"Slavery" in the Bible

[POI]

Allow us readers to be very careful. We must make sure we identify the proper context here, to assure against hasty and/or self-serving conclusions.

Exodus 21:2-3:

"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. 3 If he comes alone, he is to go free alone; but if he has a wife when he comes, she is to go with him." <-- Okay, this seems clear enough, if you are a purchased Hebrew, with a wife, you are both to go free in year 7.

Exodus 21:4:

"4 If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the woman and her children shall belong to her master, and only the man shall go free." <-- Here is where things start to look sketchy for the modern-day believer. If the slave is provided with a wife, and they have kids, the wife and kids are to stay with the slave master. They are not to go free.

Exodus 21:5-6:

"5 "But if the servant declares, I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free, 6 then his master must take him before the judges.[a] He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life." <-- More uncomfortability for the Christian here. Without getting into the weeds, common sense suggests a special rule is made to trick the male Hebrew into remaining a slave for life.

Leviticus 25:44-46:

"44 "Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves. 45 You may also buy some of the temporary residents living among you and members of their clans born in your country, and they will become your property. 46 You can bequeath them to your children as inherited property and can make them slaves for life, but you must not rule over your fellow Israelites ruthlessly." <-- More awkwardness for the believer, as the Bible reader clammers to find a rationale to make this passage not read the way it does.

Here is a basic definition of chattel slavery --> "Chattel slavery is full slavery in its traditional form whereby slaves are the complete property of their master, can be bought and sold by him and treated in any way that he wishes, which may include torture and other brutality, excessively bad working conditions, and sexual exploitation"

Looks like all the ingredients fit the given Bible description here, minus the torture. Wait a minute, this is covered in the rest of Exodus 21. (i.e.):

"20 "Anyone who beats their male or female slave with a rod must be punished if the slave dies as a direct result, 21 but they are not to be punished if the slave recovers after a day or two, since the slave is their property." <-- So basically, since the slave is your property, beatings with impunity are acceptable. Just don't kill them.

For debate:

By applying common sense, does/did the Bible ever, and/or currently still sanction chattel slavery?

Again, by using common sense, can a believer effectively use the Bible in support of breeding chattel slaves?

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Before you answer, consider this.... Since the NT does not mention the abolition of 'slavery', and yet the Bible makes further proclamation(s) and/or addendums (in favor of retaining 'slavery',) this means the Bible is not against chattel slavery either. Further, the Christian may want to introduce the importance of the 'golden rule'. However, the specifics outweigh the generals. The specifics of the rules for engagement of slavery are outside the 'golden rule'. Otherwise, the Bible would be a one-pager. 'Slavery' is an expressed exception to the general rule. Thus, anytime a specific scenario is not invoked, yes, 'golden rule.'

[POI]

No one is trying to explain it away. THAT is the problem you fail to see.

Thank you benchwarmer.

It's an obvious contradiction (unless the slave owners don't mind being bought as slaves and/or beaten as a slave which is an obvious flaw to this 'golden rule').

It is either a 1) direct contradiction, or, 2) the Bible deems such slaves as sub-human - (exempt or partially removed from the golden rule).

The OT also mentions the golden rule, while still condoning the practices of chattel slavery and slave breeding.

[marke]

You have failed to prove God condones Christian ownership of slaves in America.

This would be like saying the Bible does not condone any other action, in which the Bible does condone, in America. Further, the authors of the Bible were not aware of any future 'America,' as it did not yet exist anyways.

You cannot have your cake and eat it too. Does Biblical law apply to all, or just the Israeliites?

Under OT law blasphemers were put to death. OT laws do not apply to NT Christians.

[POI]

OT laws do not apply to NT Christians.

Well, then as I already told another, the Christian can ignore the 10 Commands, as well as Matthew 5:18:

"For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished."

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Regardless, if the NT remained silent about slavery, you may have some kind of a position to challenge. But the NT weighs in on it, and instructs slaves to work hard for their masters, and even harder for the masters who are also believers.

You have again ignored all demonstrated points:

a) Expressed abolition for (humans owning other humans as slave property) was not mentioned in the NT.
b) Jesus had absolutely no problem expressing what he does and does not like.
c) The NT further reinforces slavery practices, without instead condemning them.
d) Jesus, being apparently all-knowing and all, would be aware that the topic of 1) chattel slavery and 2) slave breeding are rather large topics in which Christians do not agree with morally '--> including you.
e) The NT instructs slaves to work hard, and even harder for the believing slave master, which means the condoning of slave ownership was not limited to believers.

6th request:

1) Aside from not being allowed to kill them right away, or to knock out their eye(s) and teeth, how was slavery really any different between Middle Eastern slavery <vs> trans-Atlantic slavery?

20th request:

2) Why follow a book which does not match your own moral standards?

[marke]

OT laws do not apply to NT Christians.

Well, then as I already told another, the Christian can ignore the 10 Commands, as well as Matthew 5:18:


Modern Christians have not been instructed by God to kill blasphemers as OT Jews were instructed. If modern Americans cannot understand the divisions of God's Word as He intended then those modern Americans will be seriously handicapped by ignorance.

[POI]

If modern Americans cannot understand the divisions of God's Word as He intended then those modern Americans will be seriously handicapped by ignorance.

I've already spoke to this topic many times. You just continue to completely avoid the facts:

a) Expressed abolition for (humans owning other humans as slave property) was not mentioned in the NT.
b) Jesus had absolutely no problem expressing what he does and does not like.
c) The NT further reinforces slavery practices, without instead condemning them.
d) Jesus, being apparently all-knowing and all, would be aware that the topic of 1) chattel slavery and 2) slave breeding are rather large topics in which Christians do not agree with morally '--> including you.
e) The NT instructs slaves to work hard, and even harder for the believing slave master, which means the condoning of slave ownership was not limited to believers.

7th request:

1) Aside from not being allowed to kill them right away, or to knock out their eye(s) and teeth, how was slavery really any different between Middle Eastern slavery <vs> trans-Atlantic slavery?

21th request:

2) Why follow a book which does not match your own moral standards?

[marke]

OT laws do not apply to NT Christians.

Well, then as I already told another, the Christian can ignore the 10 Commands, as well as Matthew 5:18:

"For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished."

*******************************

Regardless, if the NT remained silent about slavery, you may have some kind of a position to challenge. But the NT weighs in on it, and instructs slaves to work hard for their masters, and even harder for the masters who are also believers.

You have again ignored all demonstrated points:

a) Expressed abolition for (humans owning other humans as slave property) was not mentioned in the NT.
b) Jesus had absolutely no problem expressing what he does and does not like.
c) The NT further reinforces slavery practices, without instead condemning them.
d) Jesus, being apparently all-knowing and all, would be aware that the topic of 1) chattel slavery and 2) slave breeding are rather large topics in which Christians do not agree with morally '--> including you.
e) The NT instructs slaves to work hard, and even harder for the believing slave master, which means the condoning of slave ownership was not limited to believers.

6th request:

1) Aside from not being allowed to kill them right away, or to knock out their eye(s) and teeth, how was slavery really any different between Middle Eastern slavery <vs> trans-Atlantic slavery?

20th request:

2) Why follow a book which does not match your own moral standards?

Those who think the OT is written to them may have a hard time finding Amalekites to destroy today.

[1213]

No one is trying to explain it away. THAT is the problem you fail to see. It's an obvious contradiction (unless the slave owners don't mind being bought as slaves and/or beaten as a slave which is an obvious flaw to this 'golden rule').

No, it is not a contradiction. Slave owner didn't have to beat his slaves. And for example, if I would live in a nation that would be selling me, I would be happy to be sold to a nation that goes by God's rules. It would be an improvement. But, obviously, I would want to be free, therefore, if I would buy a slave from some evil nation, and the slave would want to go free, I would allow him to go.

But, Bible also says that kidnapping is wrong. How do you think person can become slave by forcing, if kidnapping is wrong and the kidnappers should be killed according to the Bible?

....rather than simply saying "Don't own slaves!".

Maybe in some situation it was not a bad thing, if the owner obeyed all the God's rules and not just one that he likes.

I think everyone who must pay taxes is a slave. What do you think we could do to end the slavery?

Better: "Treat others only as they wish to be treated."

So, if a murderer says, "let me go free so that I can kill more", we just let him go?

In other words don't use your measuring stick on how to treat others

I think everyone does so in any case. But, it would be good to go by God's word rather than by own desires.

Perhaps an actual god would come up with something even better and more concise. It's a little odd how some modern humans seems to have more compassion than what is portrayed in some parts of the Bible don't you think?

I think the rules God has given are the best. The problem comes when people take just few words and ignore everything that doesn't fit to their own desires.

[POI]

Those who think the OT is written to them may have a hard time finding Amalekites to destroy today.

Ignoring everything I say will not make your problems go away. Everyone reading along can see that you are severely avoiding the facts. Yet again, if the NT never spoke of slavery, you may have a point. But it does, so you have no point.

a) Expressed abolition for (humans owning other humans as slave property) was not mentioned in the NT.
b) Jesus had absolutely no problem expressing what he does and does not like.
c) The NT further reinforces slavery practices, without instead condemning them.
d) Jesus, being apparently all-knowing and all, would be aware that the topic of 1) chattel slavery and 2) slave breeding are rather large topics in which Christians do not agree with morally '--> including you.
e) The NT instructs slaves to work hard, and even harder for the believing slave master, which means the condoning of slave ownership was not limited to believers.

8th request:

1) Aside from not being allowed to kill them right away, or to knock out their eye(s) and teeth, how was slavery really any different between Middle Eastern slavery <vs> trans-Atlantic slavery?

22th request:

2) Why follow a book which does not match your own moral standards?

[marke]

Those who think the OT is written to them may have a hard time finding Amalekites to destroy today.

Ignoring everything I say will not make your problems go away. Everyone reading along can see that you are severely avoiding the facts. Yet again, if the NT never spoke of slavery, you may have a point. But it does, so you have no point.

a) Expressed abolition for (humans owning other humans as slave property) was not mentioned in the NT.
b) Jesus had absolutely no problem expressing what he does and does not like.
c) The NT further reinforces slavery practices, without instead condemning them.
d) Jesus, being apparently all-knowing and all, would be aware that the topic of 1) chattel slavery and 2) slave breeding are rather large topics in which Christians do not agree with morally '--> including you.
e) The NT instructs slaves to work hard, and even harder for the believing slave master, which means the condoning of slave ownership was not limited to believers.

8th request:

1) Aside from not being allowed to kill them right away, or to knock out their eye(s) and teeth, how was slavery really any different between Middle Eastern slavery <vs> trans-Atlantic slavery?

22th request:

2) Why follow a book which does not match your own moral standards?

God opposes men stealing in New Testament America just as much as He opposes homosexuality, regardless of what poor students of the Bible may believe to the contrary.

[POI]

God opposes men stealing in New Testament America just as much as He opposes homosexuality, regardless of what poor students of the Bible may believe to the contrary.

a) Expressed abolition for (humans owning other humans as slave property) was not mentioned in the NT.
b) Jesus had absolutely no problem expressing what he does and does not like.
c) The NT further reinforces slavery practices, without instead condemning them.
d) Jesus, being apparently all-knowing and all, would be aware that the topic of 1) chattel slavery and 2) slave breeding are rather large topics in which Christians do not agree with morally --> including you.
e) The NT instructs slaves to work hard, and even harder for the believing slave master, which means the condoning of slave ownership was not limited to believers.

9th request:

1) Aside from not being allowed to kill them right away, or to knock out their eye(s) and teeth, how was slavery really any different between Middle Eastern slavery <vs> trans-Atlantic slavery?

23th request:

2) Why follow a book which does not match your own moral standards?