Christianity
Q&A for committed Christians, experts in Christianity and those interested in learning more
Latest Questions
2
votes
1
answers
624
views
Were the Africans captured during the "Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade" already Christians, or did they only become Christians after being captured?
There is a substantial number of people who self-identify as or are otherwise classified as "African-Americans" in the United States who consider themselves Christians. Were the ancestors of those "African-Americans" who were captured, mainly on the west coast of Africa, Christians when they were ca...
There is a substantial number of people who self-identify as or are otherwise classified as "African-Americans" in the United States who consider themselves Christians.
Were the ancestors of those "African-Americans" who were captured, mainly on the west coast of Africa, Christians when they were captured by various African and European war parties, or did those captured Aftricans only become Christians after being captured and embarked to European colonies outside of Africa?
guest271314
(129 rep)
Jun 14, 2025, 03:49 PM
• Last activity: Jun 14, 2025, 11:09 PM
13
votes
3
answers
4952
views
What is a Christian response to the claim that atheists make that "the Bible condones slavery" in Colossians 3:22-25?
Colossians 3:22-25 (NIV) states: > 22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for h...
Colossians 3:22-25 (NIV) states:
> 22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.
Atheists on a certain Internet forum used this as an argument that the Bible condones slavery. What is a Christian counterargument to this statement?
Felix An
(264 rep)
May 26, 2024, 06:45 AM
• Last activity: Jun 2, 2024, 01:24 PM
1
votes
1
answers
91
views
Slavery and freedom
From moral justification view, this verse about slavery is concerning to me, not really about the slavery, it's about the wife and children of a few slave that are left behind when he's freed. It states this in the verse >If his master gave him a wife while he was a slave and they had sons or daught...
From moral justification view, this verse about slavery is concerning to me, not really about the slavery, it's about the wife and children of a few slave that are left behind when he's freed. It states this in the verse
>If his master gave him a wife while he was a slave and they had sons or daughters, then only the man will be free in the seventh year, but his wife and children will still belong to his master. [ Exodus 21:4 NLT]
My questions are:
1. Would the kids continue as slaves for the master?
2. When the wife needs her conjugal rights, what should happen?
ken4ward
(121 rep)
Apr 18, 2024, 02:40 AM
• Last activity: Apr 18, 2024, 01:34 PM
14
votes
3
answers
533
views
What were the beliefs, teachings, and practices of the church regarding slavery in the New World?
When the New World was discovered, slavery was virtually unknown in Christian Europe. Soon after the discovery of the New World, European powers began to make slaves there, and to transport slaves from Africa to the Americas. What part did the church (mainly the Roman Catholic church, which dominate...
When the New World was discovered, slavery was virtually unknown in Christian Europe. Soon after the discovery of the New World, European powers began to make slaves there, and to transport slaves from Africa to the Americas.
What part did the church (mainly the Roman Catholic church, which dominated Europe) play in this? Did it discourage or encourage the slavery of native peoples? What were their beliefs and teachings at that time?
DJClayworth
(33206 rep)
Sep 8, 2011, 06:06 AM
• Last activity: Mar 27, 2024, 03:17 PM
1
votes
2
answers
928
views
What was the Early Church's view on slavery?
Slavery exist in both the Old and the New Testament with God even regulating slavery in the Old Testament (Exodus 21:20-21, Deuteronomy 23:15) and St. Paul advocating for the freeing of slaves saying that Christians should receive them no longer as a slave but as a fellow brother in the Lord (Philem...
Slavery exist in both the Old and the New Testament with God even regulating slavery in the Old Testament (Exodus 21:20-21, Deuteronomy 23:15) and St. Paul advocating for the freeing of slaves saying that Christians should receive them no longer as a slave but as a fellow brother in the Lord (Philemon 1:15-16), but **what was the Early Church Fathers view on slavery? (this can be from 50 AD to 900 AD)**
> And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die
> under his hand; he shall be surely punished.
>
> Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be
> punished: for he is his money.
**Exodus 21:20-21**
> Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant which is escaped
> from his master unto thee:
**Deuteronomy 23:15**
> For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest
> receive him for ever;
>
> Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved,
> specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?
**Philemon 1:15-16**
user60738
Feb 9, 2023, 04:33 AM
• Last activity: Feb 9, 2023, 05:23 PM
1
votes
3
answers
2243
views
Why did Sarai & Abram have the slave Hagar?
Why did Sarai & Abram have the Egyptian slave/servant girl (שִׁפְחָ֥ה) Hagar?
Why did Sarai & Abram have the Egyptian slave/servant girl (שִׁפְחָ֥ה) Hagar?
Geremia
(42439 rep)
Feb 4, 2022, 12:49 AM
• Last activity: Feb 6, 2022, 01:22 AM
6
votes
5
answers
7190
views
Why do translations use words like "servants" to mean "slaves"?
[Luke 12:45-48](http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+12%3A45-48&version=NIV) uses the word "servants". What kind of servants get beaten up by their master? That looks a lot like slaves to me. We have an English word for that thing. It's called slaves. So why use servants? Servants are em...
[Luke 12:45-48](http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+12%3A45-48&version=NIV) uses the word "servants". What kind of servants get beaten up by their master?
That looks a lot like slaves to me. We have an English word for that thing. It's called slaves. So why use servants? Servants are employees that got paid. Slaves are properties that got beaten up.
Does the Bible translator bowdlerize the Bible to keep it politically correct?
user4951
(1187 rep)
May 7, 2013, 06:19 AM
• Last activity: Jul 18, 2021, 06:51 PM
1
votes
1
answers
162
views
Slavery in the classical ancient Christianity
Did Jesus recognize slavery and accepted it? In other words, What was his opinion about slavery or slaves? N.b. Maybe we can understand it also according to the written evidence we have, based on what was the opinion of the classical ancient Christians when Christianity was more homogenous. Maybe so...
Did Jesus recognize slavery and accepted it?
In other words, What was his opinion about slavery or slaves?
N.b.
Maybe we can understand it also according to the written evidence we have, based on what was the opinion of the classical ancient Christians when Christianity was more homogenous. Maybe some holy figures in the new testament who had slaves. I'm trying to outline the information we know about this issue.
Foreign affairs
(519 rep)
Nov 23, 2020, 06:55 PM
• Last activity: Nov 24, 2020, 10:43 PM
2
votes
1
answers
223
views
What compelled John Wesley to take up the cause of Abolitionism?
In 1778, John Wesley published his *Thoughts upon Slavery*, where he wrote: >The variety of ways that slavery appears make it almost impossible to convey a just notion of it ... First in what manner are they procured? Part of them by fraud ... But far more have been procured by force. The Christians...
In 1778, John Wesley published his *Thoughts upon Slavery*, where he wrote:
>The variety of ways that slavery appears make it almost impossible to convey a just notion of it ... First in what manner are they procured? Part of them by fraud ... But far more have been procured by force. The Christians landing upon their coasts, seized as many of them as they could find - men, women and children - and transported them to America ... It was some time before the Europeans found a more compendious way of procuring them: by prevailing upon them to make war in each other and sell their prisoners. Till then they seldom had any wars, all was peace and quiet. But the white man taught them drunkeness and avarice and hired them to sell one another. Nay, by this means even their kings are induced to sell their subjects ... As for the punishments that are inflicted upon them, say Sir Hans Sloan, some are gelded, others have half a foot chopped off ... others cut off an ear, and constrain them to broil and eat them ...
>
>How can Britons can so readily admit a change in their disposition and sentiments as to practise in America what they abhorred and detested in Britain can be accounted for no other principle than of being the natural effect of slave-keeping which as the celebrated Montesquieu observes 'insensibly accustoms those who are in the practise of it, to want all moral virtues, to become haughty, hasty, hard-hearted, passionate, voluptuous and cruel.'
More, forty years earlier when he had been in the United States with his brother on missionary work in 1737-38 he recorded in his journal the barbaric treatment that:
>daily practise upon their fellow creatures [inclufing whipping, driving nails through their ears and drawing teeth] ... even giving a white child a slave of his own to tyrannise ... [describing them] as shocking instances of diabolical cruelty
Given the interest that Britain had in maintaining the slave trade it's not suprising to discover that whenever Wesley preached against the slavery trade he put his life at considerable risk. For example, when he preached in Bristol, one of the foremost slave-trading ports in Britain, a disturbance broke out.
**Q. Given this, what compelled Wesley to take on slavery and become one of the early adopters of abolition?**
**Moreover, given the shocking scenes of 'diabolical cruelty' he saw in the then slave owning United States why did it take so long to take up the cause?**
**Finally, how significant was his preaching in the context of the abolitionist movement - my own understanding - from being told this at school - was that Wilberforce was the main force behind it**
Mozibur Ullah
(340 rep)
Aug 31, 2020, 07:40 AM
• Last activity: Sep 3, 2020, 02:55 PM
2
votes
1
answers
282
views
What does John Wesley mean by this phrase?
In one of his last letters to Wilberforce, John Wesley wrote in 1791: >Dear Sir, > >Unless the divine power has raised you to be as *Athanasius contra Mundum*, I see not how you can go through your glorious enterprise in opposing the inexcreble villainy which is the scandal of religion, of England a...
In one of his last letters to Wilberforce, John Wesley wrote in 1791:
>Dear Sir,
>
>Unless the divine power has raised you to be as *Athanasius contra Mundum*, I see not how you can go through your glorious enterprise in opposing the inexcreble villainy which is the scandal of religion, of England and of human nature. Unless God has raised you up for this very thing, you will be worn out by the opposition of men and the devils. But if God be for you, who can be against you? Are all of them together stronger than God? O, be not weary of well doing! Go on, in the name of God and in the power of his might, till even American slavery (the vilest that ever saw the sun) shall vanish away before it.
>
>...
>
>That He who has guided you from youth up may continue to strengthen you in this and all things, is the prayer of, dear sir,
>
>Your affectionate servant, John Wesley
**Q. In this letter what is the meaning and significance of the phrase 'Athanasius contra Mundum' in the context of his (and Wilberforces) anti-slavery crusade?**
Mozibur Ullah
(340 rep)
Aug 31, 2020, 07:56 AM
• Last activity: Aug 31, 2020, 03:57 PM
0
votes
3
answers
3430
views
Did the Israelites/Hebrews have their own slaves or servants?
I have been reading in Exodus the Israelites had their own servants or slaves. Exodus also talks about some people almost becoming (?) an Israelite (or Hebrew, not sure if same thing) by performing a circumcision. Exodus 12:44-45, 48-49. Who were these servants? Or strangers as well as the kJv also...
I have been reading in Exodus the Israelites had their own servants or slaves. Exodus also talks about some people almost becoming (?) an Israelite (or Hebrew, not sure if same thing) by performing a circumcision. Exodus 12:44-45, 48-49.
Who were these servants? Or strangers as well as the kJv also mentions? Were they peoples of another region? How did they attain servants if they were slaves themselves at this point..after the Phaorah died in Exodus 1 that didn't know Joseph? Exodus 1:8. Didn't know slaves could have slaves?
I thought the new Phaorah would've stopped any slavery for the slaves if there was anything before that.
Sorry if question is unusual.
Child of God
(63 rep)
Dec 24, 2016, 12:08 PM
• Last activity: Jul 9, 2020, 01:54 AM
8
votes
2
answers
7574
views
Was Luke, the author of the Gospel and Acts, a slave?
> "It is possible that Paul’s “relative” Lucius is Luke, the author of > the Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. On his second missionary > journey, Paul may have gone to Troas (where Luke lived—or at least > where he joined Paul) because he knew a relative he could stay with > there (Acts 16:8, 11...
> "It is possible that Paul’s “relative” Lucius is Luke, the author of
> the Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. On his second missionary
> journey, Paul may have gone to Troas (where Luke lived—or at least
> where he joined Paul) because he knew a relative he could stay with
> there (Acts 16:8, 11)." -
> http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/1995/issue47/4702.html
I know a related question is this: Who was Luke in the Bible? But I find the answer lacking. I recently heard teaching on slavery in the New Testament by Michael Card, and he presented Luke as a slave, and physicians in general as slaves in the time of the New Testament.
> The 'doctors' in ancient Rome were not nearly as highly regarded as
> the doctors in Greece. The profession itself, outside of the legions,
> was considered a low social position, fit for slaves, freedmen and
> non-latin citizens, mainly Greeks. unrv.com
He also taught that slaves in that time were named one of two way, 1) by the master's desired characteristic for the slave (the most common slave name, philokurios - *loving of the master*, and Philemon - *dear one*), or 2) by a nickname of the master (i.e. Michael would name his slave Mike).
Paul mentions a relative, Lucius. Lucius would name his slave Luke. As a physician, he would have been given to Paul to care for his ailment, (or thorn?). That would explain why Luke traveled so extensively with Paul.
Michael Card does have a book on both slavery and Luke, and I will be getting to those, but how come I've never heard this before? Is there substantial evidence pointing to a definitive yes or no?
GMGrimley
(83 rep)
Mar 24, 2015, 02:00 PM
• Last activity: Jun 5, 2020, 05:31 AM
5
votes
3
answers
220
views
Has a slave served as a priest?
In a recent sermon on Ephesians 6.5-9, the possibility was raised of a slave being a priest/pastor/bishop with authority over his earthly master. I couldn't think of an example from Church history. What examples are there in Church History (ancient or modern) of a priest or equivalent who was a slav...
In a recent sermon on Ephesians 6.5-9, the possibility was raised of a slave being a priest/pastor/bishop with authority over his earthly master. I couldn't think of an example from Church history.
What examples are there in Church History (ancient or modern) of a priest or equivalent who was a slave at the time of their serving?
Also, are there relevant canons (Roman or Orthodox) about this situation?
Chthonyx
(340 rep)
Mar 23, 2019, 12:03 AM
• Last activity: May 7, 2019, 02:35 PM
7
votes
1
answers
867
views
Do any of the seven ecumenical councils condemn slavery?
Did any of the seven ecumenical councils respected both by Catholic and Orthodox Christians pronounce against slavery or allow slavery?
Did any of the seven ecumenical councils respected both by Catholic and Orthodox Christians pronounce against slavery or allow slavery?
Sapiens
(472 rep)
Sep 14, 2018, 05:45 PM
• Last activity: Sep 14, 2018, 06:59 PM
11
votes
1
answers
612
views
What was the earliest Papal condemnation of slavery?
Could someone tell me what the earliest Papal statement or encyclical was where the Church condemned the institution of slavery? A Magisterial document would also be accepted if there are earlier teachings by the magisterium.
Could someone tell me what the earliest Papal statement or encyclical was where the Church condemned the institution of slavery? A Magisterial document would also be accepted if there are earlier teachings by the magisterium.
shiningcartoonist
(988 rep)
Oct 13, 2015, 04:27 PM
• Last activity: Sep 23, 2017, 01:58 AM
6
votes
1
answers
4981
views
What does Leviticus 25:10 mean in context?
The Liberty Bell has an inscription with a quote from Leviticus 25:10: >Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof. My question is, what does that quote mean in its original context? Clearly, although it might have been the intent of the people who made the Liberty Bel...
The Liberty Bell has an inscription with a quote from Leviticus 25:10:
>Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.
My question is, what does that quote mean in its original context? Clearly, although it might have been the intent of the people who made the Liberty Bell, it did not mean "Spread the philosophy of classical liberalism to everyone", because liberalism is of course a doctrine that only born in the Enlightenment. So what does liberty mean in this passage? Does it mean freeing slaves or something?
Keshav Srinivasan
(732 rep)
Jan 6, 2014, 09:36 PM
• Last activity: Jul 17, 2017, 11:52 AM
6
votes
1
answers
1442
views
How did Baptists in the southern US justify slavery as compatible with Christianity?
The wikipedia article on [Slavery in the US](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_in_the_United_States) states: > Over the decades and with the growth of slavery throughout the South, Baptist and Methodist ministers gradually changed their messages to accommodate the institution. After 1830, white...
The wikipedia article on [Slavery in the US](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_in_the_United_States) states:
> Over the decades and with the growth of slavery throughout the South, Baptist and Methodist ministers gradually changed their messages to accommodate the institution. After 1830, white Southerners argued for the compatibility of Christianity and slavery, with a multitude of both Old and New Testament citations.
What verses, or other arguments, were made, particularly by Baptists at the time (to narrow the question), to support slavery, particularly as practices in the US, as an institution compatible with and/or condoned by Christianity?
I don't need an exhaustive list--I'm sure that would take tomes. An overview of the matter is sufficient.
Flimzy
(22318 rep)
Feb 17, 2015, 10:48 PM
• Last activity: Jun 19, 2017, 04:05 PM
9
votes
2
answers
648
views
Has the Church historically considered biblical texts concerning slavery to be transcultural or finite?
How have the Bible's passages concerning slavery been interpreted and applied throughout Christian history, especially passages such as Exodus 21:2-11, Leviticus 25:44-46, and 1 Timothy 6:1-2? Have Christians historically applied these passages to employer/employee relations as many commentators hav...
How have the Bible's passages concerning slavery been interpreted and applied throughout Christian history, especially passages such as Exodus 21:2-11, Leviticus 25:44-46, and 1 Timothy 6:1-2?
Have Christians historically applied these passages to employer/employee relations as many commentators have suggested, or is this an inappropriate cultural parallel?
*Note that I am **not** asking, "Does the Bible condone slavery? " You may of course share your opinion on this question when giving your response (I understand that this question is somewhat implicit), but I am specifically interested in how the Christian Church has historically interpreted and applied these passages.*
Dan
(7150 rep)
Feb 20, 2013, 11:00 PM
• Last activity: Jan 7, 2017, 04:53 PM
7
votes
2
answers
443
views
Do Reformed paedobaptists call for the baptism of household servants, just as Abraham's servants were circumcised?
In [Genesis 17:9–13](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+17%3A9-13&version=ESV) we read: > 9 And God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. 10 This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and...
In [Genesis 17:9–13](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+17%3A9-13&version=ESV) we read:
> 9 And God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. 10 This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, 13 **both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised.** So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. (ESV)
I understand this passage to say that male household slaves and the male children of household slaves were to be circumcised, regardless of any "statement of faith."
In modern times we don't see many examples of household slaves or servants. However, several hundred years passed between the beginning of the [Reformation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestant_Reformation) and widespread prohibitions on chattel slavery in the West. Other forms of generational household servitude continued even longer.
Many Reformers affirm that baptism is the new sign of the covenant, replacing circumcision, and therefore practice [infant baptism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infant_baptism) (or *paedobaptism*) for the children of believers ([WCF 28-4](http://www.opc.org/wcf.html#Chapter_28)) . Thus, my questions:
1. Do any Reformed paedobaptists, past or present, *explicitly* argue that members of one's household, *including one's household slaves or servants*, ought to be baptized (even if they make no statement of faith)?
2. In the absence of any examples of (1), do any Reformed paedobaptists, past or present, *explicitly* explain *why* household slaves and servants ought not to be baptized?
Nathaniel is protesting
(42928 rep)
Jul 21, 2015, 12:03 AM
• Last activity: Sep 27, 2016, 09:13 PM
5
votes
2
answers
178
views
Did St. Paulinus of Nola sell himself into slavery to redeem one slave?
An online timeline of slavery that I came across reads: > 354-431: Paulinus, bishop of Nola, (whom Avalos criticizes for alleged > racism) liberates his own slaves, spends his considerable wealth > redeeming citizens of Campania, and then, (allegedly, will need to > look into this further), goes int...
An online timeline of slavery that I came across reads:
> 354-431: Paulinus, bishop of Nola, (whom Avalos criticizes for alleged
> racism) liberates his own slaves, spends his considerable wealth
> redeeming citizens of Campania, and then, (allegedly, will need to
> look into this further), goes into slavery to redeem one captive.
From: http://christthetao.blogspot.com/2011/10/abolition-of-slavery-early-years.html?m=1
Does anyone have any further information that might be of assistance in discovering what exactly the particulars of this might be?
Resting in Shade
(1326 rep)
Dec 18, 2015, 07:57 PM
• Last activity: Dec 21, 2015, 03:47 PM
Showing page 1 of 20 total questions