Is slavery wrong?

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Dec 27, 2016
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#1
It was recently brought to my attention that the Bible supported slavery. At first I denied the truth of the claim and argued that what the Bible refers to is actually indentured servitude. To my dismay upon further studying of scripture I discovered that this may not be the case and I am seeking help to interpret the relevant verses.

One verse specifically teachers that you may beat your slaves providing that the injuries you inflict do not cause your slave to die within the following two days.

It seems that the Bible explicitly teachers that it is ok to buy and sell people, as well as pass them down to your children because they are your property.

It also seems as if the Bible is giving you an option to blackmail your slaves into staying forever by holding their wife and children hostage preventing then from going free after 7 years.

All of this sounds nothing like indentured servitude to me and I would like your point of view.

It was my assumption that Jesus would oppose slavery. But on further investigation it seems that Jesus condoned it as welll.

I have listed the references below. Please tell me what you think.

Exodus 21:20-21

Leviticus 25:44-46

Exodus 21:2-6

Ephesians 6:5

1 Timothy 6:1-2
 
Dec 12, 2013
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#2
We are called doulos....bond slaves to Christ.........and the bible was written in a time frame when slaves were bought and sold on a regular basis......!
 
Nov 23, 2013
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#3
It was recently brought to my attention that the Bible supported slavery. At first I denied the truth of the claim and argued that what the Bible refers to is actually indentured servitude. To my dismay upon further studying of scripture I discovered that this may not be the case and I am seeking help to interpret the relevant verses.

One verse specifically teachers that you may beat your slaves providing that the injuries you inflict do not cause your slave to die within the following two days.

It seems that the Bible explicitly teachers that it is ok to buy and sell people, as well as pass them down to your children because they are your property.

It also seems as if the Bible is giving you an option to blackmail your slaves into staying forever by holding their wife and children hostage preventing then from going free after 7 years.

All of this sounds nothing like indentured servitude to me and I would like your point of view.

It was my assumption that Jesus would oppose slavery. But on further investigation it seems that Jesus condoned it as welll.

I have listed the references below. Please tell me what you think.

Exodus 21:20-21

Leviticus 25:44-46

Exodus 21:2-6

Ephesians 6:5

1 Timothy 6:1-2
I would have to agree that it seems like the bible does teach that it's ok. Did you notice anywhere verses that said the slaves were forced into slavery? Maybe they sold themselves because of poor choices and they saw slavery as an out.
 

p_rehbein

Senior Member
Sep 4, 2013
30,097
6,480
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#4
Again, Historical context is needed. During the times recorded in the First Testament, and even in the New, slavery was an accepted practice. And while there may or may not be Scriptural references to people being "forced" into slavery, it was common practice for conquering Armies/Nations to put into slavery those peoples they defeated.

The Jews were not willing slaves.........or I do not see where they were, when Moses led them out of Egypt.

In today's world, slavery still exists in some Countries, but it is not an accepted practice from a humanitarian point of view. As well, I believe God/Jesus does not support the forced slavery of peoples, as it surely goes against all being one in Christ. Just my opinion there.

Slavery is in the eye of the beholder I suppose. Many are slaves to sin. Many are slaves to their occupations. Many are slaves to alcohol, medications, illegal drugs and such. I suppose one could argue that anyone who owes a debt to another is a slave to that person until the debt is paid.

I would not go into the world teaching that God approves of slavery. Not sure that would be a good idea. Unless one believes they are still living under the Law of the First Testament?

I do not see any Commandment from Jesus that includes the practice of slavery in the New Covenant Grace. While there were surely still slaves at the time He walked the earth in the form of man, the Law of the First Testament was also still in effect, so it was not a radical concept to hear Him speak of slaves and their Masters, and how each should treat the other.

In my opinion, slavery is no longer an acceptable practice that the Church should embrace or even accept.

But, you guys decide for yourselves.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
36,530
13,098
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#5
what if it turns out that God knows better than we do?

no one is free, unless God sets them so
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
36,530
13,098
113
#6
I have listed the references below. Please tell me what you think.

Exodus 21:20-21

Leviticus 25:44-46

Exodus 21:2-6

Ephesians 6:5

1 Timothy 6:1-2

you should look at the little book of Philemon too.

in it, Paul is sending a slave back to his master.
Onesimus carried the letter to his master, Philemon -- Onesimus was a runaway slave, who came to Paul.

Onesimus left as Philemon's slave. Paul sent him back as Philemon's brother.

this is how Jesus sets the captives free, friend.
His kingdom isn't of this world.
 

OneFaith

Senior Member
Sep 5, 2016
2,270
369
83
#7
It was recently brought to my attention that the Bible supported slavery. At first I denied the truth of the claim and argued that what the Bible refers to is actually indentured servitude. To my dismay upon further studying of scripture I discovered that this may not be the case and I am seeking help to interpret the relevant verses.

One verse specifically teachers that you may beat your slaves providing that the injuries you inflict do not cause your slave to die within the following two days.

It seems that the Bible explicitly teachers that it is ok to buy and sell people, as well as pass them down to your children because they are your property.

It also seems as if the Bible is giving you an option to blackmail your slaves into staying forever by holding their wife and children hostage preventing then from going free after 7 years.

All of this sounds nothing like indentured servitude to me and I would like your point of view.

It was my assumption that Jesus would oppose slavery. But on further investigation it seems that Jesus condoned it as welll.

I have listed the references below. Please tell me what you think.

Exodus 21:20-21

Leviticus 25:44-46

Exodus 21:2-6

Ephesians 6:5

1 Timothy 6:1-2
There were different kinds- there were male servants and female servants who got paid by either money or room and board, there were some who sold themselves as a slave (I'll be your slave for this many years if you feed me in return), and there were those who were kidnapped and sold into slavery against their will, and they were often unpaid and abused, being fed only enough to be kept alive in order to do the work.

How they came to be slaves is one side of the coin, the other is how they were treated as slaves. Some slaves were actually treated like family- loved, clothed, and properly fed. Unfortunately, most were mistreated, and quite harshly. When people hear of slaves in the Bible they assume God is ok with abuse and discrimination. Let me assure you, He is not.

As far as it depended on the slave, God wanted them to turn the other cheek, to do a good job as if they were working for God instead of men. But if they could gain their freedom, to do so. As far as it depended on their bosses, God wanted them to treat them with respect and love, keeping in mind that they have a Boss too.

When you watch these horror stories about mistreated slaves, these acts of evil did not come from God. Any job is a slavery, and the Bible says a worker deserves his wages. Whether or not another human gives them what they deserve, or treats them with respect or not, is up to their freewill choice. God warned His people if they don't obey Him they would end up in slavery, but He didn't mistreat His people. It is like a parent warning his child to stay away from the fire. If they stick their hand in it and get burned, they don't say their parent burned them.

We needed to have positions on earth from king to slave, so that we understand that God is a King, and because we serve Him He adopted us as His own children. The evil treatment of slaves however- discrimination and abuse, did not come from God. God does not discriminate, anyone who searches for Him with all their might He will not turn away.

Do not credit God for the evil ways some choose to treat others with.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
36,530
13,098
113
#8

it's interesting too, that the eradication of slavery historically follows the spread of Christianity.

not by force, not by a new law written in the NT that says "thou shalt not cause another to be thy servant"

but by teaching that we should each consider ourselves every man's servant.
by teaching love and honor for each other.
by changing the hearts of the population, one by one, until from something much deeper than obedience to a law, they see others as worthy of respect and love.

if you had lived a few thousand years ago, as much as you may flatter yourself now, i doubt the idea that slavery was "immoral" would have ever crossed your mind. probably not even if you were a slave yourself. me either. that simply wasn't the thinking of the world.
we "hollywood-ize" and romanticize that now -- the movies lie, and inject 'heroes' into history with an alien moral and superiority, and call that intellectual superiority. but is that reality?

how do you think that changed, historically, sociologically?
when did the "champions of anti-slavery" appear?
where would such an idea even come from?

it ain't because we learned how to do calculus.

Jesus teaches that we should all think of ourselves as the servant of others.
as His own servants.
this is what has changed the world, not humanistic enlightenment, not intellectualism. renaissance men looked at the uneducated and the people of color no more respectfully than a pagan king of antiquity looked at conquered tribesman. vanity of ones own mind doesn't soften a heart.

the Lord does this
 
Nov 23, 2013
13,684
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#9
There were different kinds- there were male servants and female servants who got paid by either money or room and board, there were some who sold themselves as a slave (I'll be your slave for this many years if you feed me in return), and there were those who were kidnapped and sold into slavery against their will, and they were often unpaid and abused, being fed only enough to be kept alive in order to do the work.

How they came to be slaves is one side of the coin, the other is how they were treated as slaves. Some slaves were actually treated like family- loved, clothed, and properly fed. Unfortunately, most were mistreated, and quite harshly. When people hear of slaves in the Bible they assume God is ok with abuse and discrimination. Let me assure you, He is not.

As far as it depended on the slave, God wanted them to turn the other cheek, to do a good job as if they were working for God instead of men. But if they could gain their freedom, to do so. As far as it depended on their bosses, God wanted them to treat them with respect and love, keeping in mind that they have a Boss too.

When you watch these horror stories about mistreated slaves, these acts of evil did not come from God. Any job is a slavery, and the Bible says a worker deserves his wages. Whether or not another human gives them what they deserve, or treats them with respect or not, is up to their freewill choice. God warned His people if they don't obey Him they would end up in slavery, but He didn't mistreat His people. It is like a parent warning his child to stay away from the fire. If they stick their hand in it and get burned, they don't say their parent burned them.

We needed to have positions on earth from king to slave, so that we understand that God is a King, and because we serve Him He adopted us as His own children. The evil treatment of slaves however- discrimination and abuse, did not come from God. God does not discriminate, anyone who searches for Him with all their might He will not turn away.

Do not credit God for the evil ways some choose to treat others with.
If God wasn't against slavery the why didn't God give a law prohibiting slavery?
 
E

EvanWood

Guest
#10
Jesus had made the statement that He came to "proclaim liberty to the captives" in Luke 4:18 and when you read Philemon, Paul tells Philemon to receive Onesimus no longer as a slave but as a beloved brother. The old testament has some stuff thats hard to understand, pray for the grace and wisdom to interpret. I dont know what life was like in old testament times but I trust God's judgement. I know that Jesus fulfilled the old testament and we are to live out of the New, but there is much you can learn from the old. I think slavery is a result of the curse so I wouldn't say God condones it. He says to turn the other cheek, but that doesn't mean He condones slapping people. Similarly he tells servants to be obedient to their masters. In the end we live in a cursed world and we have free will. God knows that there will be slaves and other practices contrary to His perfect will. He simply tells us how to best live in this fallen world.
 
S

Saved502

Guest
#11
Matthew 7:12 (NKJV)
Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Slavery is wrong. Whether self-imposed or not, people should be set free.
 

Desertsrose

Senior Member
Oct 24, 2016
2,824
207
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#12
It was recently brought to my attention that the Bible supported slavery. At first I denied the truth of the claim and argued that what the Bible refers to is actually indentured servitude. To my dismay upon further studying of scripture I discovered that this may not be the case and I am seeking help to interpret the relevant verses.

One verse specifically teachers that you may beat your slaves providing that the injuries you inflict do not cause your slave to die within the following two days.

It seems that the Bible explicitly teachers that it is ok to buy and sell people, as well as pass them down to your children because they are your property.

It also seems as if the Bible is giving you an option to blackmail your slaves into staying forever by holding their wife and children hostage preventing then from going free after 7 years.

All of this sounds nothing like indentured servitude to me and I would like your point of view.

It was my assumption that Jesus would oppose slavery. But on further investigation it seems that Jesus condoned it as welll.

I have listed the references below. Please tell me what you think.

Exodus 21:20-21

Leviticus 25:44-46

Exodus 21:2-6

Ephesians 6:5

1 Timothy 6:1-2
​Here's what Paul said about slavery. He didn't condone it, but he didn't say it was wrong either.

Our bible study just finished on Colossians a couple months ago so these scriptures were fresh in my memory. There's probably others too, but none come to mind at the moment.

Colossians 3:25-29
Slaves
Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.

Colossians 4:1
Masters

Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven.

Ephesian 6:5-9

Slaves

Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free.

Masters

And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.


 
Last edited:

Rondonmon

Senior Member
May 13, 2016
1,285
176
63
#13
It was recently brought to my attention that the Bible supported slavery. At first I denied the truth of the claim and argued that what the Bible refers to is actually indentured servitude. To my dismay upon further studying of scripture I discovered that this may not be the case and I am seeking help to interpret the relevant verses.

One verse specifically teachers that you may beat your slaves providing that the injuries you inflict do not cause your slave to die within the following two days.

It seems that the Bible explicitly teachers that it is ok to buy and sell people, as well as pass them down to your children because they are your property.

It also seems as if the Bible is giving you an option to blackmail your slaves into staying forever by holding their wife and children hostage preventing then from going free after 7 years.

All of this sounds nothing like indentured servitude to me and I would like your point of view.

It was my assumption that Jesus would oppose slavery. But on further investigation it seems that Jesus condoned it as welll.

I have listed the references below. Please tell me what you think.

Exodus 21:20-21

Leviticus 25:44-46

Exodus 21:2-6

Ephesians 6:5

1 Timothy 6:1-2
The Bible, nor God supports slavery, now we do have Atheists who love to push this lie to try and smear our God as "UNJUST" and we as Christians should never let this lie go unchallenged.

Exodus 21:16 [FONT=&quot]And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death. (KJV)
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Exodus 21:16 [/FONT]Whoever kidnaps a person must be put to death, whether he sells him or the person is found in his possession." (Holman)
[FONT=&quot]
So, as we see God forbids the selling or stealing (kidnapping) of a man into Slavery. Now the bible in the Old Testament did allow for people to sell themselves [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]into SERVITUDE,[/FONT][FONT=&quot] which was a binding contract, Jacob wanted Rachel to be his wife, so he worked for her Father 7 years, the man tricked him, gave Leah to him, so he had to work another 7 years for Rachel's hand in Marriage. BUT...This even though called Slavery, is not SLAVERY as we know it, it is servitude, when two people agree on a contractual agreement of work. Some men raised a family on someone else land and never left their "master" so to speak. But Gods law says after a man is set free, every Seven years, he is to be provided part of the Herd when he leaves, MONEY when he leaves....etc. etc. etc.

[/FONT]
Deuteronomy 15:12-18: "And if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee.And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty: Thou shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy floor, and out of thy winepress: of that wherewith the LORD thy God hath blessed thee thou shalt give unto him."

So its illegal for a Jewish person under Gods laws to capture or sell a man. And if a man sold himself into a contractual servitude, upon their release in the 7th year, they were to be given provisions.


What about New Testament Slavery ?

Since many of the early Christians were slaves to Romans, they were encouraged to become free if possible, but not worry about it if not possible. The Roman empire practiced involuntary slavery, so rules were established for Christians who were subject to this slavery or held slaves prior to becoming Christians. The rules established for slaves were similar to those established for other Christians with regard to being subject to governing authorities. Slaves were told to be obedient to their master and serve them sincerely, as if serving the Lord Himself. Paul instructed slaves to serve with honor, so that Christianity would not be looked down upon.


As with slaves, instructions were given to their masters as to how they were to treat their slaves. For example, they were not to be threatened, but treated with justice and fairness. The text goes on to explain that this was to be done because God is the Master of all people, and does not show partiality on the basis of social status or position.

There is an interesting letter in the New Testament (Philemon 15:21)
that gives some insight into the problems encountered in the early Christian church regarding the issue of slavery. Paul, the author of the letter, is writing from a Roman prison awaiting trial. He is writing to Philemon, who runs a local Christian church out of his house (since Christianity was highly persecuted at this point in time). Philemon, we find out, is the master of the slave Onesimus, who has escaped but has been converted to Christianity by Paul. In the letter, Paul indicates that he is sending Onesimus back to Philemon. However, Paul says that he has confidence that Philemon will "do what is proper" although Paul wants him to do it by his "own free will". Even so, Paul indicates that Onesimus would be a great aid in helping him spread the gospel. Paul ends the letter by saying that he has "confidence in your obedience" and indicates that he knows Philemon "will do even more than what I say." Although Paul did not directly order Philemon to release Onesimus from slavery, it would have been difficult to come away with any other conclusion from his letter.



God does not distinguish between slaves and freemen
Contrary to the claims of many skeptics, the New Testament proclaims that all people are equal in the eyes of God - even slaves:There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28)
knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free. (Ephesians 6:8)
And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him. (Ephesians 6:9)
a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. (Colossians 3:11)

The idea that God or Christianity encourages or approves of slavery is shown to be false. In fact, anybody who was caught selling another person into slavery was to be executed. However, since voluntary slavery was widely practiced during biblical times, the Bible proscribes laws to protect the lives and health of slaves. Paul, the author of many of the New Testament writings, virtually ordered the Christian Philemon to release his Christian slave from his service to "do what is proper". In addition, numerous verses from the New Testament show that God values slaves as much as any free person and is not partial to anyone's standing before other people.

God is perfect, and Holy, none of His laws were EVER EVIL, because God is NOT EVIL.
 
Dec 27, 2016
24
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0
#14
So what about the verse where God said that it's ok to beat your slaves to within an inch of their life so long as they take longer than 2 days to die? And what about the part that says you may take your slaves from the nation's around you that you conquered?
 
J

jaybird88

Guest
#15
It was recently brought to my attention that the Bible supported slavery. At first I denied the truth of the claim and argued that what the Bible refers to is actually indentured servitude. To my dismay upon further studying of scripture I discovered that this may not be the case and I am seeking help to interpret the relevant verses.

One verse specifically teachers that you may beat your slaves providing that the injuries you inflict do not cause your slave to die within the following two days.

It seems that the Bible explicitly teachers that it is ok to buy and sell people, as well as pass them down to your children because they are your property.

It also seems as if the Bible is giving you an option to blackmail your slaves into staying forever by holding their wife and children hostage preventing then from going free after 7 years.

All of this sounds nothing like indentured servitude to me and I would like your point of view.

It was my assumption that Jesus would oppose slavery. But on further investigation it seems that Jesus condoned it as welll.

I have listed the references below. Please tell me what you think.

Exodus 21:20-21

Leviticus 25:44-46

Exodus 21:2-6

Ephesians 6:5

1 Timothy 6:1-2
you forgot Exodus 21 16
[SUP]16 [/SUP]“Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death.

Jews were not permitted to take people against their will and make slaves of them.
 

lastofall

Senior Member
Aug 26, 2014
609
38
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#16
[for me anyway] slavery is nothing more than being an employee, even in present times: we tend only to think of it as a person being physically tortured and chained to a wall, and such like things; yet slavery is a matter of oppression, and though we may now have wages and a home and so-called freedom, still at any moment can it all be taken away from those in high places, though it may seem as if it could not. As for being tortured and chained to a wall and such things, certainly they still go on, yet they do not have to, because oppression is easily accomplished without force by those in high places.
 
Dec 19, 2009
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#17
It was recently brought to my attention that the Bible supported slavery. At first I denied the truth of the claim and argued that what the Bible refers to is actually indentured servitude. To my dismay upon further studying of scripture I discovered that this may not be the case and I am seeking help to interpret the relevant verses.

One verse specifically teachers that you may beat your slaves providing that the injuries you inflict do not cause your slave to die within the following two days.

It seems that the Bible explicitly teachers that it is ok to buy and sell people, as well as pass them down to your children because they are your property.

It also seems as if the Bible is giving you an option to blackmail your slaves into staying forever by holding their wife and children hostage preventing then from going free after 7 years.

All of this sounds nothing like indentured servitude to me and I would like your point of view.

It was my assumption that Jesus would oppose slavery. But on further investigation it seems that Jesus condoned it as welll.

I have listed the references below. Please tell me what you think.

Exodus 21:20-21

Leviticus 25:44-46

Exodus 21:2-6

Ephesians 6:5

1 Timothy 6:1-2
Jesus told us that we are to love our neighbors as ourselves. Do YOU want to be a slave? There’s your answer.
 
H

HisHolly

Guest
#18
Jesus gave an example of who neighbors are, they aren't everyone.. if you love someone of course you wouldn't make them a slave.... Side note..
I do not condone slavery... Just clearing the fog a lot put on the neighbors rule... Loving everyone as ourself is not what we are told to do... The misconception puts a yoke on folks that isn't theirs..
 

PennEd

Senior Member
Apr 22, 2013
12,821
8,596
113
#19
The Lord has "allowed" some activities that were not part of His plan for mankind. Slavery is one of them. But He also allows the consequences of man's insinstence to proceed.

I think a good example of this is Israel insisting they have a King like the gentites had.

He basically said "ok. You want it? You got it!" And ALL Israel ultimately suffered because of their stubborn insistence of going against God's will.
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#20
I became disabled in 1999. No longer able to work. My husband became disabled in 2002-2003. We found out Dad has dementia in 2006. He needed someone to stay with him, but he wouldn't have it.

By all that is holy, I really, really REALLY wish God's form of slavery still existed. It would have solved the wide variety of what went so terribly wrong and what is STILL so terribly wrong.

Clinton, if you don't understand what I mean, (and surely you do not, since your proof was found on some site rather than through your own study), it's time to go learn what the bible says to find out what I mean.

Stop being contentious and start learning what you have clearly ignored so far. You claim you are a Christian? Then why DON'T you know Biblical slavery yet?