Does the Bible Allow Slavery?
Slavery is one of the most emotionally and morally charged subjects in any discussion about the Bible. Critics often point to biblical texts mentioning slavery to claim that Scripture condones or promotes it. However, a careful study reveals a more nuanced reality - one that distinguishes between God's perfect will and His permissive will, and that ultimately points toward dignity, freedom, and equality in Christ.
Understanding the Historical Context
When we read the word slavery in the Bible, it's crucial to understand that ancient slavery was vastly different from the race-based chattel slavery that occurred in the modern West. In biblical times, slavery was often a form of indentured servitude. People became servants for a variety of reasons - such as debt repayment, poverty or the loss of land. In many cases, servitude was voluntary and temporary. According to the Old Testament law (Exod 21:2), Hebrew slaves were to be set free after six years of service, "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." Slaves were to be treated fairly, receive their just wages, were not to work during the Sabbath, and not to be treated harshly or severely harmed (Exod 20:10, Job 31:13-15, Deut 24:14-15, Lev 22:11, Mal 3:5, Lev 19:20-22, Exod 21:20-32, Eph 5:9). This practice served more as a social welfare system than institutionalized oppression. It offered a way for individuals to survive financial crises and was bound by legal and moral protections.
God's Perfect Will vs. His Permissive Will
To understand why slavery is even mentioned in the Bible, we must grapple with the difference between God's perfect will and His permissive will.
God's perfect will is His ideal for creation i.e., justice, love and mutual respect among all people. This was seen in the Garden of Eden, where no hierarchies, oppression or exploitation existed. However, after the fall of man, sin entered the world and corrupted human relationships. As a result, God allowed systems that were less than ideal to exist - not because He endorsed them, but because of the hardness of human hearts. For example divorce, (Matt 19:8). The same applies to slavery. Like divorce, slavery was never God's intention. But in a fallen world, He permitted certain structures temporarily and regulated them in ways that provided more humane treatment compared to surrounding cultures.
God Never Commanded People to Own Slaves
It's essential to note that nowhere in Scripture does God command people to acquire slaves. Laws concerning servitude in the Old Testament were given to limit abuse and provide structure in a broken world. These laws were actually progressive compared to the brutal systems of the surrounding ancient Near Eastern nations, where slaves had virtually no rights and could be treated as property.
In contrast, the Bible teaches that all people are created in the image of God (Gen 1:27). That foundational truth undermines any notion of one human being owning another as mere property.
The Message of Equality in Christ
The clearest expression of God's heart on this matter comes in the New Testament. Through Jesus Christ, God revealed a radically transformative vision of humanity - one marked by dignity and equality for all.
In Galatians 3:28, the apostle Paul writes, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
This statement was revolutionary. It shattered social, ethnic, and economic barriers, declaring that in Christ, all believers are equal. Paul didn't just preach this idea - he lived it.
Paul, Philemon and Onesimus: A New Way Forward
One of the most compelling illustrations of Christian transformation in the face of slavery is found in Paul's letter to Philemon. In this brief epistle, Paul appeals to Philemon, a slave owner, regarding a runaway slave named Onesimus. Paul writes "Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back, no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother" (Philemon 15–16).
Paul doesn't call for an armed rebellion or immediate abolition, but his approach subverts the institution at its core. He calls Philemon to view Onesimus; not as property, but as a dear brother in Christ - an equal. The seeds of abolition were being planted in the heart of the gospel itself.
Christian Influence in the End of Slavery
Slavery was not commanded by God but permitted because of human sin, it's no coincidence that many of the early abolitionists were Christians driven by their biblical convictions. William Wilberforce in England; Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass in America all cited their faith as the motivation for opposing slavery. They understood that the gospel of Jesus Christ is fundamentally incompatible with the ownership and exploitation of human beings.
The power of the gospel didn't only bring spiritual salvation; it reshaped societal norms and human relationships. It reminded the world that no one is superior to another based on race, status, or wealth.
The trajectory of Scripture moves from regulation to redemption - from managing a broken system to transforming hearts and societies through Christ. Slavery was never God's perfect plan for humanity, just as divorce was not. But God worked within human brokenness to point toward something better.
And that something better is found in Jesus Christ, where every human being - is valued, cherished, and made one in Him.