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)
2006-10-21 06:41:04 · 13 answers · asked by badferret 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
According to the bible, he also encouraged prostitution.
2006-10-21 06:43:00 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Let's take the easier one first.
You did say that that was a parable. A parable is a short, simple story teaching a moral lesson. The details do not count. What was the moral lesson? Live up to the light that you have. This is somewhat similar to Aesop's Fables. One example is the story of an argument between the wind and the sun as to who was stronger. Upon seeing a man walking with a cloak loosely wrapped about his body, the sun challenged the wind that whichever one of them can take off the cloak off the man, will be judged the stronger. Wind was given the first opportunity. But the more he blew, the tighter the man wrapped the cloak about his body. Then it was the turn of the sun. It began to shine gently, gradually increasing in intensity, and soon it became hot. The man then took off the cloak. Moral lesson ? You can get more things done by gentle means than by force. Did the sun actually talk to the wind? No. Now you know what a parable is. Don't read more into it than the moral lesson; the details do not count.
Did Jesus really call the Caananites names? I know that at one time, a Syrophonecian woman came to ask Jesus to heal her sick daughter. Jesus replied that it was not good to take the children's bread and give it to dogs. Was Jesus calling them dogs? Certainly not. He was teaching his bigotted DISCIPLES a much-needed lesson, since the Jews looked upon all others as dogs!
As for the slavery issue, this is much harder to deal with. I do not have all the details but one needs to remember that it was not the same thing as what happened when the Africans were captured and brought to the Americas, or worse yet, to the Middle East. Incidentally, you do realize that more Africans were taken to the Middle East as slaves that those brought to the Americas, yet today, there are hardly any Africans in the Middle East because of MUCH HARSHER TREATMENT? Well, back to Jesus' time. It is also my understanding that slavery was temporary, a system to tide you over bad times, to keep "soul and body " together until times change. And lastly, the mission of Jesus was to affect individuals for eternity. Is it possible that Jesus could have done that better with the current social system in place so that both the rich and poor can be reached? I really don't know, but this much I know that Jesus loved us so much that He made the ultimate sacrifice to save us from destruction.
2006-10-21 14:35:05 · answer #2 · answered by flandargo 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The concept of slavery in the Bible is quite different from what we think of slavery today. Slaves in the Bible were more like modern-day servants (maids, butlers, etc), and were not to be treated by God's people as lower beings, as was seen in modern-day slavery. If a slave was treated badly, they were to be released. Also, a person was to be released from their slavery at the Jubilee year (every seven years). In some cases, slaves were treated so well that there was a provision whereby the slave could choose to have his ear pierced with an awl, signifying that they wished to be a slave for that master for the rest of their lives, and remain part of that household.
2006-10-21 13:47:02 · answer #3 · answered by Epitome_inc 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Verses like this I simply don't understand. I agree - why didn't God simply say that slavery was WRONG, even if the master didn't mistreat the slave? I will struggle with this until I am able to go to heaven and personally ask God why. He probably actually has a reason... I can't fathom what, but God has about a billion IQ points on me, so that makes sense that I can't fathom some of God's reasoning.
2006-10-21 13:47:28 · answer #4 · answered by Iamnotarobot (former believer) 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hmmm, very interesting, well i'm kind of new to chrisianity but well i can only imagine that God created some people as slaves . . . not a real good look is that . . . um . . .okay what if the slave wanted to be slaves . . .um okay that provable a bit dumb cause they didn't get to chose did they . . . and if God made the slaves they not getting free will . . . and Jesus wants them beaten you say . . . gosh i don't know but i'm sure there will be some christains who do . . . they i'm a bit worried their answers will be as good as there justification for war answers . . . well i tried thanx . . . oh my God i just read what someone said about slaves being like butlers, sorry but thats the dumbest thing i ever heard, see Roman history and how slaves where used, oh dear, butlers you say . . .oh dear
2006-10-21 13:52:26 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Paul wrote quote from 1 Timothy. He was speaking to people who were already under an established institution. He was not condoning slavery.
Jesus speaking in Luke 12 was describing punishment for people in the afterlife.
2006-10-21 13:51:12 · answer #6 · answered by paulsamuel33 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Slave" is an ancient word for "employee". Employees of those time doesn't enjoy rights like present days employee.
I think Jesus is a normal human being and was influenced by practises and customs of his time. He is a good man though. And his followers glorified him to the status of GOD.
2006-10-21 13:52:32 · answer #7 · answered by Ellan M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
And still today we are slaves, the bible is a set of laws to obied by, thanks be to me I not not obey, Yes we live in a slave world, people will do anything to earn that silver, green and gold
2006-10-21 13:50:05 · answer #8 · answered by man of ape 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It should not at all be slaves. The King James Version says servants. Not slaves.
2006-10-21 13:46:08 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I would suggest that if you are going to put words in the mouth of what the bible teaches, then include your scripture versus to prove your point. You have to read the entire text.
2006-10-21 13:50:46 · answer #10 · answered by pressersf 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The bible also states that he encourages killing all non-believers and burning down an entire town and kills everything including livestock if they are non-believers.
2006-10-21 13:45:06 · answer #11 · answered by Reload 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋