Is the bible from god
Is the bible from godIf the Bible is from God, why did it tolerate the institution of slavery?
The slavery tolerated by the Scriptures must be understood in its historical context. Old Testament laws regulating slavery are
troublesome by modern standards, but in their historical context they provided a degree of social recognition and legal
protection to slaves that was advanced for its time (Exodus 21:20-27; Leviticus 25:44-46).
In ancient times, slavery existed in every part of the world. Slaves had no legal status or rights, and were treated as the property
of their owners. Even Plato and Aristotle looked upon slaves as inferior beings. As inhumane as such slavery was, we must
keep in mind that on occasion it was an alternative to the massacre of enemy populations in wartime and the starvation of the
poor during famine. It was to the people of this harsh age that the Bible was first written.
In New Testament times, slave labor was foundational to the economy of the Roman empire. About a third of the population
were slaves. If the writers of the New Testament had attacked the institution of slavery directly, the gospel would have been
identified with a radical political cause at a time when the abolition of slavery was unthinkable. To directly appeal for the freeing
of slaves would have been inflammatory and a direct threat to the social order. (1) Consequently, the New Testament
acknowledged slavery's existence, instructing both Christian masters and slaves in the way they should behave (Ephesians
6:5-9; Colossians 3:2; 4:1; 1 Timothy 6:2; Philemon 1:10-21), at the same time that it openly declared the spiritual equality of all
people (Galatians 3:28; 1 Corinthians 7:20-24; Colossians 3:11). (2)
The gospel first had the practical effect of outmoding slavery within the community of the Church, (3) and carried within it the
seeds of the eventual complete abolition of slavery in the Western world.
The fact that the Bible never expressly condemned the institution of slavery has been wrongfully used as a rationale for its
continuance. In the American South prior...
To view the complete essay, you be registered.