How Does the Bible View Slavery?

The Bible, as one of the foundational texts of Western civilization, addresses slavery in multiple contexts. Because both the Old and New Testaments were written in societies where slavery was a common institution, the biblical treatment of slavery reflects ancient realities while also planting seeds for later debates about justice, freedom, and human dignity.

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Slavery in the Old Testament

The Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) accepts slavery as part of life in the ancient Near East but places important restrictions on it. The Book of Exodus states: “If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free, without paying anything” (Exodus 21:2, NIV). This law limited the length of servitude for fellow Israelites, distinguishing it from the perpetual chattel slavery found in other cultures.

Foreign slaves, however, could be held permanently (Leviticus 25:44–46). Even so, the law required humane treatment: “Do not rule over them ruthlessly, but fear your God” (Leviticus 25:43). Other texts command that runaway slaves not be returned to their masters (Deuteronomy 23:15–16), signaling protections that went beyond some neighboring societies.

Overall, the Old Testament presents slavery as regulated rather than abolished — tolerated, but bound by rules meant to curb abuse and remind masters of their own history of bondage in Egypt.

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Slavery in the New Testament

By the time of the New Testament, slavery was deeply entrenched in the Roman Empire. Rather than calling for its abolition outright, the New Testament focuses on relationships within the system. Paul instructs, “Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear… just as you would obey Christ” (Ephesians 6:5). At the same time, he urges masters: “Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven” (Ephesians 6:9).

The letter to Philemon illustrates the Christian tension around slavery. Paul appeals to a slaveholder to welcome back his runaway slave, Onesimus, “no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother” (Philemon 1:16). This is not a legal call to end slavery, but it introduces a radical new lens: all believers are equal in Christ (Galatians 3:28).

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The Bigger Picture

The Bible does not condemn slavery outright; instead, it accepts it as part of ancient society while seeking to humanize and restrain it. Yet its deeper themes — the Exodus story of liberation, the command to love one’s neighbor, and Paul’s declaration of equality in Christ — provided later generations with powerful tools to challenge and ultimately abolish slavery.

AI Disclosure: I had chatgpt do research for me. I then checked those sources for legitimacy and accuracy. I had it format that research into this blog post. I did some grammer and structuring work, added pictures and headings.