Slavery
Ancient Near East slavery was different from Antebellum South
Poverty- or debt-slavery
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
Foreign slaves (usually prisoners of war) could be kept indefinitely
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
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