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Biblical slave owners included the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, Boaz and King Solomon.   Among the slaves named in the Bible were Hagar, Sarah’s Egyptian hand-maid who was used by her as a surrogate mother (Gen. 16: 1-4), and Eliezer of Damascus, Abraham’s chief steward who was charged with finding a bride for Isaac (Gen. 24: 1-9).  Bilhah and Zilpah, , handmaids to Leah and Rachel, were given to Jacob as concubines; their children ranked equally with those of Jacob’s children on the basis that they were acting as surrogates of their mistress.

By God’s gracious providence, Joseph, sold by his brothers for twenty pieces of silver, (Gen. 37: 25-28) rose from the depths of the dungeon to be second to Pharaoh in Egypt. 

It is important to note that most of these biblical references to slave ownership predate the handing down of the Mosaic Law at Mount Sinai following the Exodus.

In the New Testament

The Lord, in several parables, used the analogy of the master and slave.  Examples are: the unmerciful servant (Matt. 18: 23-35); the talents (Matt. 25: 13-30); the unprofitable servant (Lk. 17: 7-10).  He spoke repeatedly of the disciples’ relationship to Himself as that of servants to their Lord (Matt. 10: 24; Jn. 13: 16).  However, on the eve of His crucifixion, Jesus adopted the servant’s role and washed the feet of His disciples (Jn. 13: 4-17) teaching “them by His example that they ought to condescend to the most humble offices for the benefit of others.  They ought not to be proud, and vain, but to regard themselves as the servants of each other in every way. And especially as they were to be founders of the church, and to be greatly honoured, He took this occasion of warning them against the dangers of ambitions, and of teaching them, by an example that they could not forget, the duty of humility” – Albert Barnes.

The writers of the New Testament did not oppose slavery.   Neither did they endorse it.   In their epistles, both the apostles Peter and Paul exhorted slaves to obey their masters:  “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:  And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men” (Col. 3: 22-23).  “Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;  Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart” (Eph. 6: 5-6).  “Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward”(I Pet. 2:18).

Writing to Timothy, Paul gave commands to those who were already either masters or bondservants : “Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved,  partakers of the benefit.  These things teach and exhort” (1 Tim. 6: 1-2).  Masters were commanded to treat their slaves fairly, to “do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him” (Eph. 6: 9; cf. Col. 4: 1). 

“It is evident, from this, that there were in the Christian church those who were masters; and the most obvious interpretation is, that they were the owners of slaves.  Some such persons would be converted, as such are now.  Paul did not say that they could not be Christians. He did not say that they should be excluded at once from the communion.  He did not hold them up to reproach, or use harsh and severe language in regard to them.  He taught them their duty towards those who were under them, and laid down principles which, if followed, would lead ultimately to universal freedom” – Albert Barnes.

In his letter of appeal to Philemon, Paul entreated him to regard his runaway slave Onesimus “not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved … which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me” (Phm. 1: 6, 11).

We conclude with the words of the apostle : “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:28).  God does not favour masters above slaves.  With Him there is no partiality (Eph. 6: 5-9; Col. 3: 11, 25). 

As Christians, we are sinners saved by grace.  There is no favouritism on account of birth, race or rank.  All are admitted by the merits of the same Saviour to the same blessed privileges as children of God, and endowed with the same hope of eternal life.  “All at the foot of the cross are sinners; all at the communion table are saved by the same grace; all who enter into Heaven, will enter clothed in the same robes of salvation, and arranged, not as princes and nobles, and rich men and poor men, in separate orders and ranks, but mingling together as redeemed by the same blood” – Albert Barnes.

True greatness does not lie in our position in life.  To the world, greatness implies elevation above others, and the exercise of authority and power over them, yet, in the kingdom of Christ, it consists in humbly serving, and ministering one to another.  May this be our attitude as we serve the Lord: “But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20: 26-28).  May the Lord grant us grace to serve one another with a humble heart.    
- Pastor