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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. – Titus 2:9-10

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ – Ephesians 6:5

Passages like these may lead someone to the conclusion that the Bible is pro-slavery, and therefore should not be acknowledged or listened to, never mind followed:  A book that promotes such an appalling, violent, dehumanizing and often racist concept as slavery has no place in our society.

But to come to this conclusion, that the Bible supports slavery, is quite wrong.  These passages do not say this and they need to be understood in their proper context.  I want to explain that God and His Word, the Bible, are very much opposed to slavery.

New Testament slavery

Before we go any further, it is important to point out that the slavery mentioned in these passages is unlikely to be the same thing as what may come to mind when we hear the term.  When we think of slavery, most of us think of slave ships leaving Africa, or the trafficking of young women for the sex trade.  The slavery of 1st century Asia Minor, the context of these passages, is quite different.

Many slaves in this period were able to attain respectable positions in society and some had the opportunity to buy their freedom after a certain period of serving their master. In considering slavery we should not maintain a narrow view but realize that, in this context, it is not as cruel or degrading as we might think.  My point here is not to condone slavery, it should not be condoned and is very wrong, but to show that slavery and the lifestyle of slaves is wide ranging.

The Bible is anti-slavery

Let me explain three ways in which the Bible is anti-slavery.  Slavery is rooted in the idea that there is inequality between human beings.  One person owning another person immediately creates a position of superiority.  Often this is manifested in racial terms; one ethnic group dominates another and makes them their slaves.

This idea is at odds with the equality and dignity of life that the Bible promotes from cover to cover.  Human beings are all made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27) and so have equal worth and identity.  Nowhere in the Bible does it say that certain people are superior to others.  All are made by God and are valued by Him.

Secondly, the Bible repeatedly stresses that God loves justice (Psalm 11:7, 33:5, 99:4).  The inequality and injustice that we see in the world are the effects of man turning away from the way God made the world to be.

Thirdly, in 1 Timothy 1:10, slave traders are condemned alongside murderers, liars and perverts.

The purpose of Paul’s letters

With this in mind, we might be wondering, “Why do these passages not speak out against slavery then?”  This is a very good question.

One of the reasons that someone might conclude that these passages are pro-slavery is because the author, Paul, speaks about slavery without condemning it.  If he does not condemn it, then he must be condoning it, right?  However, this is not the case.  We must understand the purpose that Paul has in writing these things.  Both Titus and Ephesians are letters he wrote in order to instruct new Christians on how to live to serve and enjoy God.

Had Paul been a politician, God would surely have called him to speak out about injustice and establish new ways in which society should operate that reflected God’s heart.  In some ways Paul does this in his letters anyway.  In Colossians 3:11 he contradicts the common ideas and social inequalities of the time, saying that everyone, regardless of ethnicity or status, is equal.  This would have been a radical and controversial statement.

But actually his primary purpose is not to transform the social systems, but to change individuals’ lives with the truth of the Gospel of Jesus.

Therefore, in these letters he is giving instruction to slaves, slave masters, husbands, wives and all people, whatever their status in society, to live according to the truth of the Gospel and to worship and serve God.  Paul is not condoning or strengthening unjust social divisions but is instructing everyone on how to live in spite of them.  Therefore, we cannot say that Paul is supporting slavery.  He is simply telling people how to make the best of a bad situation:  how to live for God in a world that is not perfect.

Should we follow the Bible?

Let me conclude by saying that more than just opposing slavery in principle, the Bible actively encourages us to combat social injustice.  In Luke 4, Jesus states that it His purpose on earth to “preach good news to the poor” and “release the oppressed”.  Here he is addressing both spiritual and physical oppression.  The Bible repeatedly calls Christians to love all people and seek the welfare of others, especially those who are weak and marginalized in society.  Jesus explains in Matthew 25:40 that this type of action is a mark of the Kingdom of God.

One man who responded to this call with world-changing impact was William Wilberforce.  Motivated by his Christian convictions he led the parliamentary campaign for the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire.  After years of tireless campaigning, in 1807 saw the Slave Trade Act passed which abolished the slave trade.  However he did not stop there and, three days before his death in 1833, the Slavery Abolition Act was passed, ending slavery in the British Empire outright.  The film Amazing Grace, released in 2007 to mark the 200th anniversary of the Slave Trade Act, chronicles his life and campaigns.

Like Wilberforce, all Christians have a responsibility to contend for the equality, dignity and preciousness of human life as representatives of God’s Kingdom.  This is in direct contradiction to slavery and we follow the Bible’s instruction so that these values are preserved in our society.

An unjust God?

Sadly, because of the gross injustice prevalent in this world, we tend to think that God is an unjust God. How can He be a loving Father and yet allow a child to be abused? There’s something inherent in us that cries out for crimes to be punished, for wrongs to be made right. Anger rises in us when we hear of hideous atrocities committed against innocent victims. And I believe that this is what it means to be created in God’s image (Gen 1:27). God hates injustice with a greater passion than you and I can ever do. A study of the book of Amos in the Bible would reveal to you how angry God is that His people are mocking the judicial system. It is a terrible thing to come across God’s mighty wrath. For now, we look briefly at what the Bible says about justice.

God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— He did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. (Rom 3:25-26)

Jesus relates to suffering

The Bible teaches us that Jesus Christ died for the sin of the world. (1 Cor 15:3; 1 Pet 3:18) This means that as Jesus hung on the cross, God was punishing Him for all the sins of the world and pouring out His wrath on Him. (Isaiah 53:5-6) When God the Father looked at Jesus hanging on the cross, He blamed Jesus for all the sin and injustice in the world. He looked at Him with the anger of a father who’s daughter has just been raped, a husband who’s wife has just been murdered, and He turned His face away from Him. What really happened on the cross, we will never fully understand, but what we are clear on was that a heavy price was paid for the sin of this world – such was the extent of God’s hatred for sin that He sent His only Son to pay its punishment.

Jesus understands what it feels like to have evil done to you. He bore the punishment that that evil person deserved.

God will not be mocked

The Bible also goes on to say,

Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you. (James 5:1-6)

God hears the cry of the innocent, and one day, for those people who did not believe in the mighty work of the cross, God will bring retribution to them. Woe be unto those on whom the anger of the Lord God falls. Do not be fooled, God will not be mocked.

Satan was initially created as one of the most beautiful angels to worship God in Heaven. However, in his arrogance he decided he wanted to rule above God, and sit on a throne even higher than him. (Isaiah 14:13-14)
 
Christ is Victorious
 
God did punish Satan. He is going to spend eternity in hell (Rev 20:12). Right now he has limited scope where he can have some degree of impact in this fallen world that we live in, but only that which God allows him (Job 1:7-12).
 
Imagine you are watching a football match between Manchester United and Accrington Stanley (who are they? Exactly …. anyone remember the old milk advert?!). Anyway, Manchester United are winning 7-0 and 90 minutes have been played and the assistant referee shows there are 2 minutes to be added on as injury time. Man Utd are certain to win, but there is that inevitable couple of minutes left before the final whistle is blown.
 
Similarly, God has won the battle over Satan. He did this at the cross through Jesus Christ, there is no way back now for Satan, despite the fact that he still has a measure of ability to use his schemes to pull people down, which we need to be wise to. Through Jesus’ victory at the cross he will save many people from following Satan to hell. So why doesn’t God ‘blow the final whistle’ now? It’s to give a chance for the good news to go to the ends of the earth (Matt 28:18-20), and for people from all nations to respond.
 
Jesus alone can pay your debt
 
If we are wondering why God has punished Jesus on the cross, and not Satan (which may seem more fair, he was the bad guy after all!) we need to consider what God was looking to accomplish. You see God wasn’t looking to merely vent his anger and wrath at someone, (in which case he could have just punished Satan). He was looking to save people by paying their debts for them and because he is a just God he can’t ignore their debts.
 
The Bible says that we have fallen short of God’s perfect standard (Rom 3:23), and that we are powerless to buy our way back into God’s good books (Eph 2:1). If you are a dead man, you can’t walk, likewise if you are broke you can’t pay your bills.
 
So instead God sent his Son to take the punishment that should have been ours (Isaiah 53:4-5). He paid the debt we owed. Many people in our current financial climate are in serious debt. If you are in £20,000 worth of debt you don’t go to someone else who is in debt by £100,000 (like Satan).
 
God provided Jesus Christ, the only person who was in credit with God, the only one who had never sinned against God, so that we could have our debts paid off and our relationship with God restored.
 
In Conclusion
 
God did punish Satan, he banished him from heaven and he will spend eternity in hell. The reason God didn’t punish just Satan but let his own son take the wrath is so that we could be forgiven, know God intimately and have eternal life with him (John 3:16-18).