Does the Bible Teach Slavery? || Deuteronomy 15:12-18

Text: Deuteronomy 15:12-18

A common criticism of the Bible is that it teaches slavery. Is this true?

Chattel slavery is treating human beings like property (chattel means capital or cattle.) They work for no pay, are perpetually owned, bought, sold, etc. The Old Testament teaches that anyone participating in chattel slavery is guilty of death. This applied to all parts of the slave trade from beginning to end. In addition to this, God forbade returning runaway slaves to their masters. Slavery is condemned in the New Testament as well. 

Indentured servitude is when someone pays off their debts with their labor. This is also called being a bondservant, bond referring to a debt that is owed. Just as Christian lenders should be willing to forgive debts, Christian borrowers should be willing to work hard to pay off what they owe. We are responsible for all debts we contract, and we must do everything within our power to pay them back. We must be generous with those who are in debt, and we should celebrate and bless those who take responsibility for their debts and repay them with their labor.

Philemon has been used for centuries to justify chattel slavery. The narrative is that Paul returned a runaway slave to his God-fearing master who was an upstanding member of the church in Colossae. Is this narrative true? No. The text makes it very clear that Onesimus was a bondservant who owed Philemon. He ran away from paying his debts. After coming to faith under Paul, he is sent back to Philemon to reconcile his debts. Paul offers to pay back what Onesimus owes in exchange for the labor he has done for Paul. Philemon is teaching indentured servitude and taking responsibility to repay your debts, not chattel slavery.

When someone had paid off their bond (debt) by their labor, they could choose to become a permanent worker for their former lender. If they chose to do this, their ear was pierced. This is a picture of our relationship with Jesus Christ. Because Jesus paid our sin debt and forgave us, we now dedicate our lives to listening to Him only. Christians in the New Testament referenced this concept when they referred to themselves as bondservants of Jesus Christ.

–        Have you devoted your life to Jesus Christ?

–        Are you making restitution?

–        How much better of a society would we live in if everyone made restitution?