Can someone tell me which passages in the bible were used to justify slavery?

Question

and what did it say?

Answer 1

Why Can't I Own a Canadian?
October 2002

Dr. Laura Schlessinger is a radio personality who dispenses advice to people who call in to her radio show. Recently, she said that, as an observant Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22 and cannot be condoned under any circumstance. The following is an open letter to Dr. Laura penned by a east coast resident, which was posted on the Internet. It's funny, as well as informative:

Dear Dr. Laura:

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate. I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the other specific laws and how to follow them:

When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness - Lev.15:19- 24. The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?

A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this?

Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?

Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?

I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? - Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)

I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.

Your devoted fan,
Jim

Answer 2

For starters, check these out;
Leviticus 25: 44-46
Exodus 21: 2-11
And before any Christians jump up and say "but that's the Old Testament, we only believe in the New Testament", (which is amazing, because they have no problem using the Old Testament to persecute homosexuals) check these out. Ephesians 6: 5. And to seal the deal, Here's Jesus himself talking about how disrespectful slaves should be punished; Luke 12: 47-48.

Answer 3

Possibly in the book of Moses, the Egyptians used the Hebrews as slaves, because they were rich and powerful royalty that could not glean their own fields for grain nor to make bricks for their precious monuments. However, Moses was an instrument for the Lord in denouncing it and freeing his people.
That would indicate that God was against slavery or any form of bondage.
This is possibly how slaveowners in Washington's time and before Lincoln's time, felt that slavery was justified because the rich and affluent had them. However, they also made it a point to keep the Africans ignorant to any of these facts, by making it a law for it to be a crime to teach these slaves to read about it for themselves. Education is the key to abolish ignorance.

Jesus came to fulfill the law after Moses and the 10 commandments, so now we are all under God's grace. I don't see any quotes after Jesus' time speaking up for slavery.
But wasn't slavery in America after Jesus was crucified? Those slaveowners were still living under the old law even though they knew we were under grace. So they were wrong and didn't want any slave to know it, so they just kept them ignorant to this. Come on, being beaten for wanting to know about the Lord?
Those slaveowners have a lot to pay for in their deceptions for their own personal gains.
They will be judged just as we all will be for our sins and especially our sins against our brotheren.

In addendum:
One person put in a quote that Jesus said. Interesting, but if Jesus said it, wouldn't that be before his crucifixion? Again I stress that I don't know of any quotes after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ who fulfilled the laws of the old testament. We are now under grace, and that means that slavery is just plain wrong in any form.

Answer 4

Can' tell you exactly but I read that it was justified in South Africa by the Afrikaners, something to do with one of the lost tribes of Israel and how they should be ostracized and subjugated, maybe someone from S.Africa can give you more input on it. Also the old testament has plenty of info about the treatment of slaves.

Answer 5

However, you may purchase male or female slaves from among the foreigners who live among you. You may also purchase the children of such resident foreigners, including those who have been born in your land. You may treat them as your property, passing them on to your children as a permanent inheritance. You may treat your slaves like this, but the people of Israel, your relatives, must never be treated this way. (Leviticus 25:44-46 NLT)

If you buy a Hebrew slave, he is to serve for only six years. Set him free in the seventh year, and he will owe you nothing for his freedom. If he was single when he became your slave and then married afterward, only he will go free in the seventh year. But if he was married before he became a slave, then his wife will be freed with him. If his master gave him a wife while he was a slave, and they had sons or daughters, then the man will be free in the seventh year, but his wife and children will still belong to his master. But the slave may plainly declare, 'I love my master, my wife, and my children. I would rather not go free.' If he does this, his master must present him before God. Then his master must take him to the door and publicly pierce his ear with an awl. After that, the slave will belong to his master forever. (Exodus 21:2-6 NLT)

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. (Ephesians 6:5 NLT)



Christians who are slaves should give their masters full respect so that the name of God and his teaching will not be shamed. If your master is a Christian, that is no excuse for being disrespectful. You should work all the harder because you are helping another believer by your efforts. Teach these truths, Timothy, and encourage everyone to obey them. (1 Timothy 6:1-2 NLT)



In the following parable, Jesus clearly approves of beating slaves even if they didn't know they were doing anything wrong.



The servant will be severely punished, for though he knew his duty, he refused to do it. "But people who are not aware that they are doing wrong will be punished only lightly. Much is required from those to whom much is given, and much more is required from those to whom much more is given." (Luke 12:47-48 NLT)

Answer 6

Mainly, Genesis 9:25-27: "Cursed be Canaan! The lowest of slaves will he be to his brothers. He also said, 'Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem! May Canaan be the slave of Shem. May God extend the territory of Japheth; may Japeth live in the tents of Shem and may Canaan be his slave'. "

Also, there are many OT passages that provide rules for keeping slaves, beating them, selling your children into slavery, etc.

See...

Answer 7

nothing justifies slavery

and the bible is against slavery

Answer 8

The bible justifies that all believers are slaves to their gods and only atheists are truly free of the shackles of mythology, ignorance and pointless ritual.

Answer 9

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_views_of_slavery#Bible_quotations_on_the_keeping_of_slaves

Christian writers from Biblical times onwards have used the image of the slave to represent the Christian spiritual view. In many Christian views all people are 'slaves to sin'; they are unable to free themselves from a way of life where they do evil. However God 'redeems' those whom He calls; they are "bought with a price", removing them from the control of sin and become God's "property", who then loves and protects them.

God:

"Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven." (Colossians 4:1)
The Holy Spirit:

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
Jesus:

"For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord's freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ's slave." (1 Corinthians 7:22) "Paul, a slave of Jesus Christ" (Romans 1:1).
[edit]
Against the keeping of slaves
Escaped slaves do not have to be returned to their masters.

"You shall not give back to his master the slave who has escaped from his master to you. He may dwell with you in your midst, in the place which he chooses within one of your gates, where it seems best to him; you shall not oppress him." (Deuteronomy 23:15-16)
[edit]
Apostle Paul
"In Christ, there is neither slave nor free."

Moses
"Let my people go."
[DeBow's Review (September 1850): "Slavery and the Bible"
Collection of religious antislavery literature, from the Antislavery Literature Project
Passages from the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) and from the Christian Scriptures (New Testament)
Texas Baptists

Answer 10

It said it was ok for the Jews to take slaves from other nations, but not to mistreat them... I really struggle with that passage, I guess the American idea of freedom isn't the Biblical one.