Slavery In The Old Testament

Slavery has been a scourge to humanity for millennia. Having been practiced in most cul-tures throughout much of history, it was routinely practiced in the Roman Empire during the time of the Apostle Paul. Slavery in the first century, though common and taken for granted (Barton, Comfort, Osborne, Taylor, and Veerman, 2001, p. 996), was not practiced similarly to how we in the United States generally perceive slavery. Moreover, while the New Testament does not overt-ly condemn slavery, Elwell (1984), states that it certainly, “reorder[ed] the relationship of slave and master” (p. 1022).
The condition and treatment of slaves varied widely in the Greco-Roman world. Slaves received no rights nor were they regarded as equal human beings, rather, as property. Slave own-ers, however, recognized that better working conditions produced better productivity from slaves. Although punishments could be severe and brutality toward slaves did exist, Douglas et al. (1982) note that, “cruelty was condemned by the growing sentiment of common humanity, and in some cases legally controlled” (p. 1124). Wealthy citizens purchased large numbers of domestic slaves
for luxury. These slaves performed specialized tasks that were not arduous. When only a few slaves were owned, they worked alongside their owners in the same profession (Douglas et al., 1982, p. 1124). Public slaves performed civil services and practiced medicine and teaching. Slaves also had some freedoms. Many were allowed to own property, marry, and even buy their own liberty. Slavery was not race based, nor was it life-long servitude. As Duval & Hays (2011) note, “most slaves gained their freedom by their thirties for forties” (p. 899). In New Testament times, slaves were generally regarded positively and were treated with and increased benevolence rather than with malice and disdain (Douglas et al., 1982, p. 1125).
This regard for slaves may be the reason the New Testament does not explicitly and strongly condemn slavery. Paul makes it clear, however, that slavery is contrary to the Gospel. Within Christianity, neither slave nor free have any meaning as all are equal in God’s sight (Gal. 3:28). Paul even goes so far as to instruct slave owners to treat their slaves the same way the owners want their slaves to treat them (Eph.6:9, Col 4:1). Although freedom is a principle that Christians are to live by and not violate in others (Gal. 5:1), Paul recognizes that God places peo-ple in a certain time and place (1 Cor. 7:20-24). Thus, and out of respect for Philemon, Paul sends the runaway slave and recent convert, Onesimus, back to Philemon who was also a convert of Paul’s. By law, Philemon could have enacted severe punishment on Onesimus (Douglas et al., 1982, p. 927). Paul, instead, pleads for mercy from Philemon toward the transformed Onesimus and even requests that Philemon take Onesimus back not as a slave, but as a brother (Phil. 16). Paul wants Onesimus to serve Philemon freely out of Christian love, not out of legal obligation. He also wants the same of Philemon. Though Philemon is the “master”, he too is to serve Philemon out of Christian love, rather than a legal hierarchy (which is contrary to Christian social structure as all are equal in God’s sight). Paul’s clear affection for Onesimus and Philemon re-veals that Paul treated all people, whether owner or slave, equally and without prejudice.
Understanding the historical-cultural context of slavery during the first century sheds light on the Biblical treatment of slavery.
Far from condoning slavery, the New Testament views all individuals as equal. Paul even encourages slaves, not to run away, but, if possible, gain their freedom (1 Cor. 7:21) as Christianity is about freedom and serving freely. Unfortunately, as El-well (1984) states, “the full impact of this did not fully appear until after the Reformation when the biblical truth of the personal dignity of a man was asserted (p. 1022). It is a sad testament that Christianity in the past has supported and participated in slavery and in the brutal treatment of slaves. Far from supporting slavery, the Bible teaches freedom for all. God desires all his chil-dren to be free; after all, He gave His life to set them
free.