Slavery in Scripture is never treated lightly. It’s the very image God uses for Israel’s condition in Egypt, and the deliverance He worked is the pattern for redemption itself.
But the Bible also warns of a subtler bondage. “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender” (Prov 22:7). No chains, no auction block, just a system where debt and a currency that loses value by design keep men working for masters they never see.
We were bought with a price (1 Cor 6:20). That’s true spiritually first. But it should shape how we think about money, debt, and what freedom actually costs.
Login to reply
Replies (5)
So if i own my home outright in a place with nice beaches on a military widow's stipend (not counting all of the other toil and strife) i am still a slave to taxes and insurance and likely to have to sell because state and federal political advertising budget or whatever else (not including actual 24/7 slavery to whatever else this is that i am doing)?
Preach!! I really love Proverbs 22:7, coupled with Deuteronomy 28:12 and Romans 13:8, it's a perfect picture of love based freedom from debt because of the blessing of the Lord
Biblical bondage is nothing compared to IMF and World Bank debt enslavement, courtesy of institutions like Goldman Sachs.
Not sure how much of this is true but Bible is definitely not against slavery
Old Testament
Exodus 21:2-6 — Guidelines for Hebrew slaves, including a provision for release after six years, unless they choose to remain with their master permanently.
Exodus 21:7-11 — Rules regarding the sale of daughters as servants, including provisions for marriage and treatment.
Exodus 21:20-21 — States that if a master beats a slave and the slave dies, the master shall be punished; but if the slave survives a day or two, no punishment is given "for the slave is his money."
Leviticus 25:44-46 — Permits buying slaves from surrounding nations and treating them as property that can be passed to children as inheritance, distinguishing between treatment of Hebrew and foreign slaves.
Deuteronomy 15:12-15 — Instructions for releasing Hebrew slaves after six years with provisions of food and livestock.
New Testament
Ephesians 6:5-8 — "Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ."
Colossians 3:22-25 — Similar instruction for slaves to obey masters in everything, working wholeheartedly.
1 Timothy 6:1-2 — "All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect... Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers."
Titus 2:9-10 — "Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them."
1 Peter 2:18 — "Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh."
Philemon 1:10-16 — Paul returns the runaway slave Onesimus to his master Philemon, though he urges Philemon to receive him as a brother rather than a slave.
Yaaaa, we could really get into the woods on this