hat exactly does the title "Mister" mean? Why do we use it? Didn't Christ say, "Neither be ye called masters: for one is your master, even Christ" (Matt.23:10)? Does "Mister" mean "Master"?

Webster's New Twentieth Century Dictionary, before even giving the three different meanings of the word "mister," says: "mis'ter, n. (alteration of MASTER)." The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language gives three definitions of the word "Mister" and then adds this explanation at the end: "(Weakened form of MASTER)."

None of the Christians in the New Testament church are referred to using titles before their names. They are simply called by their first names or last names or a combinantion of both. Their last names were often just their particular occupation or place of residence. For instance, "John the Baptist," "Simon the Zealot," and "Judas of Kerioth." There was no Rabbi Levine, Doctor Smith, Father O'Reilly. or Most Holy Reverend Pope. Job 32:21-22 says, "Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man. For I know not how to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away." Christ said, "But be not you called Rabbi; for one is your Master, even Christ, and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father (as a religious title) upon the earth; for one is your Father, who is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ" (Matt. 23:8-10). Also, Psalm 111:9 says, "Holy and reverend is his name" -- not any man's.

To those who were outside the church, titles were still used to avoid offending. We have Paul referring to Agrippa as "King Agrippa" in Acts 26:27 and Festus as "Most Noble Festus" in Acts 26:25. Luke also refers to Theophilus as "Most Excellent Theophilus" in Luke 1:3 but some two years later (A.D. 60-62) Luke abandons it in Acts 1:1. While Theophilus was being converted, Luke made every effort to avoid offending him, but once Theophilus had grown enough spiritually, the title was dropped. The words "master " and "father" were both used by the saints as nouns but not official titles (2 Ki. 2:12; Eph. 6:9).

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