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=="Slavery" in the Bible ==

=="Slavery" in the Bible ==

"Slavery" is referenced, permitted and regulated in the Bible.  The Hebrew word ''ebed'' is translated as "slave" or "servant", but the concept is not fully the same as the modern understanding of "slave", the institution of which was not a monolithic institution. ''Slave'' included various types of "persons in subordinate positions"<ref name="ctt">[http://www.christian-thinktank.com/qnoslave.html Does God condone slavery in the Bible?] (Christian ThinkTank)</ref>  Therefore "all the subjects of Israel and Judah are called '''slaves''' of their '''kings'''",<ref name="ctt" /> while loss of freedom and degree of subjugation more distinctly defines subjects of institutionalized slavery.  

"Slavery" is referenced, permitted and regulated in the Bible.  The Hebrew word ''ebed'' is translated as "slave" or "servant", but the concept is not fully the same as the modern understanding of "slave", the institution of which was not a monolithic institution. ''Slave'' included various types of "persons in subordinate positions"<ref name="ctt">[http://www.christian-thinktank.com/qnoslave.html Does God condone slavery in the Bible?] (Christian ThinkTank)</ref>  Therefore, "all the subjects of Israel and Judah are called '''slaves''' of their '''kings'''",<ref name="ctt" /> while loss of freedom and degree of subjugation more distinctly defines subjects of institutionalized slavery.  

Some biblical passages mentioning slavery are:

Some biblical passages mentioning slavery are:

*The male Hebrew slave was to be released with abundant provisions, designed to help economically establish him. ({{bibleverse||Deuteronomy|15:12-15|KJV}})  

*The male Hebrew slave was to be released with abundant provisions, designed to help economically establish him. ({{bibleverse||Deuteronomy|15:12-15|KJV}})  

*Israelite servants were also required to be released in the 50 year Jubilee, when sold or mortgaged land, which had been originally divided by lot (Numbers 26:52-56), also returned back to the original owner. ({{bibleverse||Leviticus|25:8-13|KJV}}) Provision was made for Hebrew slaves who freely choose perpetual servitude. ({{bibleverse||Exodus|21:5-6|KJV}}; {{bibleverse||Deuteronomy|15:16-18|KJV}})   

*Israelite servants were also required to be released in the 50 year Jubilee, when sold or mortgaged land, which had been originally divided by lot (Numbers 26:52-56), also returned to the original owner. ({{bibleverse||Leviticus|25:8-13|KJV}}) Provision was made for Hebrew slaves who freely choose perpetual servitude. ({{bibleverse||Exodus|21:5-6|KJV}}; {{bibleverse||Deuteronomy|15:16-18|KJV}})   

*Foreigners who dwelt among the Hebrews were not to be oppressed, but loved as one of their own ({{bibleverse||Leviticus|19:33-34|KJV}}), and could buy and sell Hebrew slaves. However, these  could be redeemed out of slavery by close kin, for a price corresponding to the year of the jubilee. If not redeemed the slaves was to then go free at that time. ({{bibleverse||Leviticus|25:47-55|KJV}})

*Foreigners who dwelt among the Hebrews were not to be oppressed, but loved as one of their own ({{bibleverse||Leviticus|19:33-34|KJV}}), and could buy and sell Hebrew slaves. However, these  could be redeemed out of slavery by close kin, for a price corresponding to the year of the jubilee. If not redeemed the slaves was to then go free at that time. ({{bibleverse||Leviticus|25:47-55|KJV}})

*The owner was to be punished for killing any servant unjustly, with the penalty likely being death,({{bibleverse||Exodus|21:18-21|KJV}}),  by being slain with the sword, as the [[Targum]] and Jarchi understand it.<ref>[http://www.searchgodsword.org/com/geb/view.cgi?book=ex&chapter=021&verse=020 ''Dr. John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible'', Exodus 21:20]</ref> ({{bibleverse||Exodus|21:21-22|KJV}}; cf. {{bibleverse||Leviticus|24:21-22|KJV}}) [[Philo]] stated that premeditated murder of the servant, with malice, required the master's death.<ref>The Special Laws, III,  15:141</ref>  If fatality was not evidenced for a day or so then no punishment was prescribed regarding a foreign servant. For freemen a monetary compensation was mandated in the latter case.   

*The owner was to be punished for killing any servant unjustly, with the penalty likely being death,({{bibleverse||Exodus|21:18-21|KJV}}),  by being slain with the sword, as the [[Targum]] and Jarchi understand it.<ref>[http://www.searchgodsword.org/com/geb/view.cgi?book=ex&chapter=021&verse=020 ''Dr. John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible'', Exodus 21:20]</ref> ({{bibleverse||Exodus|21:21-22|KJV}}; cf. {{bibleverse||Leviticus|24:21-22|KJV}}) [[Philo]] stated that premeditated murder of the servant, with malice, required the master's death.<ref>The Special Laws, III,  15:141</ref>  If fatality was not evidenced for a day or so then no punishment was prescribed regarding a foreign servant. For freemen a monetary compensation was mandated in the latter case.   

*Stealing a man and selling him into slavery was also a capital crime, ({{bibleverse||Exodus|21:16|KJV}}; {{bibleverse||Deuteronomy|24:7|KJV}}   

*Stealing a man and selling him into slavery was also a capital crime, ({{bibleverse||Exodus|21:16|KJV}}; {{bibleverse||Deuteronomy|24:7|KJV}})    

*Freedom was mandated for any slave which suffered a loss of eyesight or a tooth due to his master striking him.  ({{bibleverse||Exodus|21:26-27|KJV}})   

*Freedom was mandated for any slave which suffered a loss of eyesight or a tooth due to his master striking him.  ({{bibleverse||Exodus|21:26-27|KJV}})   

===New Testament===

===New Testament===

Under the New Testament,  the primitive church as a model organic community had no slavery (Acts 2:41-47), but it initially grew within the slave states of [[Greece]] and [[Rome]], and in which Christian faith was was oppressed persecuted. As the practice of slavery seems so antithetical by nature to the second Great Commandment, esp. at least as was common practiced, the regulation of it rather than an outright repudiation of it by the church - in which all races are spiritually one - (Gal 3:28) appears problematic. However, under the N.T. the totality of commands regarding slavery radically reformed it, and while slaves were only recommended to obtain freedom, and owners were not outright commanded to give them such, yet it is seen as working toward such, with slavery being left as a cultural appendage that the fuller outworking of Holy Christian love could jettison when a greatly revived church and social/political opportunity enabled it.  Applying the requirements of fraternal love enabled tolerance of slavery without a radical change in the entrenched economic system, in a society in which opposition to slavery at that time likely would have made it worse for the slaves. Instead, the primitive church, much of which was made up of slaves, focused on freeing souls from spiritual bondage, and of being victorious and useful in whatever situation they were found, and being a "holy nation" themselves.  

Under the New Testament,  the primitive church as a model organic community had no slavery (Acts 2:41-47), but it initially grew within the slave states of [[Greece]] and [[Rome]], and in which Christian faith was oppressed persecuted. As the practice of slavery seems so antithetical by nature to the second Great Commandment, esp. at least as was common practiced, the regulation of it rather than an outright repudiation of it by the church - in which all races are spiritually one - (Gal 3:28) appears problematic. However, under the N.T. the totality of commands regarding slavery radically reformed it, and while slaves were only recommended to obtain freedom, and owners were not outright commanded to give them such, yet it is seen as working toward such, with slavery being left as a cultural appendage that the fuller outworking of Holy Christian love could jettison when a greatly revived church and social/political opportunity enabled it.  Applying the requirements of fraternal love enabled tolerance of slavery without a radical change in the entrenched economic system, in a society in which opposition to slavery at that time likely would have made it worse for the slaves. Instead, the primitive church, much of which was made up of slaves, focused on freeing souls from spiritual bondage, and of being victorious and useful in whatever situation they were found, and being a "holy nation" themselves.  

In the New Testament, Christian slaves are admonished to obey their masters, "as to the Lord, and not to men" ({{bibleverse||Ephesians|6:5-8|KJV}}; {{bibleverse||Colossians|3:22-25}}; {{bibleverse|1|Timothy|6:1}}; {{bibleverse||Titus|2:9-10}}; {{bibleverse|1|Peter|2:18}}), with the like attitude being required of masters toward their servants, as they also had a Master in Heaven. Masters were to act without threatening ({{bibleverse||Ephesians|6:9}}), rendering just and equal recompense to their servants ({{bibleverse||Colossians|4:1|KJV}}), with freedom being the ideal for slaves if it could be lawfully obtained ({{bibleverse|1|Corinthians|7:21-23|KJV}}).  

In the New Testament, Christian slaves are admonished to obey their masters, "as to the Lord, and not to men" ({{bibleverse||Ephesians|6:5-8|KJV}}; {{bibleverse||Colossians|3:22-25}}; {{bibleverse|1|Timothy|6:1}}; {{bibleverse||Titus|2:9-10}}; {{bibleverse|1|Peter|2:18}}), with the like attitude being required of masters toward their servants, as they also had a Master in Heaven. Masters were to act without threatening ({{bibleverse||Ephesians|6:9}}), rendering just and equal recompense to their servants ({{bibleverse||Colossians|4:1|KJV}}), with freedom being the ideal for slaves if it could be lawfully obtained ({{bibleverse|1|Corinthians|7:21-23|KJV}}).