Paul's View On Slavery

Introduction

God reveals to us that he created man in his image, a spirit endowed with attributes resembling His own: to reason, to form rule of right, to manifest various emotions, to will, to act, and He gave man a body suited to such a spirit, that He created man “male and female,” That He made the woman “out of man.” Out of creation God perfectly designed us to be one with Him and all were equally with others. Do, then, the facts in man’s natural history exhibit this departure from the laws of life and spirit? Do they prove that “All men are created equal?” Do they show that every man and every woman of Africa, Asia, Europe, America, and the islands of the seas, was created each one equal in body and mind to each other man or woman on the face of the earth, and that this has always been?

Although slavery is not a sin, it is a degraded condition. Many believe that slavery will pass away, in the fullness of Providence. The idea here is that Ham will be ever lower than Shem; Shem will be ever lower than Japheth. However, all will rise in the Christian grandeur to be revealed. Paul’s view on slavery addressed those who were believers, both master and slave. As Paul addressed the church his primary objective was to achieve a working relationship that required a humble spirit and a pouring out of fellowship in love. This paper will search through the scriptures concerning Paul’s view on slavery as it relates to distinctions, righteousness, and freedoms in Christ.

No Distinctions

Paul has a clear view of slavery regarding master and slave. In the book of Ephesians, Paul in favor of obedience and respect which neither condemned nor condoned the institution of slavery, but it does characterize a very important fact; it remind believers that we were also servants, “slaves” of Christ and bound to do the will of God . Paul further suggested that God would reward all good work rather slaves or master. (Ephesians 6:5-9). As outlined in vs. 5-9, slaves were to obey, and respect their masters. Perhaps, these were Christian slaves under Christian masters. In fact Paul used in comparison the services rendered through Christ; “Just as you would obey Christ like slaves of Christ, do the will of God as if you were serving the Lord”. Likewise masters are to treat their slaves in the same manner which pleases the Lord in their dealings with their slaves. Masters were not to threaten or accuse their slaves unjustly, because they themselves were servant with the Master who is an example to them. This, of course, is the Lord and He is the Master over both master and slaves. Man’s consciousness revealed that his master is not from the early dominion but from a heavenly throne. The master’s responsibility is to do the will of God from the heart; therefore, they became forbears with their slaves.

(In 1Timothy 6:1-2), Paul suggested that slavery (doulio) could be sociologically, literally “subjugated” stressed the politico-sociological meaning as it related to a ministerial sense. No exceptions are made; every Christian slave was to act accordingly with the following directive, which made a distinction only on the basis of whether the master is not (v.1) or is (v.2) himself, a believer.

Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers, rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good services are believers and beloved. Teach and urge these things . ” Slaves with masters are directed “not to disrespect them but designate an willingness to consider and to take a real interest in one another, the very form of (agape) thus, in a positive form, the slaves are being told to love their Christian master because “they are brothers.

In fact, slaves should be even better slaves performing the work of charity for their masters. Those who practice kindness devote self to care for material needs which are the connection among the gifts of the Spirit. In God’s view Paul teaches that the slave is told that before God there is no distinction; therefore the present earthy servitude had been transcended at the point which matter the most. Therefore he was to obey in singleness of the heart from the heart and with fear and trembling.

Slaves to Righteousness

Paul highlights in Romans (6:14-18), that believer were not under the law but under grace, which fulfilled the whole law. The Mosaic system consisted of the eternal laws which revealed the sin prevalent in human hearts; God’s grace placed the believer in Christ, and the Holy Spirit in the believer. Therefore a Christian does not have to sin; he or she can resist temptation and do what’s right. We obviously are the slaves of the one whom they offered themselves to obey (v. 7). Paul set forth two masters, one is sin, and the other is disobedience to God. “Choose for yourselves this day that you will serve rather God or Mammon” (Josh 24-25).