The Bible and Slavery: Condemn
- First, the bible teaches that all human beings have equal value. Presuming some human beings are less valuable than others because of their appearance, their beliefs, or ethnicity is, of course, an unbiblical concept. The bible teaches that every human is valuable for one reason and we all have this one thing in common: Each person is made in the image and likeness of God.
When people talk about the Bible and slavery, it can be confusing because the Bible does not simply say, “Slavery is always wrong” in one clear sentence. In fact, there are passages in the Old Testament that give rules about slavery. However, when the Bible is looked at as a whole, there are strong reasons to believe that slavery goes against its main teachings about human value, freedom, and how people should treat each other.
One important reason is that the Bible teaches that every person is made in the image of God. Genesis 1:27 says that God created human beings in his image. This means that people have value because of who they are, not because of their social status or how useful they are to someone else. Slavery treats people like property that can be bought and controlled. This goes against the idea that every human being has God-given worth.
Another reason is the Bible’s story of the Israelites being freed from slavery in Egypt. In the book of Exodus, the Israelites are forced to work for Pharaoh, and God hears their cries and delivers them from slavery. This becomes one of the most important stories in the entire Bible. It shows God as someone who cares about oppressed people and wants them to be free from cruel treatment. It would be strange to say that slavery is morally good when one of the Bible’s biggest stories is about God rescuing people from it.
Jesus’ teachings also support this idea. Jesus teaches people to love their neighbors as themselves. He also gives what is often called the Golden Rule: people should treat others the way they would want to be treated. It is difficult to see how owning another person could fit with these teachings. If Christians are supposed to love and respect other people, slavery clearly creates a major problem.
The New Testament also says that in Christ, social differences should not determine a person’s worth. Galatians 3:28 says that there is “neither slave nor free” because believers are all one in Christ. The apostle Paul also tells Philemon to receive Onesimus, who was enslaved, as a brother. While these passages do not give a direct political command to abolish slavery, they challenge the idea that one person is naturally more valuable than another.
Overall, the Bible’s teachings about human dignity, freedom, love, and equality provide a strong argument against slavery. Some biblical passages reflect the ancient societies in which they were written, which makes the subject complicated. Still, the Bible’s larger message points toward treating every person as someone made in God’s image rather than as property. For that reason, Christians have good reason to believe that slavery is fundamentally inconsistent with biblical principles.
1. Exodus 21:16 : Condemns Human Trafficking and Slave Trading
"Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death." bibleweb.org, biblerepository.com
The severe penalty for man-stealing, which was a form of kidnapping and selling into slavery, shows a strong condemnation of the trade of human beings.
This law makes kidnapping a person and selling them into slavery a capital crime.
The transatlantic slave trade depended on the capture and sale of human beings, which would fall under the type of "man-stealing" condemned here.
Many Christian abolitionists cited this verse as evidence that chattel slavery violated biblical law.
Example: If a person were abducted from their home and sold as property, the Bible explicitly treats the kidnapper as a criminal deserving severe punishment. bibleweb.org, biblerepository.com
2. Deuteronomy 23:15-16 : Protects Escaped Slaves
"If a slave has taken refuge with you, do not hand them over to their master." biblestudytools.com
Ancient societies commonly required runaway slaves to be returned.
This law does the opposite: it tells Israelites not to return an escaped slave.
The passage continues by allowing the escaped slave to live where they choose rather than forcing them back into servitude.
Example: Unlike later fugitive slave laws in some countries, this biblical command instructs people to offer protection rather than return an escaped person to bondage. biblestudytools.com
3. 1 Timothy 1:9-10 : Condemns Slave Traders
Paul lists among serious sinners "slave traders" (or "kidnappers" in some translations). biblerepository.com
Paul includes slave traders in a list of behaviors contrary to sound doctrine.
This is one of the clearest New Testament condemnations of the business of buying and selling people.
Example: Someone who profits from the capture and sale of human beings is explicitly condemned in this passage. biblerepository.com
ARGUMENT ON BOTH SIDES:
Scripture mentions that humans can be slaves to sin itself, consumed by their passions and desires.
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