New Testament and Modern Slavery

[Bootstrap]

I just started a thread on biblical theology and modern slavery - then realized that it's probably helpful to treat New Testament passages differently than Old Testament passages.

I think people often apply even the New Testament passages rather selectively. Consider Ephesians 6. We often hear the first part quoted to say that slavery is biblical.

Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as you would Christ. Don’t work only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, do God’s will from your heart. Serve with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to people, knowing that whatever good each one does, slave or free, he will receive this back from the Lord.

But is there any form of slavery that works without threats? And where slaves and masters are seen as equal before God? This next sentence is usually left out.

And masters, treat your slaves the same way, without threatening them, because you know that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.

I am really not sure whether Paul was asking Philemon to free his slave Onesimus, but he was certainly at least pleading that he would treat him as a dearly loved brother.

For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a brief time, so that you might get him back permanently, no longer as a slave, but more than a slave—as a dearly loved brother. He is especially so to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would me. And if he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it—not to mention to you that you owe me even your very self. Yes, brother, may I benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. Since I am confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.

What are we to learn from this? How does this apply to modern slavery or slavery as practiced in the United States before the Civil War?

[RZehr]

1 Timothy 1:10, NIV
..for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine...

[Sudsy]

I would say if we change the word 'slaves' to 'employees' and the word 'masters' to the word 'employers' we can apply this today as Christian employees and employers.

"And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father." Col 3:17

[barnhart]

I Corinthians 7:21 "Were you a slave when you were called? Don't let it trouble you--although if you can gain your freedom, do so."

The NT acknowledges that unequal power relationships exist in society, but leaves no place for them in the church. If followed, NT teaching undermines slavery to the point where it cannot be sustained, even though believers may enter the kingdom already involved as both masters and enslaved, as demonstrated by Paul and Onisimus.

A key to this type of discussion is the term found in the title of this thread, "Modern". Ancient slavery, and slavery in most cultures, did not always include the total de-humanization of modern western chattel slavery where the subject was totally converted from a person to an object. Roman slaves kept their names, their families, had rights and could buy their freedom under most circumstances. It's a distortion of scripture to apply Paul's teaching to chattel slavery without interpretation to address the difference.

The NT is quite subversive to societal power imbalances. "Do to others as you would have them do to you."