Bible Mythbuster: Does the Bible condone slavery?

EPHESIANS 6:5-9

"Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart...
And masters...Do not threaten [your slaves] since you know that [with God] there is no favoritism..."

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BIBLE MYTHBUSTER
Does the Bible actually condone American slavery?

A lot of people apparently think so, including then Presidential candidate Barack Obama in the video to the left.

And, honestly, there's no question that the Bible speaks of certain types of "slavery," both in the Old and New Testaments.

But is the "slavery" of the Bible actually the infamous and evil "American slavery"—or has the term "slavery" been redefined since Biblical times to mean something significantly different?

Certainly, no sane, reasonable, fair-minded person could possibly condone the extreme abuse of early American slave owners who ripped innocent people from their families and subjected them to unthinkable abuse.

But is this the "slavery" the Bible seems to condone?

Let's take a closer look...

Facts you might want to know about Old Testament "slaves"

Neither Christians nor most modern Jews consider themselves under Old Testament Law. But the treatment of slaves by the Jews in Old Testament times, compared to surrounding nations, was incredibly humane.

Consider the following facts about Jewish "slaves" under Old Testament Law:

So-called American slavery would have been punishable by death under Old Testament law (Exodus 21:16).
"Slaves" came from conquered nations, and were probably better off in a fair-minded Jewish family. The alternative was struggling to make ends meet in an economically devastated country now controlled by foreigners—a country that, by the way, had opposed God and was now realizing the consequences.
Runaway "slaves" were not to be returned to their "masters" (Deut 23:15).
Any sex—consensual or not—with an engaged slave girl promised to another man was to result in punishment for the Jewish male involved (Lev 19:20).
If a Jewish male was attracted to a conquered female slave, he was required by law to treat her with dignity. If he had consensual sex with her, but decided not to marry her, she was to go completely free (Deut 21:11).
If a Jewish male was attracted to a conquered female slave (or soon to be slave), he was permitted to marry her, but she was to be treated as a wife, not as a slave (Deut 21:11-14).
"Slaves" were to take the Sabbath day off, just as the Jews were required to do (Ex 23:12).
"Slaves" were allowed to participate in the Passover (Ex 12).
If a bull gored a "slave," the bull was to be put to death (Ex 21:32), just as with any Jew.
"Slaves" could buy their freedom (Lev 25:47-49).
The Jews were constantly reminded by God that they had been slaves in Egypt, and were NOT to treat foreigners as they had been treated in Egypt.

Although so-called corporal punishment was permitted by owners on disobedient slaves (i.e., punishment normally delivered by the state was executed by owners), even the loss of a tooth by a slave was to result in his/her immediate freedom (Exodus 21:26-7). Not so with those who violate the laws of our country and merely resist arrest.

Clearly, Biblical "slavery" is not that which comes to mind when we think of American slavery. That slavery was more like the treatment Israel received while in Egypt; but the Jews WERE NOT permitted to emulate this behavior with those captured from foreign countries and made into "slaves."

Remember also, these fair-minded directives of God—toward treatment of conquered peoples who had opposed Him—came at a time when typical slaves were basically what we think of today when we use the term.

What does the New Testament say about slavery?

As most people hopefully realize, Christians are obviously not bound by the laws and commands of the Old Testament.

We're under a new system that includes not only the Jews, but all nations of earth; a spiritual kingdom that has no end (Daniel 2:44).

Christians are responsible for the "New Covenant" law (called the "New Testament")—which Jesus died in part to bring into effect—and to terminate the "Old Covenant" (called the "Old Testament") laws, which were for the Jews only.

So, what does the New Testament teach about our treatment of others? Jesus said:

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you... (Matthew 7:12)

Doesn't appear Jesus was in favor of early American slavery, does it? Unless, of course, a "Christian" slave owner would have considered it acceptable to have been subjected to the same brutal treatment many American slaves endured.

Thus, we see that Christians were instructed to treat everyone respectfully. This would naturally include "slaves."

"Were New Testament 'slaves' more like modern employees under contract?"

Of course, entirely different cultures existed then versus now. It's therefore difficult to make an exact comparison between modern employees and the interactions of ancient Christians with Biblical "slaves."

Surprisingly, one might actually rather be the "slave" of a faithful Christian than on contract with some of our modern US employers, who practically work their employees to death, so to speak. Christians were required to treat their "slaves" fairly, just as Christ commanded of all men. For example, in Ephesians 6:5-9 "employer-owners" were commanded to never threaten their "employee-slaves," but instead to realize they all were subject to God—who will judge everyone by the same standard.

Interestingly, some Christians were also slaves, and were commanded to seek their freedom if possible ("slaves" could often purchase their freedom, much like buying out a contract). Onesimus, a Christian runaway slave, was commanded by Paul to return to Philemon, who was commanded to accept Onesimus without consequences. Presumably Paul wanted Onesimus to fulfill his contractual obligations with Philemon. But at no time would Paul have condoned abusive treatment of Onesimus.

Paul's entire body of teachings speaks to the opposite.

The bad news—you might already be a slave!

Obviously, those who condemn the Bible because, as they say, it condones "slavery," need to understand the actual truth about the topic. Most notably: A lot of people have become slaves—by their own choice. Jesus said:

"I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin."
(John 8:34)

You have the power now—through Jesus Christ—to remove yourself from slavery to all forms of addiction and all other types of sin. Please click here to find out how.

Don't become an eternal slave because of poor choices. Make the right decisions and live.

Eternally—in freedom.

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