What the Bible Really Says About Slavery

[Tropicana]

A clear reading of Scripture shows that it was wrong and un-Biblical for Christians in the 19th century to quote the Bible in defense of the barbaric practice of slavery. But it should concern us that so many people did look to the Bible to support the practice of slavery, and it’s fair to consider the Bible critic’s charge: “How can you trust God’s Word if it can be used to justify inhuman behavior like slavery?”

I take away two important points:

1. Context is important. It’s hugely important to consider troublesome or controversial Bible passages in the cultural and literary context they were written in. In the example above, “slavery” as mentioned in the Old Testament was very different from the slavery practiced in the United States, and it was inappropriate for Christians to use those verses to justify modern slavery.“Look at the context” isn’t a magical phrase that will set your mind at ease about every difficult passage in the Bible. But if we don’t ask questions like“Who was this written for and why? What did these words mean to the original audience?”, we’re not reading the Bible responsibly.
   
2. If our interpretation of a Bible passage causes us to violate a clear teaching of Scripture, we’ve made a mistake. Pro-slavery Christians during the Civil War interpreted specific Bible passages as supporting slavery… even though those interpretations were at odds with one of the most resounding teachings of Jesus Christ: As I have loved you, so you must love one another. Christians believe that the Bible is a unified, coherent revelation from God; it does not contradict itself. If our understanding of a difficult Bible passage is at odds with the clear general teaching of Scripture, we must exercise humility and consider the possibility that our understanding is flawed.

The question of how Bible-believing Christians used Scripture as justification for slavery is one that should humble us even today. None of us is perfect, and none of us is completely immune to the temptation to read into Scripture what we want to see. But the next time you’re challenged by a troubling Bible verse, slow down and consider the context—both its place in the cultural history of God’s people, and its place in the general teaching of Scripture—and be careful not to imagine that God’s Word says something it doesn’t.

http://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2013/07/slavery-the-bible-and-our-need-for-humility/

[Tropicana]

Does God Approve of Slavery According to the Bible?

The claim is often made that the Bible approves of slavery, implicating God as its supporter, since rules governing slavery can be found in the both the Old and New Testament. Since virtually everyone agrees that forced, involuntary servitude is morally wrong, how can Christians justify the Bible's apparent support of slavery?

What the Old Testament says about slavery

First, we must recognize that the Bible does not say God supports slavery. In fact, the slavery described in the Old Testament was quite different from the kind of slavery we think of today - in which people are captured and sold as slaves. According to Old Testament law, anyone caught selling another person into slavery was to be executed:

"He who kidnaps a man, whether he sells him or he is found in his possession, shall surely be put to death." (Exodus 21:16)

So, obviously, slavery during Old Testament times was not what we commonly recognize as slavery, such as that practiced in the 17^th century Americas, when Africans were captured and forcibly brought to work on plantations. Unlike our modern government welfare programs, there was no safety-net for ancient Middle Easterners who could not provide a living for themselves. In ancient Israel, people who could not provide for themselves or their families sold them into slavery so they would not die of starvation or exposure. In this way, a person would receive food and housing in exchange for labor.
So, although there are rules about slavery in the Bible, those rules exist to protect the slave. Injuring or killing slaves was punishable - up to death of the offending party.¹ Hebrews were commanded not to make their slave work on the Sabbath,² slander a slave,³ have sex with another man's slave,⁴ or return an escaped slave.⁵ A Hebrew was not to enslave his fellow countryman, even if he owed him money, but was to have him work as a hired worker, and he was to be released in 7 years or in the year of jubilee (which occurred every 50 years), whichever came first.⁶ In fact, the slave owner was encouraged to "pamper his slave".⁷

What the New Testament says about slavery

Since many of the early Christians were slaves to Romans,⁸ they were encouraged to become free if possible, but not worry about it if not possible.⁹ 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.¹⁰ Slaves were told to be obedient to their master and serve them sincerely, as if serving the Lord Himself.¹¹ Paul instructed slaves to serve with honor, so that Christianity would not be looked down upon.¹²
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,¹³ but treated with justice and fairness.¹⁴ 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.^{13, 14}
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.¹⁵ He is writing to Philemon, who runs a local Christian church out of his house¹⁶ (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.¹⁸In the letter, Paul indicates that he is sending Onesimus back to Philemon.¹⁹ However, Paul says that he has confidence that Philemon will "do what is proper"¹⁷ although Paul wants him to do it by his "own free will".²⁰ Even so, Paul indicates that Onesimus would be a great aid in helping him spread the gospel.¹⁹ 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."²¹ 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)

Conclusion

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.

http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/slavery_bible.html

[freedom-man]

yes the bible does approve of slavery copy and pasting christian apologetic websites does not change the fact.

[Tropicana]

The Bible in no way shape or form condones slavery.

100 Bible Verses aboutAnti-slavery

Do I need to cut and paste all 100 for you?

http://www.openbible.info/topics/anti-slavery

[freedom-man]

The Bible in no way shape or form condones slavery.

100 Bible Verses aboutAnti-slavery


Do I need to cut and paste all 100 for you?

http://www.openbible.info/topics/anti-slavery

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. (Ephesians 6:5 NLT)

Christians who are slaves should give their masters full respect so that the name of God and his teaching will not be shamed. If your master is a Christian, that is no excuse for being disrespectful. You should work all the harder because you are helping another believer by your efforts. Teach these truths, Timothy, and encourage everyone to obey them. (1 Timothy 6:1-2 NLT)


However, you may purchase male or female slaves from among the foreigners who live among you. You may also purchase the children of such resident foreigners, including those who have been born in your land. You may treat them as your property, passing them on to your children as a permanent inheritance. You may treat your slaves like this, but the people of Israel, your relatives, must never be treated this way. (Leviticus 25:44-46 NLT)

If you buy a Hebrew slave, he is to serve for only six years. Set him free in the seventh year, and he will owe you nothing for his freedom. If he was single when he became your slave and then married afterward, only he will go free in the seventh year. But if he was married before he became a slave, then his wife will be freed with him. If his master gave him a wife while he was a slave, and they had sons or daughters, then the man will be free in the seventh year, but his wife and children will still belong to his master. But the slave may plainly declare, 'I love my master, my wife, and my children. I would rather not go free.' If he does this, his master must present him before God. Then his master must take him to the door and publicly pierce his ear with an awl. After that, the slave will belong to his master forever. (Exodus 21:2-6 NLT)


When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she will not be freed at the end of six years as the men are. If she does not please the man who bought her, he may allow her to be bought back again. But he is not allowed to sell her to foreigners, since he is the one who broke the contract with her. And if the slave girl's owner arranges for her to marry his son, he may no longer treat her as a slave girl, but he must treat her as his daughter. If he himself marries her and then takes another wife, he may not reduce her food or clothing or fail to sleep with her as his wife. If he fails in any of these three ways, she may leave as a free woman without making any payment. (Exodus 21:7-11 NLT)


When a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod so hard that the slave dies under his hand, he shall be punished. If, however, the slave survives for a day or two, he is not to be punished, since the slave is his own property. (Exodus 21:20-21 NAB)

[Tropicana]

This is absolutely not condoning slavery. Most of the verses you have quoted have nothing to do with slavery....clearly they are talking about what we called indentured servitude in the Caribbean. You have quoted verses not condoning slavery but recognizing the reality of servitude and setting a framework to avoid abusive relationships.

[Emperah]

aye say de typical closed minded christian, yuh tink aftah all dese years inna de ting ppl would grow a likkle bit, but when yuh stuck inna religion yuh just stuck. Is a real shame fi real doe.

[freedom-man]

This is absolutely not condoning slavery. Most of the verses you have quoted have nothing to do with slavery....clearly they are talking about what we called indentured servitude in the Caribbean. You have quoted verses not condoning slavery but recognizing the reality of servitude and setting a framework to avoid abusive relationships.

you seem to having problems with reading comprehension

[Wahalla]

This is absolutely not condoning slavery. Most of the verses you have quoted have nothing to do with slavery....clearly they are talking about what we called indentured servitude in the Caribbean. You have quoted verses not condoning slavery but recognizing the reality of servitude and setting a framework to avoid abusive relationships.

Thenentire basis of slavery or a more christian term dfor it servitude was abusive... Indentured servitude is considered slavery, a fixed term of slavery.. As well as transportation to the Carolinas and or Australia. Slavery is slavery in the bible 1st century Palestine was part of the Roman empire Slavery was integral. Indeed Spartacus was Less than a generation before Jesus. playing verbal hair splitting is a common practice of the self righteous methodology of denying unpalletable truth. (Like Jesus did not drink wine as no wine existed in Jesus time) That Leviticus defined slavery conditions is to confirm that it was considered so standard that its conitions had to be defined.

A fewmore credible truth is not denial but rather a Marxist historically approach which acknowledged that the initial adherents out side Outermere christians were primarily slaves.

Oh it was not like carribean slavery neither we are told was Arabic or African slavery, or biblical slavery. let's deny it all. The chrisitians IMHO tell us that slavery was good because it saved us ignorant pagans and made us Christians.

In 1512 the first frame work to prevent the abuse of power of so called Servitud was defined in the new world. But they were not slaves.they were for encomiendas. As define by Spanish laws.

[blugiant]

The Bible in no way shape or form condones slavery.

100 Bible Verses aboutAnti-slavery

Do I need to cut and paste all 100 for you?

http://www.openbible.info/topics/anti-slavery

tropi y yuh tink dem teached slaves fe cawl dem enslavers master?

y yuh tink dem awlso cawl god master?

accident ting ar delibarate?

yuh neva see da biblikkal connectsham ann oww dem train enslaved fe accept inferioritee status

moses how fe treat slaves awlso mekk mii laff

imagine moses freeinn imm peeps fram slaveree den writinn oww fe treat slaves

[Tropicana]

tropi y yuh tink dem teached slaves fe cawl dem enslavers master?

y yuh tink dem awlso cawl god master?

accident ting ar delibarate?

Cultural.

yuh neva see da biblikkal connectsham ann oww dem train enslaved fe accept inferioritee status

moses how fe treat slaves awlso mekk mii laff

imagine moses freeinn imm peeps fram slaveree den writinn oww fe treat slaves

Moses was dealing with the realities of his day and it still applies today as there are parts of the world where slavery and virtual slavery (e.g. Dominican Republic) are still practiced. You bet your sweet bippy it was important to set guidelines to preven total abuse. That does not mean that slavery is condoned.

[blugiant]

Cultural.



Moses was dealing with the realities of his day and it still applies today as there are parts of the world where slavery and virtual slavery (e.g. Dominican Republic) are still practiced. You bet your sweet bippy it was important to set guidelines to preven total abuse. That does not mean that slavery is condoned.

diss mekk mii laff

moses woo freed imm peeps fram slaveree den tunn runn ann writinn bout da proper way fe treat slaves ann yuh chattinn bout kulture ann realitees aff imm day widdout seeinn hypokkkteekal sinting

[jah_yout]

diss mekk mii laff

moses woo freed imm peeps fram slaveree den tunn runn ann writinn bout da proper way fe treat slaves ann yuh chattinn bout kulture ann realitees aff imm day widdout seeinn hypokkkteekal sinting

a lot of the things about slavery were written into "the bible" after councils & translations...especially the king james version...
dr. barashango touches on it toward the end of the video

[Emperah]

1510543_689319367765273_283011791_n.jpg

[blugiant]

a lot of the things about slavery were written into "the bible" after councils & translations...especially the king james version...
dr. barashango touches on it toward the end of the video

too deep fe a latt afff peeps