Was there slavery in The Bible?

Answer 1

There are frequent references in The Bible to slavery, which was considered a normal part of life in ancient times.

The Old Testament contains separate rules for the treatment of Hebrew and non-Hebrew slaves, as well as accounts of slaves serving their Hebrew masters. On the other hand, of course, the Bible says that the Israelites spent some 400 years as slaves in Egypt.

In the New Testament, Paul said that every slave could remain a slave, just as every freeman farmer could remain a freeman farmer. They were not to care for their servitude, because to Christ they will be free. However, they could leave slavery if the opportunity presented itself.

20Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called. 21 Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. 22For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant. 23Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

Answer 2

Answer 1

The phenomenon that YOU almost certainly have in mind when you say 'slavery' is emphatically NOT OK in the Bible.

Answer 2

Slavery is permissible in the Bible in several sections and there is no general condemnation or minimization of slavery except when it happens to the Israelites. Most of the writings on slavery in the Old Testament are concentrated in Exodus ch. 21 and Leviticus ch. 25. The slave has minimal rights in most cases, with the one clear right to "not be whipped/beaten to death". The owner has the right to beat slaves, order them around, and to transmit slaves as inheritance. In the New Testament, slavery is not critiqued in any serious way. Luke 12:45-48 mentions that a slave's misbehavior may warrant both dismemberment and hellfire. Ephesians 6:5-9 is Paul commanding slaves to listen and obey their masters.

The Bible does not discuss what methods and activities a slave is allowed to perform, but generally speaking, the slavery that proliferated during the Biblical period was domestic servitude and physical labor (such as carpentry or masonry). The slavery as defined by massive transportations of people to work excruciating hours on plantations is something that most Biblical scholars today see as being beyond the scale of the slavery contemplated by the Bible. However, Southern Jews and Christians defended the American Institution of Slavery up until the Amerian Civil War, many of them using biblical justifications.

Answer 3

It was very different from what we think of as slavery today (eg the black slaves in the USA).

To be a slave in Jesus' day could be actually quite an honoured position. Roman slaves were divided into those who had good masters and those who had wicked masters. Those who had wicked masters may have often been ill-treat by them, but even in these cases the slave knew that he would have a roof over his head and food to eat. For the poorest in society in those days, with no welfare state and a short life expectancy, slavery was often seen as a better option, even with a wicked master, than being destitute on the streets, and guaranteed that you would, at least, be alive and have the basics of life (food, shelter etc) for life.

However, if you were a slave of a good master then life for you would be even better. Slavery in these circumstances would be more akin to 'going into service' in Victorian England, except that you would not be paid. In return for your labour, everything would be provided for you, food, clothing, shellter and so on. Sometimes slaves would occupy positions of great authority with great trust placed in them. A typical example of this would be Joseph (he of the 'technicolor dreamcoat' fame!) who was a slave to Potiphar, a rich merchant, who trusted Joseph to run his whole household for him.

Slaves were usually slaves for life, but, under certain circumstances their freedom could be purchased either by someone else, or given as a gift by the master (say, if a slave wanted to marry, their freedom was a common wedding gift). However, slaves were still legally the property of their masters and were expected to work for them and in return given a reasonable standard of living. However, if a slave should run away or betray his master, then he could be put to death at the master's request - such was the punishment for this offence in barbaric Rome.

A very moving example of slavery and a good master is described in Paul's letter to Philemon (in the New Testament) where he writes to Philemon to say that his former slave, who had run away from him, had turned up on Paul's doorstep and had become a Christian, as was Philemon himself. Paul was sending the slave, Onesimus, back to Philemon. Paul then urged Philemon not to punish Onesimus, but to put his faith into practice by forgiving him. More than this, he tells him not to take Onesimus back as a slave but as a Christian brother. We do not know the outcome of this episode, but we do know that a certain Onesimus turns up again as a leader in one of Paul's churches in the Empire, so it seems that Philemon was true to Paul's request. It takes only a few minutes to read, but it is one of the new testament's gems describing Christian brotherhood, forgiveness and love

Answer 4

Adam and Eve. And all of their children [mankind] were next.

They were the first of mankind to listen to, worship and obey "...the great Dragon; that old Serpent, called the Devil, and Satan..." [see Rev.12:9]. And they chose Satan [the father - originator - of "sin" -- see John 8:44] to be their god and "master."

And their children [all of the generations of mankind] have lived in "slavery" to "sin" [disobedience to God's Commandments -- I John 3:4] and the god of this world.

That's why Jesus Christ had to come to earth; to redeem His errant creation back from the master they worship. Even though, those whom the True God is calling out of the world, then become HIS SERVANTS and SLAVES; for He then becomes their Master.

Whom Jesus calls His "friends":

" 'If you Obey My Commands, you will continue in My Love, as I have Obeyed My Father's Commands and continue in His Love... This is My Commandment to you, to LOVE ONE ANOTHER as I HAVE LOVED YOU... You are My friends, IF YOU DO WHAT I COMMAND YOU.

"No longer do I call you SERVANTS, because a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, because all that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you... (John 15:10-15 WEY Weymouth's New Testament).

All of mankind was sold into slavery to the god of this world by the first two people created. But now, mankind has a choice to make as to which master they will embrace.

"...reckon ye yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin [disobedience to the Commandments], but Alive unto God through Jesus Christ our LORD. Let not sin reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey the lusts thereof... Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves SERVANTS to obey, his servants you are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of Obedience unto Righteousness?

"But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have Obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which has delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the SERVANTS of Righteousness." (Rom.6:11- KJV)

Answer 5

Not by Jesus. But yes it was.