Does the Bible Condone Slavery

Most people tend to view slavery as an institution of the past; however, it’s estimated that 30 million still suffer from human trafficking for the purposes of compelled labor or commercial sex acts. Although slavery has been legally abolished globally, the exploitation remains a major problem hidden from authorities and the public. Christians have been redeemed from slavery to sin, so believers should be the foremost opponents of forced slavery in all forms. It can be confusing why God does not explicitly condemn the practice in His word and instead focuses on regulating it, but a proper understanding of ancient culture and certain word translations is imperative.

The Hebrew word ebed and the Greek word doulos in the scriptures have been translated as slave in some English Bibles, but both words should more appropriately be rendered as servant or bondservant. The establishment of servanthood in ancient Israel did not parallel what is considered the contemporary slavery of recent centuries, although other ancient cultures were known to have practiced such enslavement. The Israelites did not kidnap and force others into service against their will because it was strictly forbidden by the law which stated, “he that steals a man and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, he will surely be put to death” (Exodus 21:16). There were various pathways into servitude and in most cases the decision was made voluntarily. Hebrews who were unable to support themselves or provide for their families, as well as those who simply could not pay their debts could turn to the voluntary form of service as a way to earn provision or pay for liabilities. The requirement for a Hebrew indentured servant was “six years he will serve and in the seventh he will go out free for nothing” (Exodus 21:2). It was also common for servants to prefer staying with the families they served because they were treated well or even grew to love the family. Deuteronomy 15:16-17 reveals, “it will be, if he says unto you I will not go away from you, because he loves you and your house, because he is well with you; then you will take an awl and put it through his ear into the door and he will be your servant forever”. A person who was convicted of a crime that required restitution could also be placed in service to pay off their debt to society because there was no organized penal system. It’s mentioned in Exodus 22:3, “if the sun rises on him, there will be bloodguilt upon him, for he should make full restitution, if he has nothing then he will be sold for his theft”. An allowance was made for those who desired to purchase servants from the surrounding nations. The people were told, "both your bondmen and bondmaids whom you may have will be of the heathen that are round about you, of them you may buy bondmen and bondmaids” (Leviticus 25:44). The six-year time limit did not apply to Gentiles, but they were much safer with the Israelites because they were secured from societies that did not codify their humane treatment and there was an opportunity to eventually purchase their own redemption. Foreign slaves were even prescribed refuge if they escaped their country of origin. It was communicated "you will not deliver a servant to his master who has escaped unto you. He will dwell with you and among you, in the place which he will choose in one of your gates where he likes best; you will not oppress him” (Deuteronomy 23:15-16).

The treatment in ancient Israel was vastly different from the harsh and brutal ways of the other ancient cultures. The people were admonished to “remember that you were a bondman in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you from there” (Deuteronomy 24:18). They experienced the oppression of severe taskmasters, so the idea of afflicting others would have been objectionable. Those who had servants were commanded to “not rule over him ruthlessly, but fear your God” (Leviticus 25:43). The law did permit punishment for bondservants, but the master was held accountable, and it was the same punishment given by the judges to those who were not in service for transgressing the law. A servant would even be allowed to legally leave if they were not treated properly. Exodus 21:27 declared, “if he smites out his manservant’s tooth or his maidservant’s tooth, he will let him go free for his tooth’s sake”. They were also allowed to observe certain religious celebrations and rest on the Sabbath along with everyone else. As it says in Exodus 21:10, “the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God; on it you will do no work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your manservant, nor your maidservant”. There were even opportunities for advancement with some families where a “wise servant would have rule over a son that caused shame, and would have part of the inheritance among the brethren” (Proverbs 17:2).

Despite numerous legislated protections for bondservants, to conclude that God actually favored slavery would be patently wrong. The regulations were only a practical way of dealing with certain realities of the day resulting from the fall of man. The corruption that led to the alienation of individuals, races, and nations is a result of man’s broken relationship with God. Jesus explained that divorce was permitted under the Mosaic Law because of the sinfulness of human beings, but it was not the original ideal; when He said, “Moses because of the hardness of your hearts allowed you to put away your wives, but from the beginning it was not so” (Matthew 19:8). The entirety of scripture proclaims God’s nature and shows that He hates divorce. One can reasonably surmise that He hates slavery as well, particularly since both were concessions for human iniquity and neither existed at the point of creation nor will they exist throughout eternity. The principle that should guide all interactions and ultimately negate any practice of superiority is the declaration that “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him, male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27) with inherent dignity and value. Christ further clarified the point when He told the people the second greatest commandment that “you shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31). The love, equality, and justice of His teachings quickened the spirit of brotherhood and changed the way people viewed their relationships with others. Undoubtedly, many of the New Testament scriptures were used by the Christian abolitionists who were at the forefront of eradicating the slavery in America and the United Kingdom such as Philemon 1:15-16 where Paul relates, “that you might receive him back forever; not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, especially to me, but how much more unto you both in the flesh and in the Lord”. Grievously, slavery continues to exist in various places and has possibly even taken on the worst form ever in the multibillion dollar global black market, but again Christian organizations are dedicated to combating the insidious evil.

Conceivably, the most meaningful issue is the metaphorical context in the historical presence of slavery that reflects our spiritual reality. Everyone is born into this life already in bondage to sin with all the eternal consequences and in desperate need of deliverance that can only found through Jesus Christ. There is nothing more precious than being translated from spiritual slavery into the powerful freedom of salvation. The purpose of the Bible is to reveal God and the way to that salvation, not to reform every circumstance in a fallen world. He will often approach issues from the inside out and if a person truly perceives His love and grace, it will reform their soul and transform the way they think. A person who experiences real freedom will understand that enslaving another is always wrong and confront such an outlook of superiority. The very fact that slavery is wrong cannot even be realized through the naturalistic assumptions that only the fittest survive. It can only be realized through the moral framework that God initiated and then disclosed in His living word.

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus”

Galatians 3:28