Author	Thread: Slavery in the Bible
Admin	Slavery in the Bible Posted : 18 Apr, 2011 07:11 PM Recently a friend of mine said that the Bible condones slavery. He referenced 2 different texts from the NT. The first was found in the book of Philemon in chapter 1 when Paul sent a runaway slave back to his owner. The second was Romans 1:1 �Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God.� My question is this, what verses can I show him, to help him realize that the Bible does not condone slavery? Post Reply
View Profile History	Slavery in the Bible Posted : 18 Apr, 2011 07:20 PM Slavery was permitted in the Bible because of sin in the world. It existed before the Jews were formed as a nation and it existed after Israel was conquered. God allows many things to happen in the world such as storms, famine, murder, etc. Slavery, like divorce, is not preferred by God. Instead, it is allowed. Where many nations treated their slaves very badly, the Bible gave many rights and privileges to slaves. So, even though it isn't the best way to deal with people, because God has allowed man freedom, slavery then exists. God instructed the Israelites to treat them properly. �The Bible acknowledged the slave's status as the property of the master (Ex. 21:23; Lev. 25:46). �The Bible restricted the master's power over the slave. Ex. 21:20). �The slave was a member of the master's household (Lev. 22:11). �The slave was required to rest on the Sabbath (Exodus 20:10; Deut. 5:14). �The slave was required to participate in religious observances (Gen. 17:13; Exodus 12:44; Lev. 22:11). �The Bible prohibited extradition of slaves and granted them asylum (Deut. 23:16-17). �The servitude of a Hebrew debt-slave was limited to six years (Ex. 21:2; Deut. 15:12). �When a slave was freed, he was to receive gifts that enabled him to survive economically (Deut. 15:14). The reality of slavery cannot be denied. "Slave labor played a minor economic role in the ancient Near East, for privately-owned slaves functioned more as domestic servants than as an agricultural or industrial labor force Post Reply
View Profile History	Slavery in the Bible Posted : 18 Apr, 2011 07:35 PM *Random thought passing through* If slavery still existed...... I would probably have a wife And one that appreciated me! Okay, back to reality *sigh* Post Reply
View Profile History	Slavery in the Bible Posted : 18 Apr, 2011 07:43 PM *cow patty being thrown at Sparrows face as we speak. Yeah I said it Sparrows. But still, thanks for the laugh .... I think. Post Reply
View Profile History	Slavery in the Bible Posted : 18 Apr, 2011 07:52 PM Opps..... *another random thought passing through* I would totally buy a woman being sold as a slave, give her her freedom, make her my wife and feel like a man ought to feel; a hero in his womans eyes. *leaving my fantasy * And back to *ducking cow pies* Post Reply
View Profile History	Slavery in the Bible Posted : 18 Apr, 2011 08:14 PM But what if she didn't want to marry you? Post Reply
View Profile History	Slavery in the Bible Posted : 18 Apr, 2011 08:53 PM The fact that slaves were allowed back then is something I haven't given much thought to. ____________________________ Thanks for the interesting post catty, and John, thank you for sharing those scriptures. I've learned a couple of things tonight. One is that slaves were indeed allowed during Biblical times and the other is What not to say in order to avoid being pounded by cow patties, Love Yall ! Post Reply
View Profile History	Slavery in the Bible Posted : 18 Apr, 2011 08:56 PM shalom & yw bro chevy isn't it great that we believers are no longer slaves to sin but are set free from the Greatest Liberator our Hero of all heros -- Christ amein v amein selah Post Reply
View Profile History	Slavery in the Bible Posted : 18 Apr, 2011 09:20 PM Well that just goes to show, not only does a woman Not want a man to feel like a man, she won't even let him entertain the fantasy of it! Post Reply
View Profile History	Slavery in the Bible Posted : 18 Apr, 2011 09:54 PM Sparrows, you know you would be a hero in her eyes anyway. Post Reply
View Profile History	Slavery in the Bible Posted : 18 Apr, 2011 11:11 PM Paul returned Philemon to his owner because as Christians were are still obligated to follow the laws of the government that we are under, unless they directly contradict what the Bible says. The second thing to remember from the letter of Philemon is that Paul strongly urged Philemon to receive Onesimus as a brother and not a slave. Philemon 1:15-16 (NASB) 15 For perhaps he was for this reason separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever, 16 NO LONGER AS A SLAVE, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. About the Romans reference as a bond servant. A bond servant is different from a slave. A bond servant is someone who starts out as a slave because of a debt that is owed to the master. As heaveniscalling stated, at the end of 7 years that debt is paid and the slave is free. But, if the slave loves his master he can choose to become a permanent servant for the rest of his life. This is a free-will choice. Paul uses the term bond servant in the sense that he once was a slave to sin and owed a great debt. But, Jesus Christ paid that debt through his death and resurrection, and now Paul is a willing permanent servant of Christ for life. Post Reply

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