Slavery in the New Testament

Christianity emerged within the Roman empire, during a time in which the worst forms of slavery were common. Unlike the Hebrews of ancient Israel, early Christians were living in a society over which they had virtually no influence, and in which the legal systems were totally beyond their control. Many people who became converted to Christianity would have already owned slaves, and would have inherited well established Roman cultural attitudes to slaves and slavery, which were anathema to the gospel and the teaching of Christ. How did early Christianity address the issue of slavery in such an environment?

Unlike servitude under the Law of Moses, slavery in the Roman empire was typically degrading, inhumane, and dehumanizing. Slaves were commonly forced into service against their will, and were usually treated like chattel.

Saller in particular has demonstrated the relationship between the regular whipping of slaves and the importance in Roman society of sharply enhancing the honor of the wealthy and powerful by dishonoring and dehumanizing slaves.¹

To continue reading this Bible article, click here.

Author: Jonathan Burke

Keywords: Philemon, Onesimus, Slavery, Bond servant, Bond slave, Slave, enslaved, indentured servant, endentured servant, indentured slave, debt slave, debt servant, endentured slave, forms of slavery, Master, Slave master, sold into slavery

Bible reference(s): 1 Corinthians 7:21, 1 Timothy 1:10, 1 Corinthians 12:13, 1 Corinthians 7:22, 1 Timothy 1:10, Colossians 4:1, Deuteronomy 12:12, Deuteronomy 21:14, Deuteronomy 24:7, Deuteronomy 5:14, Ephesians 6:9, Exodus 12:44, Exodus 20:10, Exodus 21:16, Galatians 3:28, Genesis 17:13, Leviticus 22:11, Luke 7:41, Matthew 18:28, Philemon 1:16, Sirach/Ecclesiasticus 7:18, Philemon 1

Source: “Slavery in the New Testament.”

Page indexed by: inWORD Bible Software.