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Title: Slaves and Masters: Part One: Overview
Intro:
It was almost three years ago that we began our study in Ephesians, and, during that first sermon, which was delivered in August of 2019, I stated there were some very controversial passages in Ephesians that we would be studying. I mentioned several passages in that sermons that would be difficult studies, and today’s passage was the first one I mentioned.
Because this topic can be so difficult to reconcile with our own country’s history, I want to take a full day just focusing on one work, and exhaustively study this concept before moving on next week to the actual instruction Paul is giving here.
Questions to answer by the end of today’s message:
1. Why is the topic of slavery such a sensitive issue, especially in our country?
2. Is the slavery that Paul speaks of here the same as what happened in our country? (Is this slavery voluntary or involuntary?)
3. Why doesn’t the NT just outlaw slavery?
4. Others?
Read/Pray
Translation Differences and the Original Greek:
“Slaves” appears in NLT, NIV, NASB, RSV
“Servants” or “Bondservants” appears in KJV, NKJV, ESV, ASV, YLT
So, as you can see, there is enough of difference here, and, particularly in today’s culture, there is a HUGE difference between “Slave” and “Servant”. We need to dive into the Greek.
Greek: doulos (doo-los)
Definition: a slave, bondman, man of servile condition
metaphor, one who gives himself up to another’s will those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing his cause among men
devoted to another to the disregard of one’s own interests
a servant, attendant
Key Point: the tough thing with this word is that it can be used literally (slave; involuntary) or figuratively (servant; voluntary)
This is an VERY common word in the NT, used 127 times!
Now, the easy option for me today is to argue that this word doesn’t really mean slave the way we understand it in America’s history, but is more of a bond-servant, who chooses to be a slave for a period of time to become economically valuable.
But that simply isn’t true.
The truth is that slavery in Paul’s time was a common part of the Roman economic system. People were born into slavery, people chose to become slaves to survive, and people were also demoted into slavery as society punishment.
Now, to be fair, what IS true is that while slavery in the Roman world did take away a slaves agency, the brutality (kidnapping, rape, abuse) that is so common in American slavery was not as present in Paul’s time.
Before I go any further, let me reference a wonderful article online that does a wonderful job going into more depth on slavery in the New Testament:
“What was slavery like in the NT world?” by Ian Paul
(This article is a review of the book “Slavery int the New Testament” by Caryn Reader)
(I’ll be referencing that article a few times today)
So, let’s return to our three question from the top of the message and see what we can to do to provide some answers:
- Why is the topic of slavery such a sensitive issue, especially in our country?
PB’s answer: We, as a society, fundamentally reject the concept that any human can have control over another.
But is this actually true? (Before you answer, think about the outrage of the overturning of Roe V. Wade)
2. Is the slavery that Paul speaks of here the same as what happened in our country? (Is this slavery voluntary or involuntary?)
PB’s answer: It could be either, depending on the situation. It could be voluntary or involuntary. Generally, it was an accepted part of society, and masters were expected to treat their slaves well, (Paul himself will talk about this in a few verses), but slaves were definitely considers second class citizens, with limited rights.
3. Why doesn’t the NT just outlaw slavery?
PB’s Answer: Though it is not implicitly commanded in NT, Christians throughout the NT have fought bravely against the institution of slavery (watch the film “Amazing Grace” the true story of Willam Wilberforce).
And here’s the REAL question for Christians today: when CAN you strip someone of their agency?
Closing Thought:
Allow me to close with this amazing insight from Ian Paul
Freedom from sin did not mean Christians had no owner. In Christ, they were slaves to God, obedient to righteousness, and rewarded with life (Rom 6.13–23). For an audience in the heart of the Roman Empire, the metaphors of slavery and freedom, death and life, would resonate with slaves and slave owners alike. But as in the mutual enslavement of Christians to each other, the call to be slaves to God reminded slave owners that they also were owned. As Paul said in 1 Cor 6.19–20, no one belonged to themself. Christians were purchased by God, and like slaves they should live for God.
Pray and QA