Does the Bible Condone Slavery? A Biblical Examination

[NJBeliever]

In our article about gay activist Dan Savage bullying and berating Christians at an “anti-bullying eventâ€, Savage raised the point that “the Bible got the single greatest moral question of all time wrong†because in his mind the Bible condones slavery. This argument, used by many atheists and Bible skeptics alike has become more and more popular, conjuring up images of an hypocritical Christian faith that condemns lying and fornication but would allow and justify the brutal kidnapping, rape and enslavement of millions of Africans in the Americas and Europe in the 17-19th centuries. But are they right? Is slavery a sin in the Bible? Does God actually allow slavery? This article will examine the issue of slavery in the Bible from what the Scriptures actually say and show that not only is slavery a sin in the Bible, but that the Bible is anti-slavery at its core.

Story:
http://beginningandend.com/does-the-bible-condone-slavery/

 

[Free]

Another recent article: http://www.rzim.org/resources/read/asliceofinfinity/todaysslice.aspx?aid=11188

 

[Ernest T. Bass]

In the book of Philemon, Onesimus, a slave, ran away from his owner and ran into Paul who converted Onesimus to being a Christian. Paul sends Onesimus back to his owner telling him that Onesimus "therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved.." So Christianity changes the relationship from owner-servant to brother-brother. In Gal 3:28 Paul writes that there is neither bond nor free for all are one in Christ. Paul goes on to write to Philemon that "If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him (Onesimus) as myself". What Christian in the first century, or today, would receive Paul as a slave? Christianity does away with slavery.