Bible Texts on Slavery: How Should We View Them?
Bible Texts on Slavery: It’s true the Bible references and provides regulations around the practice of slavery in the ancient Near Eastern cultural context. However, a careful study shows the Bible actually introduced revolutionary, counter-cultural ideals that ultimately undermined slavery as an institution over time.
When examining biblical passages related to slavery, it’s crucial to consider the historical context. Slavery was a common social institution in the ancient Near East, including Israel. The Bible addresses slavery within this historical framework, but it doesn’t necessarily endorse or promote it.
The term “slavery” in the Bible encompasses various forms:
- Indentured servitude: People could voluntarily become servants to pay off debts or sustain themselves.
- Captive slaves: These were often prisoners of war or individuals from conquered nations.
- Permanent slaves: Some were born into slavery or sold into it due to extreme poverty.
Bible Texts on Slavery: In God’s Eyes There is Neither Slave Nor Free…
The Bible doesn’t endorse these practices, but regulates them. For example, the Law mandated indentured servitude could only be temporary, not lifelong (Exodus 21:2). It, however, prohibited kidnapping people in order to sell them into slavery—a key inhumane practice underlying the slave trade (Exodus 21:16, Deuteronomy 24:7). And it upheld the dignity, rights, and protections of slaves as human beings—very progressive for that time.
In the New Testament, Paul affirmed the equal human dignity of both slaves and masters (Galatians 3:28, Philemon 1:16, 1 Corinthians 7:21-24). They planted revolutionary seeds by teaching that in God’s eyes, there is neither slave nor free—just unified human beings with intrinsic worth.
Ultimately, it was this scriptural elevation of human dignity and equality, coupled with Christ’s moral teachings of love, service, and freedom that steadily dismantled societal acceptance of slavery over many centuries.
So while not condemning slavery with immediate abolitionist demands (which were culturally inconceivable then), the Bible inherently recognized the great moral evil of human beings owning others. It masterfully planted ideological seeds that gradually overcame this practice from within the existing cultural framework.
Modern readers who argue the Bible’s references to slavery are appalling—would do well to remember slavery was a globally accepted practice in the ancient world, and that Scripture doesn’t condone, endorse or morally affirm abhorrent practices such as slavery. In fact the Bible’s teachings had a large part to play in ethics moving past the prevalent cultural norms.
Editor’s Pick
Bible Allusions: How They Enrich Our Grasp of God’s Word
Ever experienced that moment when you're reading Scripture and suddenly recognise an echo of another passage? That spark of recognition [...]
Old Testament Theophanies: What Purposes Did They Serve?
Throughout the Old Testament, we encounter remarkable moments when God manifests Himself in visible, often tangible forms to His people. [...]
When Words Fail: How the Holy Spirit Helps Us in Our Prayers
Ever sat down to pray and found yourself at a complete loss for words? Or perhaps you’ve prayed diligently but [...]
Isaiah 64:6: How Are Our Righteous Deeds Like Filthy Rags?
“We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.” — [...]
The Greatest Yet the Least: How Is John the Baptist Both?
In Matthew 11:11, Jesus makes a statement that has puzzled Bible readers: “Truly I tell you, among those born of [...]
The Pilgrim’s Progress: Journeying Through the Psalms of Ascent
The Psalms of Ascent (Psalms 120-134) are a remarkable collection of fifteen songs that have guided God's people for millennia. [...]
Not Home Yet: How Scripture’s Exile Theme Shapes Our Faith
When we read Scripture carefully, a striking pattern emerges: God’s people are almost always on the move, displaced, or living [...]
At Pentecost: God Fulfils Covenant and Reverses Babel
The scene is electrifying. Jerusalem, crowded with Jewish pilgrims from across the known world. A sound like rushing wind fills [...]
The Sun’s Age: Is It Really A Showstopper for A Young Earth?
When discussing creation and the age of the earth, sceptics often point to the sun as definitive evidence against the [...]
Is the Birth Canal Poorly Designed? Creationist Perspectives
The human birth canal is a frequent example cited by evolutionists as evidence against intelligent design. They argue the narrow [...]