Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States
www.suscopts.org
   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

Why didn't Jesus or any of the disciples condemn slavery and say it is wrong or sinful to own and control another human being? Isn't slavery a sin? By the way, I read in many history books that Christianity encouraged slavery, and as a result, many white Americans were using bible verses to exercise control and oppression over Africans.

Bible Verses:

"Both thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, which thou shalt have, shall be of the heathen that are round about you; of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids. Moreover of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy, and of their families that are with you, which they begat in your land: and they shall be your possession. And ye shall take them as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit them for a possession; they shall be your bondmen for ever: but over your brethren the children of Israel, ye shall not rule one over another with rigour." (Leviticus 25:44-46)

In the following parable, Jesus clearly approves of beating servants/slaves even if they didn't know they were doing anything wrong. The servant will be severely punished, for though he knew his duty, he refused to do it.  "But people who are not aware that they are doing wrong will be punished only lightly.  Much is required from those to whom much is given, and much more is required from those to whom much more is given." (Luke 12:47-48 NLT)

“And if a man beats his male or female servant with a rod, so that he dies under his hand, he shall surely be punished. 21 Notwithstanding, if he remains alive a day or two, he shall not be punished; for he is his property." (Exodus 21:20)

The ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was subsequently carried out by His disciples and apostles, focused on the spiritual aspect of slavery and bondage to sin, which through Christ Jesus, humanity became liberated. Christ did not come as a political figure nor to correct the social injustices of the government. Actually, the Jews could not accept Him because they desired that the Messiah would dethrone the current establishment for the sole purpose of enthroning the Jewish nation. Christ's apolitical stance does not in any way condone slavery. During these times, the social and political languages did not accommodate the politically correct verbiage which we are now accustomed to using. St. John the Baptist is one of the best known figures of the New Testament who is recognized as having challenged the corrupt establishment, preaching repentance and justice (Luke 3). St. Mary, the Blessed Virgin Mother, refers to herself as "the maidservant of the Lord" (Luke 1:38).

Slavery has always been a part of the social history of many cultures. People bought and sold slaves regardless of stripping them of their dignity as human beings. The Judeo-Christian understanding of slavery did not have the dehumanizing stigma with which it is now associated. Although there are verses as you mentioned which speak sternly concerning the means and reasons of correcting someone considered a slave, there are many other verses which address the correction of any person. Other verses address the care and dignity with which one ought to treat others who are subject to them.
Leviticus 25:1-7
1 “And the LORD spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying, 2 “’Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you come into the land which I give you, then the land shall keep a sabbath to the LORD. 3 Six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard, and gather its fruit; 4 but in the seventh year there shall be a sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a sabbath to the LORD. You shall neither sow your field nor prune your vineyard. 5 What grows of its own accord of your harvest you shall not reap, nor gather the grapes of your untended vine, for it is a year of rest for the land. 6 And the sabbath produce of the land shall be food for you: for you, your male and female servants, your hired man, and the stranger who dwells with you, 7 for your livestock and the beasts that are in your land—all its produce shall be for food. ’’

In the verses which you quoted from Leviticus 25, you omitted the beginning of this discourse which is very important to the true understanding of bondservant/slaves, etc. In these passages, the Lord emphasizes the difference between the believers and the non-believers, which is not for the sake of inflicting harm and injustice, but to maintain order and decency, so that the non-believers do not have authority over the believers with the end result of distorting the true faith. This pattern is repeated many times for the sake of imparting the knowledge of the importance of the spiritual and religious steadfastness of God's people. It is important to recognize the definition of the concept of slavery without mingling the exceptions of the non-believers as the rule, since there is an explanation of these other implications.  

Leviticus 25:39-46
39 “‘And if one of your brethren who dwells by you becomes poor, and sells himself to you, you shall not compel him to serve as a slave. 40 As a hired servant and a sojourner he shall be with you, and shall serve you until the Year of Jubilee. 41 And then he shall depart from you—he and his children with him—and shall return to his own family. He shall return to the possession of his fathers. 42 For they are My servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt; they shall not be sold as slaves. 43 You shall not rule over him with rigor, but you shall fear your God. 44 And as for your male and female slaves whom you may have—from the nations that are around you, from them you may buy male and female slaves. 45 Moreover you may buy the children of the strangers who dwell among you, and their families who are with you, which they beget in your land; and they shall become your property. 46 And you may take them as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit them as a possession; they shall be your permanent slaves. But regarding your brethren, the children of Israel, you shall not rule over one another with rigor.’

In his letter to Philemon, St. Paul the Apostle refers to the runaway Roman slave, Onesimus, as "my son," and pleads with Philemon to voluntarily accept him back. The humility of this respectful apostle, which in his own right was perceived as an archbishop, is quite remarkable, for although he had authority to command Philemon to concede to his request, he actually makes a case and intercedes on behalf of Onesimus.

Philemon 1:12-22
12 “I am sending him back.[a] You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, 13 whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel. 14 But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary.

15 For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, 16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave—a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

17 If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me. 18 But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account. 19 I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. I will repay—not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides. 20 Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord.

21 Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. 22 But, meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you.


What we learn from the true Christian approach of how one ought to conduct him/herself when in a position of imbalance of power is very different from history's lessons of brutality. This should not cloud our thinking and cause us to doubt the goodness and mercy of the Lord. The infamous years and methods of slavery of the European settlers in America is one of the most tainted chapters of American history. This should not be reflected on Christianity as a whole because of a few corrupt individuals who established a dynasty of slavery. Yet, it is interesting to note that some of the most poignant gospel music of the African-American culture came from these once enslaved people and their descendents. What amazing grace indeed did they attain in coming to know Christ under such cruel conditions! This indicates that they must have understood that in Him was their true freedom and not their oppression.
Home | Ask A Question | Search Q&A