Slavery

Ancient Near East slavery was different from Antebellum South

Poverty- or debt-slavery

Ge 47:19–26; Lev 25:39, 47

Prisoners of war

Dt 21:10; 1Ki 9:20–21; Isa 14:1–2

Kidnap, sale of persons was prohibited

Ex 21:16; Dt 24:7 — see also 1Ti 1:10

Law included protections for slaves

Ex 21:20–21, 26–27; Lev 25:47–55; Dt 21:10–14; 23:15–16

Hebrew slaves were freed in jubilee year

Ex 21:2; Lev 25:39–41; Dt 15:12; Jer 34:14

Hebrew slaves could voluntarily submit to lifetime slavery

Ex 21:5–6; Dt 15:16–17

Foreign slaves (usually prisoners of war) could be kept indefinitely

Lev 25:44–46

Slavery is an analogy

Slaves are to submit to masters following the example of Christ

Eph 6:5–8; Col 3:22–24; 1Ti 6:1–2; 1Pe 2:18–23

Masters are to treat slaves fairly remembering they too have a Master

Eph 6:9; Col 4:1; Phm 1:10–18

Christ is slave of God

Isa 42:1 (cited at Mt 12:18); Php 2:7

Sinners are enslaved to sin

John 8:34; Ro 6:16; Tit 3:3; 2Pe 2:19

Covenant people are slaves to God

Ex 4:22–23; Lev 25:42, 55; Ro 1:1; 6:16–22; 1Co 7:23 (see also 1Co 6:20); Gal 1:10; Php 1:1; 2Pe 2:1

Christians are to serve one another

Mt 20:26–27; Mk 10:44; 1Co 9:19; 2Co 4:5; Gal 5:13