and everlasting judgment.

If we identify who it is that is properly teaching those elementary doctrines then we have likely found the identity of that faithful and discreet slave mentioned by Christ to be active during the last days at Matthew 24:45-47.

The churches of Christendom do not properly identify God when thy teach the Trinity doctrine, melding God and Christ together as one God when the scriptures clearly present the Son to be a different being than the Father. That is an extreme, fundamental error on their part and therefore would not qualify them as the faithful and discreet servant. The Trinity doctrine is NOT true food from God's word but a pagan concoction.

The same is true when it comes to everlasting judgment. Their version of everlasting judgment becomes completely skewed via the introduction of the non-dying /immortal soul. The scriptures clearly teach that the soul dies when the body dies and there is no such teaching as "eternal torment".. In fact, the scriptures do not speak of a dichotomy between the body and the soul, they are intrinsically connected. The IMMORTAL SOUL or ETERNAL TORMENT doctrine is not TRUE food from God's word, It too is a pagan concoction.

When it comes to the resurrection. They do not acknowledge that there is to be a resurrection of the UNRIGHTEOUS as well as the righteous. The Bible is clear that the unrighteous millions who never experienced a full opportunity for salvation, will receive one.

Because of these fundamental errors, the churches Christendom do not qualify as the faithful and discreet slave mentioned by Jesus.

However, I believe that without a doubt, Jehovah's Witnesses have properly taught and defended the true fundamental doctrines of the above issues mentioned. We welcome the opportunity to prove the correctness of that claim.

Therefore, it is affirmed that the faithful and discreet slave is to be found among the spiritual leaders of the Jehovah's Witnesses, whom they refer to as the "governing body", who has the authority among them to teach what the Bible presents as truth. If it can be shown that Jehovah's witnesses are not teaching the truth of God's word in these fundamental doctrines, then they too would not qualify as the faithful and discreet servant.

If the reader has questions, comments, objection or challenges to the above information please send an email to challenges@truetheology.net