He would be divorced sooner also.
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Question about slavery in the Bible
- Thread starter NBTX11
- Start date
Another thought.
It’s been a while since I studied the short book of Philemon, but I seem to recall that, if read between the lines, Paul was admonishing Philemon for perhaps being an unjust master and that Paul really had no justification for returning Onesimus (according to Torah). As a believer and leader in the church, Philemon had an obligation to follow the Golden rule of Christ.
Does anyone else remember it that way?
It’s been a while since I studied the short book of Philemon, but I seem to recall that, if read between the lines, Paul was admonishing Philemon for perhaps being an unjust master and that Paul really had no justification for returning Onesimus (according to Torah). As a believer and leader in the church, Philemon had an obligation to follow the Golden rule of Christ.
Does anyone else remember it that way?
I prefer to focus on the lines that the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write.
I have white spaces between those lines of text, so I can only give a response to what is written.
Yes, Onesimus was a runaway slave who had encountered Paul, heard the gospel, believed, and been saved. Paul used the situation to demonstrate Christ's love for sinners by instructing Philemon to put any debt owed by Onesimus to Paul's account. Paul would pay, therefore setting Onesimus free. But Onesimus would then stand, no longer as a slave, but as a brother in Christ with Philemon. A beautiful picture indeed of all Jesus Christ has done for us. Shalom
Then you’re welcome to comment on the exact words of Paul as they relate to the topic of this post: SlaveryI prefer to focus on the lines that the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write.
Thank you for this synopsis, Brother.
I had time to go back and read this letter to Philemon tonight and I did misremember some parts of it. As you said, though, it is indeed a beautiful testament to love and forgiveness.
But in regards to slavery, I don’t see anywhere where Paul explicitly condemns the concept or institution. That’s important to note. Having Paul offer to pay Onésimus’ debt would lend credence to the idea that this was likely an indentured servant situation, not the chattel in chains concept people automatically assume based on 18th/19th century American slavery.
* Note: Paul would have known Deuteronomy 23 regarding not returning runaway slaves. It was almost like a “sanctuary” clause preventing a slave from having to be returned to a pagan/enemy master. But, Philemon was not a pagan, and Onesimus ceased to be, so Paul, was operating under a different paradigm. The new relationship between the two brothers would have been more like the Israelite/Israelite slavery mentioned in Torah, which was different than the Israelite/ pagan slavery.
And not to belabor the Philemon story, but I think the “unjust” aspect to this that I remembered (which I referred to as being between the lines) was that Paul extols the value of Onesimus as a Christian laborer for the cause of Christ. Onesimus had to run away to hear the gospel, yet while under the roof of Philemon, he was merely a slave, perhaps paying off a debt, and was never given the gospel. Paul finds him useful for the cause of Christ and Philemon never did. Paul tells Philemon as much.
You are correct. In fact he gives instructions directly to slaves (δοῦλοι) in Ephesians 6:5, telling them to obey their masters.
The implication in v:18 is that Philemon suffered some sort of injury or wrong by Onesimus, which has left Onesimus in debt to him. What, or how that occurred we are not told. Paul writes in v:19 saying, he will pay it back. This is a definite statement, so I would take this to mean there is an outstanding debt and it will be paid off by Paul. The debt and its repayment is of such concern to Paul that he devotes a lot of attention to it in this epistle, so it probably involved a considerable sum to settle - a sum outside the ability of Onesimus to repay. This pictures our inability to repay our own sin debt, which is also considerable, and which only Christ can pay on our behalf. Shalom
The debt Paul mentioned may have been the lost labor during the time that Onesimus was gone. It may have been years. It's also possible that Onesimus may have stolen property or embezzled money from Philemon prior to leaving.
I don't think there is evidence that Philemon witheld the gospel message from Onesimus. Sometimes people hear the news but don't initially believe, but God later grants faith and repentance.
Frederick mentioned the passage about servants/slaves and masters in Ephesians 6. We should also consider this text.
"Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.
And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him." (Verses 5-9 NKJV)
I don't think there is evidence that Philemon witheld the gospel message from Onesimus. Sometimes people hear the news but don't initially believe, but God later grants faith and repentance.
Frederick mentioned the passage about servants/slaves and masters in Ephesians 6. We should also consider this text.
"Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.
And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him." (Verses 5-9 NKJV)
A lot of American women still exist as slaves in the United States via sex trafficking.
I was referring specifically to the situation with Philemon, but yes, Paul NEVER contradicts a practice that Torah never condemned. It’s just not there.
But, people often use the “God’s ideal evolved in the NT” with Philemon, much as they do with Polygyny. They claim Paul is making an implicit negative statement about the institution of slavery. He doesn’t.
Good point. I agree. I was my conjecture on the statement by Paul that Onesimus was once unuseful to Philemon, but now he is useful to Paul for the gospel’s sake.
Perhaps it was commentary on the fact that Onesimus was rejecting the gospel in the house of Philemon, despite Philemon’s witness and testimony, and therefore useless in ministry endeavors for Philemon.
Either way, Paul is testifying to the changed nature of Onesimus and giving praise to God.
Romans run their society on patronage.
So debt owed could easily be payback for some favor done before.
Could it even perhaps be the debt for which Onesimus became a slave? If that were the case then Paul could be offering to buy Onesimus out of slavery (while also clearly expecting Philemon to act out of proper Christian love in any case).
No. It could be Paul saving Onesimus's ass in court. Or his masters.
Favor = doing some good for someone.
Except court representantion it could also be marriage matching, business/job opportunities, asking another more powerful patron.
You have patronage example with Roman centurion asking for healing his servant. I'm goimg by Luke's account.
Centurion did favor to town by building synagoge. Now he want favor returned with Jesus healing his servant. And since elders have better chance to get yes answer than centurion himself, town elders have to go.
You must understand that town itself is in "favor debt" to centurion.
Yet in his next statement he says that Philemon owes Paul a great debt, including his very self.
That wouldn’t seem to be monetary.
@NBTX11
Scripture is filled with topics, ideas, events, actions and characters that can be confounding. Most folks approach it with a narrow and limited mindset that is usually centered on their modern culture. They then try to pigeonhole God into their acceptable and rationalized viewpoint. I am fallible, but I try to approach scripture first with some of these immutable truths:
God is sovereign
God is love
God is omniscient
God is transcendent
God’s perfect will will always be done
There are more, but this is enough to say this:
Because God is good and we are subject to his sovereignty, whatever he institutes, establishes, regulates, approves, issues, provides, or denies is good, even if we can’t perceive it, or attempt to deny it.
If people put away their prejudices they can see that, when done correctly, and in proper context:
God’s love is expressed through polygyny
God’s mercy is evident in slavery
God’s justice is manifest in genocide
God’s Torah is not a burden, it’s actually liberation.
The list could go on.
I’ll end it here, but the person you’re dealing with, that feels they’ve checkmated you by bringing up the “sin” of slavery, worships a very small God. The God of scripture is much more loving, just, merciful and gracious than we can comprehend, even when it’s hard to perceive.
I agree.