Biblical defense of slavery

God says we are to love our neighbors as ourselves. Do you want someone to make you a slave?
Philemon 1:16 points out that brotherhood and slavery is fully capable of going hand in hand. I would want some people to give me a million dollars, it's not a command for some people to give me a million dollars. It's a command of love.
 
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Philemon 1:16 points out that brotherhood and slavery is fully capable of going hand in hand. I would want other to give me a million dollars, it's not a command for other people to give me a million dollars. It's a command of love.

Now lets read this in full context and do please explain how this has anything to do with slavery.

10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:

11 Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:

12 Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:

13 Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:

14 But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.

15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;

16 Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?

17 If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.

18 If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;

19 I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.
 
I would point out that although some chose to be slaves, that was certainly not the case for many who were sold into slavery by others.

Would you support the practice of slavery if it was due to economics and people sold themselves into slavery?

If people just sold themselves into slavery, that would simply be a voluntary transaction. Why would any libertarian or liberty-minded person be opposed to that?
 
If people just sold themselves into slavery, that would simply be a voluntary transaction. Why would any libertarian or liberty-minded person be opposed to that?

It wasn't a trick question - I'm not necessarily saying you should be opposed to that. But if you go there, wouldn't that be conceding the OP's point? :p

Not sure if that's the kind of slavery the OP is referring to though.
 
I think you are misunderstanding the term servant. The term servant in the scriptures is used frequently to describe a "heart attitude" that displays itself in behavior that "serves others".
 
I think you are misunderstanding the term servant. The term servant in the scriptures is used frequently to describe a "heart attitude" that displays itself in behavior that "serves others".
When it comes to the term servant in the bible it is used interchangerbly with slave. Servant was translated from doulos which is literally translated to slave.
 
If people just sold themselves into slavery, that would simply be a voluntary transaction. Why would any libertarian or liberty-minded person be opposed to that?

It would be an interesting thought exercise to think about what voluntary slavery means and what it would have to look like in order for it to not be immoral.

Suppose you have a homeless person on the street and they want to become a slave for somebody in exchange for having food to eat, a place to sleep, medical care...etc. In this arrangement, does the "master" have the right to use force to coerce the slave into doing something? Or does the master only have the right to terminate the business relationship? Should the slave have the right to terminate the business relationship? If there is a contract, as long as all terms are mutually agreed-on is it acceptable?
 
When it comes to the term servant in the bible it is used interchangerbly with slave. Servant was translated from doulos which is literally translated to slave.

G1401 δουλος doulos doo'-los (67)
from 1210; a slave (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary; frequently, therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency):—bond(-man), servant.
 
G1401 δουλος doulos doo'-los (67)
from 1210; a slave (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary; frequently, therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency):—bond(-man), servant.
It's a judgement call you have to make, and looking from a first century perspective at the book of Philemon it is obvious that Onesimus was a slave. A voluntary paid servant (like a modern housekeeper) does not get sent back like Apostle Paul sent Onesimus back to Philemon as if he was a runaway slave.
 
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It's a judgement call you have to make, and looking from a first century perspective at the book of Philemon it is obvious that Onesimus was a slave. A voluntary paid servant (like a modern housekeeper) does not get sent back like Apostle Paul sent Onesimus back to Philemon as if he was a runaway slave.

Paul "sent" Timothy places, that does not mean that Timothy was a slave, although he was a "servant".
Read the bible with your heart, not trying to justify horrible things and you will see the life and the beauty of it.
 
Paul "sent" Timothy places, that does not mean that Timothy was a slave, although he was a "servant".
Read the bible with your heart, not trying to justify horrible things and you will see the life and the beauty of it.
Sending back a doulos is from a first century point of view sending back a slave, considering Pauls message to slaves to be good obedient slaves and the fact that a non-slave servant would be unlikely to be sent back many many miles. When you also add the fact that during this time about third of the Roman empires population was enslaved at this time, it can safely be taken for granted that Onesimus was a slave instead of a non-slave servant.

And even if Onesimus was a non-slave servant this would not change the fact the Bible supported slavery in the OT and never disapproves the institution of slavery,the NT approvingly tells us how master-slave relations should be.
 
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How about our species, homo sapiens, was originally created by genetic engineering to be the slaves for TPTB?
 
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Some interesting footwork to make the case for such.

Mark 10: 42Calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. 43“But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; 44and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. 45“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Now if everyone were to take this to heart then all would have a servant heart and no one would be wielding their power over another. Power tripping in the earthy existence has a short term reward with long term, negative consequences.
 
Some interesting footwork to make the case for such.

Mark 10: 42Calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. 43“But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; 44and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. 45“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Now if everyone were to take this to heart then all would have a servant heart and no one would be wielding their power over another. Power tripping in the earthy existence has a short term reward with long term, negative consequences.
How about the servant heart explains the sheeple brain?
 
Matthew22:36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the great and [a]foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

Hebrews 10: 19Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.



Christ or Judgment

26For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES. 28Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30For we know Him who said, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.” And again, “THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.” 31It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
 
How about the servant heart explains the sheeple brain?

Maybe there is some ignorance of the shrewd part of:
Matthew 10: 16“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. 17“But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues; 18and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19“But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. 20“For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
 
Maybe there is some ignorance of the shrewd part of:
Matthew 10: 16“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. 17“But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues; 18and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19“But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. 20“For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
Hmmm. Perhaps that's a reference about dealing with the satanic Jews discussed earlier this week, in another thread.
 
Sending back a doulos is from a first century point of view sending back a slave, considering Pauls message to slaves to be good obedient slaves and the fact that a non-slave servant would be unlikely to be sent back many many miles. When you also add the fact that during this time about third of the Roman empires population was enslaved at this time, it can safely be taken for granted that Onesimus was a slave instead of a non-slave servant.

And even if Onesimus was a non-slave servant this would not change the fact the Bible supported slavery in the OT and never disapproves the institution of slavery,the NT approvingly tells us how master-slave relations should be.

Slavery existed everywhere in History, Moses went to free the slaves that were in Egypt. And slavery was practiced before that,, since the first Nimrod started ruling over people.

the bible speaks about how to deal with,, and it speaks to both the high and low,,
What is taught is the freeing of Slaves,, and the treatment of slaves until that time,, and how to deal if you are in the position of a slave,, until the time you are free.

And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written, "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD."…
 
Slavery existed everywhere in History, Moses went to free the slaves that were in Egypt. And slavery was practiced before that,, since the first Nimrod started ruling over people.

the bible speaks about how to deal with,, and it speaks to both the high and low,,
What is taught is the freeing of Slaves,, and the treatment of slaves until that time,, and how to deal if you are in the position of a slave,, until the time you are free.

Perfect answer Pete
You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to pcosmar again.
 
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