The Moral Integrity of the Scriptures

During this season of seeking God in prayer and fasting, having extra time to meditate on the Holy Scriptures provides great strengthening.  Given the worth of the Bible, it's important that our trust in its teachings not be undermined, which is why it is helpful to take a brief look at the controversial subject of "slavery" in the New Testament.

A cursory reading of the New Testament could lead someone to believe that New World Slavery, as we experienced in American history, is acceptable practice for the Christian, yet other passages in the New Testament seem to condemn the practice.  How do we reconcile this?

For example, Colossians and Ephesians make reference to the desired Christian behavior of "slaves" (sometimes translated "bondservants"):

Colossians 3:22, "Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters." (ESV)

Ephesians 6:5, "Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling." (ESV)

The question that arises is this: how do these passages square with other, seemingly contradictory, passages in the New Testament, for example the charge to get out of "slavery" if possible:

1 Corinthians 7:21, "Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.)" (ESV)

More pointedly, what does one do with the the following passage which calls out the "ungodly," "sinners" as those that 1 Timothy 1:10 describes as, "the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine"?  The word "enslavers" references those who kidnapped persons and sold them into slavery.  

So, some parts of the New Testament seem to tacitly accept slavery, if not outright endorse it, while other parts seem to recognize it as the evil that we know it to be.  How do we resolve this apparent tension?  Is the Bible true and trustworthy, and worthy of our study and meditation?

Translating words from other languages and cultures is a tricky matter which is why the Greek word "doulos" is sometimes translated "slave" in our English versions of the Bible, but in other versions it is more accurately translated, "bondservant."

Understanding comes upon a closer look at "doulos" in the New Testament.  There are striking differences between the circumstances of New World Slavery, on the one hand, and the life of a person taken as a "doulos" in Roman times, on the other.

Five important differences:

1. Source: The first difference between Roman "doulos" and the practice of New World slavery is the source of those enslaved.  The vast majority of Roman slaves came as a result of Rome's wars and were prisoners of war.  In modern times, we hold prisoners of war until the war is over, but what about when Rome conquered a people permanently?  What was done with those captured in the course of war?  In Roman times, they were sold as "doulos." Secondarily, a source for Roman slaves arose from financial reasons wherein persons would sell themselves as slaves to pay off debts, and in some cases, even sold themselves as slaves in hopes of becoming famous as gladiators.  By contrast, New World slaves were kidnapped, taken against their will, from tribes in Africa and taken to the Americas to be sold.  Kidnapping is a practice always strictly forbidden in the Bible. 
   
   
2. Treatment:  Treatment of New World slaves was characteristically degrading, since they were considered nothing more than personal property, while in the Roman world, treatment varied considerably.  In some cases it was degrading, but in many jurisdictions, "slaves" were protected by law, had access to courts, had wealth, and even owned other "slaves."
   
   
3. Freedom:  New World Slaves were owned for life and rarely gained freedom, while the majority of Roman slaves were manumitted by age 30 by purchasing their own freedom, or having it granted by their masters.  In Roman times, the arrangement was generally seen as temporary and not as life-long, though there were exceptions.  
   
   
4. Education:  New World slaves were captured not from the educated African classes, but from more vulnerable, uneducated tribesmen.  By contrast, Roman "slaves" were captured as POWs from all classes, so some came as uneducated laborers, but others came as very sophisticated and educated and therefore were sold to be tutors for children of the elite.  
   
   
5. Basis:  For Romans "slavery" was ethnically indiscriminate, however, New World slavery was justified in part by a person's race which was cast as inferior.  Paul called himself a for "doulos" Christ which shows that there was no inherent second-class character to the person serving as a “doulos.”  

The conclusion to draw from this analysis of the Greek word "doulos" is that the Scriptures in no way ever condoned New World slavery as experienced in America's past.  The Bible opposes kidnapping persons based on their race and condemning them to life-long mistreatment.   Because of this, the Bible has rightly been used by many to expose the evil of slavery.  It is a book of supreme moral perfection, and it can be trusted by all those who want to know and follow the one true God.  It is worthy of our daily meditation as we seek God to learn His ways.