Monday, July 6, 2026

The Bible on Slavery

 I wonder if you would be surprised to find out that the Bible nowhere condemns slavery. The Bible is an ancient book written in ancient times where life was very different from our modern era. It address things that we do not do or consider abhorrent. It is God's word written By men of God to ancient and somewhat heathen people.

Nowhere does the Bible condemn polygamy. God does speak clearly on marriage and on how marriage works best. Several prominent men in the Bible had more than one wife.  Also, the Bible actually speaks a lot about kings even though in our modern era we are anti king. In fact, our form of government is not found in the Bible. God refers to Himself as a great king of kings. Jesus said the kingdom of God is among you. All political activity in the Bible revolves around a king.

The same is true about slavery. Slavery was common in ancient times. Slavery is still practiced in the modern world. Slavery may be immoral to us, but it is never condemned in the Bible. The Bible actually gives instruction on how to be a Christian slave, and it gives instruction on how to treat slaves as their owner. The failure of American slavery was the ill treatment and the dehumanization of slaves by their owners. The South needed slave workers, but their treatment of them was terrible. In America, slavery became a moral and a human rights issue, as it is today. God views slaves as people who need to be saved just like everyone else.

It is always hard to understand ancient societies measured by modern standards. This is why we need the Holy Spirit to help us apply ancient words to our current situations.


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The Bible on Slavery

 I wonder if you would be surprised to find out that the Bible nowhere condemns slavery. The Bible is an ancient book written in ancient tim...