How is slavery addressed in the Bible? This devotion looks at several passages that Paul wrote on the topic.
Nuggets
- We are all to obey because God tells us to do so.
- Masters are under the same rules as slaves.
- We should be content no matter our lot in life.
Slavery is a huge topic these days. It isn’t something that was instituted in the last couple of hundred years.
It is addressed in Scriptures. Let’s look to see what it has to say.
Let's Put It into Context #1
We are going to use the following definition from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary for social. It is defined as “of or relating to human society, the interaction of the individual and the group, or the welfare of human beings as members of society.”
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Let's Put It into Context #2
The Holman Bible Dictionary defines a slave as a “person totally responsible to and dependent upon another person.” A widely-accepted and used practice in the Bible times, people found themselves as slaves for a variety of reasons:
- Prisoner of war
- Owed a debt
- Sold themselves or were sold into slavery because of lack of support
- Born into slavery
- Committed a crime
- Were kidnapped and put into slavery
For the most part, even though slaves had no rights, they were not treated inhumanely. Except if they were gladiators. That usually didn’t end well.
Paul gave slaves and masters some direction in Ephesians. This was not the first time slavery was addressed in the Bible. Slavery laws were included in Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy.
- Exodus 21: 1-11
- Leviticus 25: 39-55
- Deuteronomy 15: 12-18
Directions to Slaves
“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” (Eph. 6: 5-8 CSB)
Paul started out telling slaves to obey their masters. He didn’t say kick and scream because you have found yourself in a predicament in which you don’t belong. He said, “Do what you are told to do.” We are all to obey because God tells us to do so.
Here is the thing. Paul knew there was always going to be someone telling us what to do — who would be our master. We start off with our parents telling us right from wrong. Then we get to teachers. Then we get to employers. Sometimes we have a spouse telling us what to do. Hopefully, we won’t find ourselves in a position where we need a policeman to give us orders.
What is this all about? It is about submitting to the authority figure. God wants us to do that.
Do what they tell us to do. Don’t talk back. Don’t do the opposite of what they say. Obey.
If we aren’t going to submit to the authority figure here on earth, how are we going to submit to God?
Paul knew that. He wrote, “… as you would Christ” (Eph. 6: 5 CSB).
How many of us are tripping over the “… fear and trembling …” (Eph. 6: 5 CSB)? This takes us back to the fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord means reverence and love, not terror.
Glossary
God doesn’t want us to be afraid of Him — unless He is unleashing His wrath. He does want the reverence.
What Paul is saying is to exhibit faith, trust, and loyalty. Brown stated we should be diligent in whatever task we are given. We should be consistent in our walk with God.
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For Paul, it was all about attitude. We choose what attitude we are going to exhibit. We want to choose an attitude pleasing to God. Obeying and submitting to Him is pleasing to Him.
We shouldn’t have the attitude of pride. We need the attitude of humble. How many times did God tell us to do things secretly?
• “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Mt. 6: 6 ESV).
• “You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah” (Ps. 32: 7 ESV).
• “So that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Mt. 6: 4 ESV).
Our purpose isn’t to get all of the kudos that we can. We are to bring glory to God.
Spurgeon explained it this way. He wrote, “In the service of God we should use great care to accomplish our very best, and we should feel a deep anxiety to please Him in all things.”
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I love the rest of verse 6. “… as slaves of Christ, do God’s will from your heart” (Eph. 6: 6 CSB). We shouldn’t be out for our own agenda. We should be ready to do whatever God calls us to do — wholeheartedly.
We shouldn’t complain. “Do everything without grumbling and arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world, by holding firm to the word of life …” (Phil. 2: 14-16 CSB).
Most of all, whoever we do in this life should be done for the Lord. We must work the plan He has for us.
Directions to Masters
“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” (Eph. 6: 9 CSB)
Look what Paul tells the masters. They are under the same rules as slaves. Why? Because, ultimately, we all have the same Master — God.
Paul said that makes slaves and masters in the same boat. Blencowe wrote, “The law of equity may be considered as binding a master to kindness, forbearance, and concern for the souls of his servants. It bids him show kindness, and thus extends further than the strict rule of justice. Reason and conscience are its umpires.”
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Notice Blencowe didn’t use the word equality. He used equity.
To read a related devotion, click the button below.
This goes back to what Paul said in Ephesians 5: 21. He said that one of the ways of being filled by the Spirit was “submitting to one another in the fear of Christ” (Eph. 5: 21 CSB).
We have a responsibility to others to treat them appropriately. We choose how to treat others.
Slavery a Calling
“Let each of you remain in the situation in which he was called. Were you called while a slave? Don’t let it concern you. But if you can become free, by all means take the opportunity. For he who is called by the Lord as a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called as a free man is Christ’s slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of people. Brothers and sisters, each person is to remain with God in the situation in which he was called” (I Cor. 7: 20-24 CSB)
We all have a Plan A. God calls each of us to serve Him. He wants us to be steady on that path.
“Were you called while a slave? Don’t let it concern you. But if you can become free, by all means take the opportunity” (I Cor. 7: 21 CSB).
Wait! What? God calls some of us to be slaves????
Paul said it didn’t matter. Lyth wrote, “A slave may be free. The freeman a slave.”
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I take that to mean that we should be content no matter our lot in life. “I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself. I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need” (Phil. 4: 11-12 CSB). We shouldn’t worry about the external stuff.
If we look at it another way, we were all born into bondage. We were all born into the bondage of sin.
The gospel frees us. Jesus has redeemed us and freed us from the consequences of sin.
But then we are Jesus’. As Maclaren reminded us, “He is the owner and we are the slaves.” Our unconditional submission answers to His absolute authority.
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Making the Connections
So, does this mean that God approves of slavery? I don’t think so.
In Fulfilling Scriptures to Interact with Society, we said that Leviticus 25 explains the year of Jubilee to us. Basically, it was a year of reset. Every fifty years, slaves were freed among other things.
No, I don’t think God condones slavery. If He did, He would have plopped the Israelites in Egypt and left them there. They would have never became a Wilderness Wanderers.
Cohen made a good point. The slaves are supposed to serve Christ where they are. We are supposed to serve God wherever He plops us down at. Whatever He puts in our way, we are supposed to serve Him.
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So, why doesn’t God abolish slavery if He doesn’t really approve? This is an unjust world because Satan is in control. He wants this world to not follow God’s Will. He wants the slavery and human trafficking to be prevalent.
God will one day end slavery. But that will be on judgment day when this earth goes away. People who haven’t admitted their sins, believed on Jesus as their Savior, and confessed God as Sovereign Lord will be sentenced to eternity in hell. Then He will have his just world back again.
Making the Connections to Self-Discipline
We’ve been looking at defending our beliefs when we are witnessing. That means we have to be secure enough to convince someone to accept our beliefs.
Our questions should still serve us to determine on what we need to focus.
- What does the Scriptures say?
- What do I believe?
- Why do I believe the same/differently than the Scriptures?
- What are the talking points when witnessing to a non-believer?
Related Links
I have created a worksheet of the questions above. Click on the button below to access it.
How Do We Apply This?
Wherever we are at in life, we need to be honest — to ourselves and others. When we build things on delusion, they will come tumbling down.
We have to be sober. Sober is a character trait distinguished by self-control, genuineness, and sound moral judgment.
We need to respect those in authority. Even if we don’t respect the person, we need to respect the office.
We have to be obedient — to God and to those in authority. We have to submit to God because He knows what is best for us.
A positive attitude helps us stay obedient to God. It helps us be content — no matter the circumstances.
We have to believe. We have to believe God is the Creator of the universe. We have to believe that Jesus is our Savior.
Our attitude helps us be content, even if we feel our freedom is a thing of the past. God will be with us as He never leaves us.
Father. We submit to You. You are in control of our lives. Help us to live for You. Amen.
What do you think?
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