/christian/ - Christian Discussion and Fellowship

Technically speaking, yes. It discourages slavery among fellow Christians, but it isn't outlawed. God has bigger concerns than earthly social arrangements.

Allows? Yes. Condones or supports? No.

Also, slavery in Bible and in older times in general were different than what is understood as slavery in modern days. In old times, it was part of the specific economic system of that era (this type is known as debt slavery and is actually more close to modern day employment than chattel slavery.) So considering "slavery" without specifying the type of slavery discussed is retarded.

The Hebrews were allowed to keep slaves, but had to liberate their Hebrew slaves after a few years, and slaves were to be automatically freed if their master did strong violence to them.

The NT doesn't really address slavery, other than recognizing that it is a painful position to be in. Christian slaves are commanded to obey their master in all thing so that they may have perfect humility and obedience through suffering and so walk in the footsteps of Christ. Paul returns Onesiumus the runaway slave back to his master Philemon, but shows anger at Philemon and demands that he treats him like he would his own brother.

Like anons said, it was part of the economic and justice system at the time, in bible slave = more bondservant/indentured servitude, less so captured against their will (presumably unless remnant soldiers on the losing side of a battle in war - in which case arguably better/more merciful than being killed on the assumption ppl of the time didn't operate on some uber shame principle and would rather harakiri themselves samurai style) chained beat starved worked to die kinda thing. See also my q's and anons answers here in QTDDTOT re: OT slave laws:

>>669288

>>669312

(near the top of the thread now so likely to get bumped off soon)

>>687510

The Old Testament does allow slavery to varying degrees.

Fellow Hebrew slaves (who sold themselves into slavery) were to be treated more as servants rather than slaves, and they were to be released after six years without pay and given a special dowry from their master. However, the slave could freely choose not to leave and be a slave for life. However, female Hebrew slaves, who were sold into it by their relatives, could not be released after six years unless they were redeemed by one of their relatives. The Israelites could not sell one of their own into slavery to another nation.

Gentiles slaves were allowed to be treated more as slaves than simple servants. They could be purchased from the nations around them, inherited, be spoils of war, or the gentile could simply sell themselves into slavery. They were not to be released every Jubilee. However, I do believe that even gentile slaves were to be released after every 49th year. But the usual way of was through monetary means.

Interestingly though, Hebrews were allowed to sell themselves as slaves to gentiles and could only be released through redemption or whatever way the gentile decided to release them.

Bad slaves could be punished but masters who treated their slaves too harshly had to release their slaves, or if they murder their slaves they were to be put to death.

Making slaves through kidnapping though was entirely unacceptable and could be punished by death.

As for the New Testament, it doesn't say much about slavery. It does exhort slaves to obey their masters and follow in the footsteps of Christ as sufferers, and Paul even returns a runaway slave to his master. However, the New Testament does seem to promote the idea that all slaves, no matter what, should be treated as brothers/servants by their masters rather than as slaves, and also encourages slaves to try any possible way to win their freedom through means that aren't rebellious against their master or the state.

You see, the New Testament and early Christians were not attempting to rebel or overthrow the social order, rather they were trying to transform these institutions like slavery in the hope that one day there would be no more slavery. In many ways that was fulfilled, and in numerous places throughout the world slavery was done away with through social transformation by the influence of Christianity rather than through rebellion or war or overthrowing.