If slavery is alright in the Bible, why isn't it alright today?

Question

Bible quotes:

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)

When a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod so hard that the slave dies under his hand, he shall be punished. If, however, the slave survives for a day or two, he is not to be punished, since the slave is his own property. (Exodus 21:20-21 NAB)

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 1

Because we are not barbaric war-mongering farmers.

Answer 2

You're right!! Lets start with you. You can be a slave for 1 year, then we'll ask you if you still approve. The people who wrote the bible also did not wash often, believeing that the dirt protected them from "Evil Humours" that would get in thru the skin. They also thought the Earth was flat. But, Christians say EVERYTHING in the bible is true, so these must be true, huh?

Answer 3

It's just another piece of evidence that the Bible is written by man. The idea that an all loving, all merciful god would advocate slavery is unlikely. Although, the argument goes, that somehow God had a change of heart after the sacrifice of Christ(himself), and was no longer vengeful, but loving and kind. I fail to completely grasp the logical possibilities of this, but it somehow makes sense to it's followers.

Answer 4

over time we have come to believe certain actions are not morale, whether or not they are written in an ancient book.

The bible is also full of contrary information. Eye for and eye or turn the other cheek is a classic example.

Also remember the bible was never written in English, it has been translated from many, now extinct languages. Kings of the middle ages broke from the church to create their own, supportive religion and Bible's that agree with their own personal beliefs.

Answer 5

If you are not born again by God's Spirit - then YOU are a SLAVE to sin.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
John chapter 3 v 16

My friend, seek the Lord while He may be found
Call upon Him while He is near
Forsake the path you are walking
Forsake your unrighteous thoughts.

Answer 6

Back then Slavery was an accepted custom. It was accepted when the United States was created. Times change, as do customs. In the bible they fished in wooden boats driven by oars or mabey sails. Today we have massive cruise liners. In the Bible everything was made by hand, today everything is made in China.

Answer 7

That's why we all need a sole infallible authority to interpret Sacred Scripture for us. An authority that comes directly from God. Only the Catholic Church was given that authority.
Matthew 18,18
Speaking to Peter and his disciples Jesus declared, "And so I tell you; what you prohibit on earth will be prohibited in heaven, and what your permit on earth will be permitted inn heaven."
Luke 10,16
"Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me."
John 16,13
This verse assures us that what the Catholic Church teaches comes from God. "When, however, the Spirit comes who reveals the truth about God, he will LEAD YOU INTO ALL TRUTH."
The Catholic Church is the Church of the Living God
Timothy 3,15
"But if I delay, this letter will let you know how we should conduct ourselves in God's household, which is the Church of the Living God, the PILLAR AND FOUNDATION OF TRUTH."
Have a blessed and peaceful day!

Answer 8

The OT scriptures you quote are interpretations, not translations of the original Hebrew. The NT scripture does not say it approves of slavery.

No Christians support slavery. In fact, Christians were instrumental in ending slavery. Today, only Muslims countries practice human slavery.

Answer 9

Its a matter or rights. We don't kill so that we wont be killed, we don't steal so we wont be stolen, we don't have slaves, because we wouldn't like to be one of them.
Anyways, in many cases slavery is alright today. Perhaps whit some "make-up", but slavery finally.

Answer 10

Slavery was a man made custom of the day. It just doesn't exist today.

Answer 11

You can be my slave for one day...I have a list of things you can work on.