Slavery in the Bible was very different to today. In the Old Testament, it was something one person could sign themSELVES up to if they had debts they couldn't pay back in another way.
I don't think Paul is affirming slavery here. I think he is affirming the Christian way to act if you are a slave or if you are a master. Remember, Christianity didn't start to change massive social structures outside the Church for quite a while (few centuries at least, I think).
Keep in mind, there was still revolutionary change within the Church. Male & female, slave & free, Jews & Gentiles were all of equal value and equally saved in GOD's eyes therefore they should all fellowship together (yes Paul does take on a complementariam view of marriage here but I think he still thinks they're equal- he's just affirming a particular social order of marriage). THIS WAS HUGE. And the start of the process that eventually led ppl on the basis of their Biblical understanding to end slavery, especially the sortnof slavery seen in the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2011-01-19 08:06 am (UTC)I don't think Paul is affirming slavery here. I think he is affirming the Christian way to act if you are a slave or if you are a master. Remember, Christianity didn't start to change massive social structures outside the Church for quite a while (few centuries at least, I think).
Keep in mind, there was still revolutionary change within the Church. Male & female, slave & free, Jews & Gentiles were all of equal value and equally saved in GOD's eyes therefore they should all fellowship together (yes Paul does take on a complementariam view of marriage here but I think he still thinks they're equal- he's just affirming a particular social order of marriage). THIS WAS HUGE. And the start of the process that eventually led ppl on the basis of their Biblical understanding to end slavery, especially the sortnof slavery seen in the trans-Atlantic slave trade.