The following blog post is a copy of my sermon notes from preaching on the topic of slavery and the Bible. Some things are condensed for space but this is a pretty complete address of the topic. Many skeptics and atheists often attack the Bible on the topic of slavery. They ask things like “why didn’t GOd just outlaw slavery all together and say so in the Bible?” The answer in short is that God knows the wickedness of our hearts and He knows how to address it in the culture and time in which the Scripture was written. It’s easy to armchair quarterback the Bible when we live in a completely different time and culture. I hope that these notes will help you work through the topic. There are great books by authors like Clay Jones, Paul Copan, and others I would suggest that will go into more detail.
When you think of slavery what do you think about first? Chattel slavery in US?
The Biblical idea of slavery is completely different and can cloud our minds.
NT times Romans had slaves, slaves were highly educated and cared for – teachers.
Paul urges those who can attain freedom to do so, No laws in NT on it “from God”
OT slavery is completely different. There were really 3 types of slavery.
1. Indentured servant-hood 2. Prisoners of war 3. Taking women after war
Does the Bible Condone Slavery?
- The Bible didn’t create it, it REGULATED it.
God knew the hearts of people and what we are capable of.
Much like marriage/divorce or murder had to be regulated.
It was already a part of society when the Law was written down. - OT slavery was a CHOICE that was entered willingly.
Leviticus 25:39 – “‘If one of your countrymen becomes poor among you and sells himself to you, do not make him work as a slave.”
Exodus 21:5-6 – “But if the servant declares, ‘I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free,’” - Kidnapping was punishable by DEATH.
Exodus 21:16 – “Anyone who kidnaps another and either sells him or still has him when he is caught must be put to death.” - OT slavery was limited to SIX years of service.
Exodus 21:2 – “If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free, without paying anything.”
The owners were even commanded not to release slaves empty handed.
Deut. 15:12-15 – “If a fellow Hebrew, a man or woman, sells himself to you and serves you six years, in the seventh year you must let him go free. 13 And when you release him, do not send him away empty-handed. 14 Supply him liberally from your flock, your threshing-floor and your winepress. Give to him as the Lord your God has blessed you. 15 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you. That is why I give you this command today.” - The Bible commands slaves be treated with RESPECT.
Lev. 25:39-40, 53 – “‘If one of your countrymen becomes poor among you and sells himself to you, do not make him work as a slave. 40 He is to be treated as a hired worker or a temporary resident among you; he is to work for you until the Year of Jubilee. 53- He is to be treated as a man hired from year to year; you must see to it that his owner does not rule over him ruthlessly.”
Exodus 21:20 – “If a man beats his male or female slave with a rod and the slave dies as a direct result, he must be punished,” - Slavery was never based on RACE.
You won’t find it anywhere in the Scripture. Fact: The most common slavery is slavery where the same ethnic group enslaves others from the same ethnic group.
Many who accuse and attack the Bible saying it condones slavery go to these
Two Difficult Passages:
Read Exodus 21:20-21 – So is this saying that a slave owner can beat their slave to an inch of death and as long as the slave doesn’t die its okay and fair game? NO.
We have to keep reading in context. Look at vv. 26-27 “If a man hits a manservant or maidservant in the eye and destroys it, he must let the servant go free to compensate for the eye. 27 And if he knocks out the tooth of a manservant or maidservant, he must let the servant go free to compensate for the tooth.” – There’s nothing special about the eye or tooth, those are just examples. But the point is that If a slave was injured their debt was canceled and they were free from their work obligation.
But what does that make of verse 21? It all has to do with the Hebrew word to punish.
The Hebrew word for punish here is naqam There are different Hebrew words – punishEvery time it is used in scripture it is used with the sense of being put to death.
See Genesis 4:15 with Cain & Genesis 4:24 with Lamech and Jeremiah 50:15
All Exodus 21:21 says is if you kill a slave you die and if you don’t you don’t die but you are still to cancel the debt and free your slave.
Read Leviticus 25:44-46 – So many who read these verses see some words that cause red flags to them. They say, “ha” so make slaves of foreigners/for life/ property. NO.
We need to look at some more Hebrew language here.
toshab (sojourner) gar (alien)
These words are used in multiply places to describe a foreigner who leaves to seek help
Lev. 19:33-34 – “‘When an alien lives with you in your land, do not ill-treat him. 34 The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”
Ex. 22:21– “Do not ill-treat an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in Egypt. 22 “Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan.”
Ex. 23:9 – “Do not oppress an alien; you yourselves know how it feels to be aliens, because you were aliens in Egypt.”
Deut. 10:19 – “And you are to love those who are aliens, for you yourselves were aliens in Egypt.”
Deut. 27:19 – “Cursed is the man who withholds justice from the alien, the fatherless or the widow.”
So what are we to understand from verses 44-46? These are people who have sought refuge in Israel or have come to follow Yahweh. Notice it says “you may” it doesn’t say you were forced to.
So what is meant by the word “property”, that sounds kinda negative. People should not be property but people. I think we are thinking in terms of the chattel slavery again.
Property in not a negative word. How do you treat your property? Compared to someone else’s property? There is care and responsibility involved with it.
There are no verses in the Bible that say anyone can abuse/mistreat foreigners.
The key with the word property lies with the value/output of the laborer.
The work ethic was stronger and the work was more productive.
Again the immediate context in verses 49-53 show this.
Example – Jacob and Laban where Jacob flourishes and fulfills his agreement.
Deut. 23:15-16 – “If a slave has taken refuge with you, do not hand him over to his master. 16 Let him live among you wherever he likes and in whatever town he chooses. Do not oppress him.”
This verse seems to go against the idea of forcing someone to be a slave for life.
It probably means that a foreigner can choose like, the Israelites to stay past the 6 yrs.
A couple of years ago the our HOPE mission team went to Washington DC
We went to the Museum of the Bible, In the museum was a copy of the
African Slave Bible. Many parts were cut out. Exodus, Jeremiah.
In fact the Bible you have has 1189 chapters, compared to 232.
The AFRICAN SLAVE Bible is Proof, the Bible is against slavery.
Posted by John Weldon 
DId God Really Say... 