For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Ben Davis
Slave in the old and New Testament at times referred to a worker. A hired hand.
Paul refers to himself as a slave to God and Christ Jesus and his works in the ministry.
Larry Truelove
Slavery in the Bible was different from American slavery.
1) Sometimes it functioned as punishment for a crime, resolve monetary debt or a place to put POW's of conquered peoples.
2) One thing I never hear mentioned is that God allowed slavery as a picture of people bound by sin. Addictions and other effects of sin perform an important function of illustrating how serious the bondage of sin is. It might be the reason God allowed so much of it, even in Isreal.
John Matthews
Ben, slavery in the Old Testament was not always a reference to a "hired hand." The Hebrews were slaves in Egypt just as Africans were slaves in the USA. They were not "paid" with money, the were given basic necessities only. They were beaten, tortured and killed at the whim of their owner, Pharaoh. Deuteronomy 15:12-15 only applies to Hebrew slaves of Hebrew owners.
Paul's reference to being a "slave" to God was to show his unwavering devotion and respect. Those attributes expected of a slave to their owner. A good illustration for those who couldn't understand unwavering faith in Jesus.
Jennifer Rothnie
John, while it is true that form of slavery also existed, that form of slavery was condemned in I Tim 1:10. I doubt Paul was meaning to compare God to a kidnapping slaver or to claim that his own service was involuntary. It is more likely he was referencing the Jewish practice of bond-slaves.
John Matthews
Jennifer, I have no concrete evidence of what "enslavers" actually means in 1 Tim 1:10. Could it mean anyone who has slaves? Could it be those who enslave Jews? Does it apply to conquered peoples?
Freedom under the Law for slaves only applied to Jews in bondage by other Jews. Nothing is mentioned about freedom for anyone else.
Paul was speaking of being a slave (a negative word) to God as a positive; or, possibly, an attitude not an actuality. All believers are slaves to God and Jesus Christ. Jesus is not a slave owner, but Jesus wants every part of our being, even our thoughts; something slave owners couldn't control.
We must submit our entire selves to be considered a slave of God.
Danny Hickman
There are three distinct meanings to the word "condone." 1) to overlook. 2) to give tacit approval, and 3) to excuse.
The question is 'does the bible overlook, approve of, and excuse THE SIN of slavery. That's what is being asked, whether the bible scholars who play in this sandbox realize it or not. Owning God's children is SIN.Selling God's babies is SIN. Working God's children and not paying them is SIN.
I don't think "the bible" thinks and feels, but I know that God does. Does God overlook, approve of, and excuse ANY SIN?
Please don't waste time trying to convince God that not all slavery is sinful. Please don't explain that people submitted themselves to other people because they were indigent, and it was an act of benevolence on the part of the people who took these homeless people into their "care." PLEASE!! I say 'convince God' because we all know that if it was acceptable we'd be doing it here now, instead of donating to charity the way we do.
I just gave to the relief effort for the people of Kentucky who were victims of those horrible tornadoes. Under the "benevolent slave owner" silliness I read about on this site, I could just go to the affected region and pick up a few people to "take in" who don't have anything left.
What stopped those "benevolent people" from doing it the way we do now? SIN, SIN, SIN!!!
So please stop writing that as an excuse for those sinful people.
And this: 'that's just the way it was then.'
Sin is what it was then.
John Matthews
Danny, great comment. Slavery, on any level, is sin. There are husbands who treat their wives and children just like slaves. It is a sin, pure and simple.
To me, the concept of slavery, bond servants, or whatever you want to call it, in the Bible escapes my understanding. I can't fathom one human owning another. I am looking at that condition through 21st century eyes and yearn to see it through God's eyes. God gives me understanding through His Word but I don't understand the concept of the slavery portrayed in holy scripture. It will be revealed one day.
This doubt doesn't alter my relationship with Jesus Christ. My goal is to understand and love Him more each day. I get epiphanies from time to time. I do await my epiphany on the subject of biblical slavery.
Danny Hickman
God promised Abraham and his wife Sarah a baby in their senior years. There's a delay in Sarah becoming pregnant. She didn't lose faith, she didn't believe it when she was told, but she probably held out for hope. God waited them out. That's the only explanation for Him delaying the promise.
Sarah comes up with this plan to have her husband Abraham go in to her servant, her hand maid and get her pregnant, and then "seize" the child. Since the hand maid is her property the child will be hers also.
Is anyone really wondering if this kind of inhumanity is okay with God? He didn't say a word to them about how depraved your heart has to be to have a practice such as this in a society.
It backfired. She never claimed the baby for herself. The wheels came off of the scheme during the pregnancy. EVERYBODY came to their senses and saw what a crazy idea this was from the start. The bible doesn't say it the way I just did, but it doesn't have to speak it that way for me to understand it that way. IT'S RIGHT THERE, the story says it. Abraham wanted God to get involved with it, wanted God to use the kid for His plan for them. (Slowly read what God says to Hagar...)
She was going to put Hagar through having a baby and then claim the child as her own. That's despicable!! And just because God doesn't come right out and say it like I just did, common everyday decent people don't know if it's wrong or not. EDUCATED PEOPLE!! It makes me wonder....
Danny Hickman
God to Hagar: Genesis 16:9 - "Return to your mistress, and submit yourself to her, I will make your descendants too numerous to count."
That's how God operates. Her "owners" meant it for evil (selfish ambition) but God had a plan all along and meant it for good. He did the same thing for my ancestors. He did the same thing for Abraham and Sarah's descendants. Abraham's grandchildren sold one of his grandchildren into slavery. God allowed Abraham's descendants to suffer in that horrible situation for 400 years. Then He did for them what He did for my ancestors and for me; He brought us out of it, He delivered us. The slavers meant it for evil; God had other plans.
If we stop idolizing normal everyday people we won't get confused about whether their practices are evil or not.
Paul said out of his own mouth that he was a wretched man. It's not hyperbole, he was a wretched man in his own eyes. He had met Jesus and that's all it takes to see yourself for who you are. I know, it happened to me. (I won't elaborate, it makes me sound like a kook. I made that mistake back in 2002 when it happened).
Why did God set things up the way He did and let Jesus be nailed to a cross? Couldn't He have saved us another way? Of course He could. Answer why He did it the way He did, and you might have the answer to why He keeps silent while His children enslave, murder, rape... etc. NOBODY was done the way Jesus was done. HE WAS SINLESS!! We're getting less suffering than we deserve!