Slavery in the Bible

Slavery in the Bible

The Bible is sometimes criticized for condoning slavery and even providing guidelines for its institution.  Further, the New Testament counsels Christians who are slaves to obey their masters and not necessarily to seek to be freed from their slavery (Colossians 3:22-25; Ephesians 6:5-9).

To better understand the Bible's attitude toward slavery, it is crucial to understand slavery in the Ancient Near East (ANE) in its original setting, in contrast to slavery in the New World (NW).

A Survey of the Differences Between Ancient Near Eastern (ANE) Slavery New World (NW) Slavery

Freedom was a relative term in the ANE, not an absolute (many people went from freedom to slavery to freedom, etc.), and the term slave had a broad definition. 

New world slavery was ovewhelmingly racial.  ANE slavery was economic (except in prisoner of war cases).

New world slavery was overwhelmingly involuntary; slaves were captives who were sold by their captors.  ANE slavery was overwhelmingly voluntary; slaves were free people who became indentured because of poverty, debt, or famine.

ANE slavery functioned as a social/financial safety net for those who fell into poverty.  One-third to one-half of the Roman Empire were slaves.  NW slavery was motivated by the economic advantages of the elite, whereas ANE slavery was motivated by economic relief of poverty—usually initiated by the slave.

ANE slaves were not only farm workers and semi-skilled laborers, but artisans, architects, doctors, politicians, administrators, philosophers, grammarians, writers, and teachers.  NW slaves were the economic engine of southern cotton manufacturing, agriculture, etc..  NW slaves were primarily unskilled farm workers and semi-skilled laborers who provided back-breaking labor.

Most ANE slaves could reasonably expect to be emancipated by age 30, whereas NW slaves were slaves until death.
“Because of the poverty of many free laborers, the economic and living conditions of slaves were often far better.  This led many free laborers to sell themselves into slavery as a means of economic advancement.”

-- Clint Arnold, Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary, vol 3, 335