Expert: Marilyn - 1/9/2008

Question
QUESTION: Please provide your intrepretation of Colossians 3:22-25.
Thank you
Lenin

ANSWER: Hello Lenin;

Paul never came out against slavery, instead he addressed issues of the heart which go straight to the core of human existence and relationships.  

In Galatians 3:26 - 28, Paul says, "You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

In I Corinthians 12:13 Paul wrote, "For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink."

He says other things like, "Carry each other's burdens," Galatians 6:2 and "...do good to all," Galatians 6:10.

So when we arrive in Colossians 3, Paul's instructions, initially issued to slaves, also apply today to any worker.  "Obey your earthly masters...Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord..." verses 22 & 23.  This is how the slave or the worker should behave toward his master or boss, this is the Way of Love--to submit to those who are in leadership or in authority as to the Lord.

In chapter 4:1 Paul wrote, "Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven."

And to slaves he wrote, "Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism," 3:25.

Paul encourages the slave to turn to God to deal with his master's wrong-doing and warns the master that he too has a Master and must answer for his actions.  This is consistent with Scripture.  We are told not to seek revenge, but to give the matter to God who will obtain revenge for us, Romans 12:19 & Deuteronomy 32:35.

The burden falls to the master to do what's right.  He is instructed to "do good to all."  He is warned that God is watching and will handle any misdeed.  

And for the obedient, diligent slave, the matter becomes an issue of faith--does he truly believe God will deal with mistreatment?  If his faith is sufficient, then he will see God's Hand working on his behalf.

The Holy Spirit can take these instructions that apply across the board, using them to work in believer's hearts--sometimes even in the hearts of non-believers according to the nearby believers' prayers offered in faith.  Once the heart is changed, then behavior changes and relationships are ordered according to the Way of Love.  There is no need to speak out against slavery, just speak the Way of Love, believe you receive and Love, by the Holy Spirit, will have its way.

Do you have other thoughts on the matter?

Sincerely,

Marilyn

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for the wonderful answer.  Does the bible speak against slavery anywhere?  If not, why not?

Brother in Christ,
Lenin

Answer
Hello Lenin;

As far as I can discover, the Bible does not speak out specifically against slavery except for one comment in I Timothy 1:10 which lumps slave traders in with other sinners.  

The Old Testament gives regulations regarding slaves and says little specifically against slavery.  Many atheists and Bible de-bunkers point to this as evidence that God is really a mean-spirited Being and not really Holy.  My point of view on the Old Testament is that God started out with a bunch of "stiff-necked," rebellious brats and He was happy to just get them to value their slaves and treat them fairly.  He could get to the free the slaves part after they'd learned to be nice.

If you read through the Old Testament, you see a gradual change from rabble rousing Israelites newly freed from Egypt to educated, well spoken Jews.  The violence level drops also as God's Word begins to change human hearts.  But it takes Jesus, His death and resurrection to fix the problem of sin before God could address slavery.  To our minds, He seems to address it indirectly--be remember God is after heart change, not specific trappings of godliness.  He always goes straight for the heart because heart change will percolate and saturate the person and bring godly behaviors to the surface.  God takes us where we are and works with us, in us and through us to bring change over time.  

If the principles of fair treatment and the concept of "there is no difference Greek or Jew, slave or free" and other similar core principles percolate throughout the culture, slavery will disappear over time because hearts will have changed.  If you examine history, you see this was the case.  

From the time of Jesus until about A.D. 1000, slavery was gradually phased out.  During this time the principles of capitalism were also developed.  When Christians finally went to war against invading Muslims, slavery once again began among Christian peoples.  It wasn't until William Wilberforce in England and the Civil War in the United States that slavery in western nations was once again stopped.  (Have you seen the movie "Amazing Grace?"  It's about Wilberforce and a man who was once a slave trader transformed by God.  The former slave trader wrote the beloved song "Amazing Grace.")

Islam advocates and practices slavery to this day.  Saudi Arabia only outlawed slavery in the 1960's, but Islamic fundamentalists continually seek its reinstatement.  Muslim slave traders and warring African tribes who captured defeated enemies were the suppliers of African slaves since Islam first attained significant power and still do up to today.

The Christian Walk is different from the Old Testament Way.  We are not bound by numerous rules and regulations.  We are simply called to walk in the Way of Love.     

Jesus gave two commands:  "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind.  And love your neighbor as yourself."  If a person applies these two commands in every area of his life, significant change will occur.  If he is a slave owner, he will eventually free his slaves or go to war to see them freed in his own land.

God seeks heart change and knows that if the heart is changed, the behaviors will also change.  

Sincerely,

Marilyn