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For many, slavery is one of the most troubling issues when reading through the Bible. Some passages seem to regulate it, while others proclaim freedom and equality in Christ. It’s no surprise that critics often point to these tensions and ask whether Scripture contradicts itself on this sensitive subject.
So how should Christians think about slavery in the Bible—especially in light of passages like Ephesians 6:5 and Galatians 3:28? Are these verses at odds, or are we missing historical and cultural context that helps them make sense together?
How do you personally wrestle with biblical passages on slavery?
What principles help you interpret hard Scriptures without losing confidence in God’s justice?
Context isn’t just helpful—it’s essential when reading God’s Word.
I think the first response to any hostile question about biblical morality should start by asking the questioner where do they get their morality from and why should I follow it?
Questio ing the bibles view of slavery without knowi g what the questioners morality is based upon is pointless.
Then one asks them just what do they understand about the bibles view of slavery?
Again slavery in the bible is complicated and a simplistic view does not help.
In the bible slavery was for a fixed period of time, it was a safety net for the poor. They cou,d obtain work, food etc when in dire need for a period of up to 7 years.
The two exceptions were slaves taken in war or those temporary slaves who elected to stay for life with his master.
A challenge for any questioner of biblical slavery is to ask them where i the world where there laws protecting slaves?
There are such laws in the bible.
Count on it: if you see the Bible contradicting itself, you are not seeing reality. Finer heads then either yours or mine have studied this out and their final answer is "NO! The Bible DOES NOT, IN ANY WAY, AT ANY PLACE contradict itself. We misunderstand Scriptures, and sometimes, translators make errors, but the Bible, in its original languages, never contradicts itself. Period.
yes. this is one of the reasons it bugs me when people try to oversimplify certain matters, saying, “take the Bible as written, its plain.” i just really dont think it is! if it were, then there wouldnt be so many interpretations of every verse. someones got to be wrong, and its often hard to know whos right.
Does the Bible Contradict Itself Concerning Slavery? - Bible Study | Crosswalk.com