What the Bible Says About Slavery

Introduction

The Historical Context of Slavery in Biblical Times

Before examining the Bible’s specific teachings on slavery, it is crucial to understand what slavery meant in the ancient world. Slavery was widespread in many ancient societies, including those in the ancient Near East, Greece, Rome, and Israel. It existed in many forms, from debt slavery and captives of war to hereditary servitude, and was not necessarily tied to race or ethnicity. In biblical times, slavery often resulted from war, economic hardship, or social structures rather than the racially based chattel slavery that would emerge in later centuries.

In ancient Israel, for example, slavery was an institution regulated by specific laws designed to protect the rights and dignity of slaves. The Israelites, like other ancient peoples, practised forms of servitude. Still, they also had laws that aimed to ensure the humane treatment of slaves, especially those who had fallen into servitude due to debt or poverty. For example, Hebrew slaves were not to be kept indefinitely and were to be released in the seventh year of service by the Year of Release. Additionally, the Israelites were forbidden from enslaving their fellow Israelites permanently and were required to treat them with kindness and fairness.

It is also important to note that, during the Roman Empire, in the time of the New Testament, slavery was a common institution. Slaves were used in a variety of roles, from labour to skilled professions, and their status could be changed through manumission (the act of being granted freedom). While slavery in ancient Rome could be brutal, it was not always seen in the same morally reprehensible light as later forms of slavery. Many slaves in the Roman Empire could hope to earn or be granted their freedom over time.

Slavery in the Old Testament: Laws and Regulations

Slavery in the Old Testament: Laws, Protections, and Justice

The Old Testament contains numerous references to slavery, particularly in foundational books such as Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy. These texts provide a legal framework that regulates slavery, a common institution in the ancient world and establish guidelines intended to mitigate its harshness. While the Bible does not categorically condemn slavery as an institution, it introduces rules that emphasise humane treatment, justice, and the dignity of those in servitude. These biblical laws distinguish Israelite society from many other ancient civilisations where slavery was often brutal and unregulated.

Regulations and Protections in Exodus

One of the most detailed treatments of slavery occurs in Exodus 21:2-11, where laws concerning Hebrew enslaved people are presented. These laws recognise that some Israelites might become enslaved due to economic hardship or debt. Importantly, the text places limits on the duration of servitude. If a Hebrew man sold himself into slavery because of poverty or financial difficulty, his term of service was limited to six years. After serving six full years, the enslaved person was to be released in the seventh year without having to pay for freedom:

“If thou buy a Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh, he shall go out free for nothing.” (Exodus 21:2)

This provision ensured that Hebrew enslaved people were not to be held in permanent bondage and were allowed to regain their freedom and reintegrate into society.

Exodus also addresses family considerations. If the enslaved person entered servitude with a wife and children, these family members would typically remain with the master unless the servant voluntarily chose to stay and bring them along upon release. This law acknowledged the complex realities of family life within slavery, ensuring that family bonds were respected and not arbitrarily severed.

A further significant passage is found in Exodus 21:16, which expressly condemns kidnapping:

“And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.”

This verse marks a clear moral stance against the abduction and forced sale of individuals into slavery. Kidnapping was viewed as a grave crime in ancient Israel, punishable by death, reflecting the Bible’s concern for protecting vulnerable individuals from exploitation and injustice.

Leviticus: Emphasis on Dignity and Fair Treatment

The book of Leviticus expands on the theme of the humane treatment of enslaved people, especially emphasising the treatment of fellow Israelites. In Leviticus 25:39-46, the text instructs the community to treat impoverished Hebrew enslaved people not as outright enslaved people but rather as hired workers or temporary residents, ensuring their dignity and respectful treatment:

“And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant: but as a hired servant and as a sojourner he shall be with thee…” (Leviticus 25:39-40)

This language underscores that Hebrew enslaved people were not to be considered property in the same way as enslaved people in other ancient societies. Rather, they retained a certain level of status and rights, and their servitude was more like a form of employment with protections.

The passage also discusses the treatment of enslaved people from foreign countries. While non-Israelite enslaved people could be inherited as property, Israelite law still required regulations to ensure fair treatment. Foreign enslaved people were integrated into the household but were not to be oppressed or mistreated beyond the limits set by law. The regulations sought to balance societal norms with ethical concerns, reflecting a nuanced approach to slavery that attempted to limit abuses common in the ancient Near East.

Deuteronomy: The Year of Release and Generosity

The book of Deuteronomy reiterates and expands upon the principle of the Year of Release, reinforcing the time-limited nature of Hebrew slavery. In Deuteronomy 15:12-18, the text commands that Hebrew enslaved people who served for six years must be freed in the seventh year:

“And if thy brother, a Hebrew man, or a Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee.” (Deuteronomy 15:12)

Not only were enslaved people to be released, but the law also mandated a spirit of generosity upon their freedom. Masters were instructed to provide liberally for the released servant, supplying them with livestock, grain, and wine to help them re-establish their lives and regain independence:

“Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.” (Deuteronomy 15:8)

This law demonstrates a clear concern for justice and social restoration, encouraging compassion and support for those who had been in servitude.

Slavery in the Broader Biblical and Cultural Context

While the Old Testament does not abolish slavery outright, it introduces a framework that seeks to regulate and humanise the practice within Israelite society. Compared to other ancient civilisations where slavery could mean lifelong servitude without rights or protections, the laws in Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy imposed meaningful limits:

• Enslaved people were granted the right to freedom after a set period.
• Family relationships were respected and preserved.
• Kidnapping and forced enslavement were strictly forbidden.
• The treatment of enslaved people was subject to regulations ensuring dignity and fairness.
• There was an emphasis on mercy and generosity toward those who had been enslaved.

These instructions reveal the Bible’s concern for justice and fairness, reflecting a God who values the dignity of every individual, even within the constraints of a society where slavery was an accepted institution.

Slavery in the New Testament: Christian Teachings and Principles

In the New Testament, slavery remains a significant institution, particularly within the Roman Empire, where the early Christian community emerged. The Apostle Paul addresses the topic of slavery in several of his letters, instructing both slaves and masters on how to live according to Christian principles.

“Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.” (Ephesians 6:5-6).

Here, Paul instructs slaves to serve their masters as they would serve Christ. Masters, in turn, are told to treat their servants well, recognising that they have a Master in heaven. “And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.”

Colossians 3:22-25: Similar to Ephesians, Paul instructs enslaved people to obey their masters “in singleness of heart, fearing God.” (Colossians 3:22).

He also tells masters to provide their slaves with fairness and justice, reminding them that both slave and master are under God’s authority.

Philemon 1:10-16: Perhaps the most profound New Testament passage regarding slavery is the letter to Philemon. Paul writes to Philemon, asking him to receive his runaway slave, Onesimus, not just as a slave, but as a brother in Christ.

“For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved…” (Philemon 1:15-16).

This letter is often seen as an example of the early Christian vision of a society where spiritual equality in Christ supersedes the distinctions of master and servant.

The New Testament does not explicitly call for the abolition of slavery, but it strongly emphasises the spiritual equality of all people, regardless of social status. The principle of treating others as Christ would treat them, combined with the teachings of mutual respect and love, laid the groundwork for later Christian movements that would challenge the practice of slavery.

The Bible and the Abolition of Slavery: A Legacy of Justice and Freedom

Although the Bible does not directly call for the abolition of slavery, its principles of justice, love, and equality have inspired Christian abolitionists over the centuries. In the 18th and 19th centuries, figures such as William Wilberforce in England and Frederick Douglass in the United States used biblical teachings to argue that slavery was incompatible with the Christian faith. They emphasised the Bible’s call for justice, compassion, and the inherent worth of every individual created in the image of God.

The Bible’s message of equality in Christ and the fundamental dignity of every person has shaped the moral foundation of movements to abolish slavery. Jesus’ teachings on love, freedom, and justice continue to inspire Christians worldwide to work towards ending all forms of oppression.

Conclusion

The Bible’s teachings on slavery are complex, shaped by the historical and cultural context in which they were written. While the Bible does not outright condemn slavery, it emphasises principles of justice, equality, and human dignity that, over time, contributed to the end of slavery. The Bible calls for fair treatment, mutual respect, and love for one’s neighbour, pointing to an ideal society where no one is reduced to servitude or oppression. Over the centuries, these principles have led to a broader understanding that slavery is incompatible with the message of Christ, inspiring movements for freedom and human rights around the world.