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Slavery Justification via Bible

Central Question:

How do I explain the very obvious slavery theme in both the Old and New Testaments? A theme that was used for literally centuries to justify slavery

Why this is important to me:

The Bible is supposed to be ‘the good book,’ the ‘book of peace and comfort.’ I will be honest, I read the below verses and I cannot believe that we expect kids to read that. Without blinders. Just read through those verses and feel the spirit. Then we praise them for researching the topic. It makes me literally sick.

I am trying to be unbiased in these topics but this is one that I cannot do so. To think that the Bible, Gods Word, was a common source in 1800’s pro-slavery literature because of its obvious pro-slavery stance makes me speechless. Even the New Testament is a rulebook pushing slaves to please their owners. This is supposed to be the book that brings every human hope and peace. Every human. In the words of Billy Graham, ‘a love story between God and man’ To place that kind of language onto such a racist and objectifying written work is appauling.

Any good steward of the Bible should demand a publically known warning about its pro-slavery content to assure that it is never used again for pro-slavery means. Yet, this knowledge is barely known anymore. The religious, for whatever reason, simply ignore those verses during sermons while asking people to continue reading ‘the good word’

It makes me wonder what other awful things still exist on this earth because the Bible supports it

The whole Bible is a love story. It’s a love story between God and man. God loves you! - Billy Graham

God never leads us to do anything that is contrary to the Bible.- Billy Graham

Summary

Passages in the New Testament and Old which justify and regulate the institution of slavery have been used as a justification for the keeping of slaves throughout history, and they have also been used as a source of guidance on how it should be done. Therefore, when abolition was proposed, many Christians spoke vociferously against it, citing the Bible’s acceptance of slavery as ‘proof’ that it was part of the normal condition. George Whitefield, who is famed for his sparking of the Great Awakening of American evangelicalism, supported as necessary due to the Climate in the Province of Georgia, for the legalisation of slavery,.[26][27] He believed, as was common at the Time, that each Race had been conditioned by Nature to suit its Environment, and viewed The Negro as suited for Hot Environments. He also believed Georgia’s failure to flourish economically was due to a lack of Negroes as were held in other Colonies such as The Carolinas. Thus, Whitfield had altered his position, and partially joined the ranks of the slave owners who he had denounced in his earlier years.[28]

In both Europe and the United States many Christians went further, arguing that slavery was actually justified by the words and doctrines of the Bible.

[Slavery] was established by decree of Almighty God … it is sanctioned in the Bible, in both Testaments, from Genesis to Revelation … it has existed in all ages, has been found among the people of the highest civilization, and in nations of the highest proficiency in the arts.

— Jefferson Davis, President, Confederate States of America[29][30]

… the right of holding slaves is clearly established in the Holy Scriptures, both by precept and example.

— Richard Furman, President, South Carolina Baptist Convention[31][32]

The above is from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proslavery

New Testament Pro-Slavery Versus

List created by https://www.openbible.info/topics/slavery

Colossians 4:1

Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Ephesians 6:5

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ

1 Peter 2:18

Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust

Titus 2:9-10

Slaves are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior

Ephesians 6:9

Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him

Colossians 3:22

Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord

Luke 12:47-48

And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more

Ephesians 6:5-8

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free

1 Corinthians 12:13

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit

Galatians 3:28-29

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise

Luke 12:43-48

Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating

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