Context Matters: New Testament BackgroundsSample

Topic 8: What do we do with talk of slavery and masters?

In Ephesians 6:5, Paul wrote, “Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.” Is Paul endorsing slavery? American slaveholders in the 1800s quoted this verse to defend the institution of slavery, but is that what Paul is really saying? To answer these questions, we need to understand the background of slavery in the first century.

The household slavery that Paul was addressing was far different than the slavery that was practiced in pre-Civil War America. Household slaves in the Roman Empire could earn and save money. They had better food and security than most free peasants and were often educated. Some people chose to become slaves to improve their social status. Slaves had more social mobility than peasants and were frequently freed. A slave of a Roman citizen would become a citizen when freed. Members of the elite class often complained about former slaves advancing beyond them.

Those who pointed to Ephesians 6:5 as a justification for slavery also ignore the context of Paul’s statement. Paul is writing a pastoral letter to believers, not a treatise on slavery. Christians were a tiny minority in Rome, and Paul is writing from house arrest in Roman custody. He was teaching the early Christians how to live faithfully in their own contexts.

Just a few verses later Paul instructs masters to “treat your slaves in the same way.” After calling on Christian slaves to submit to their masters, Paul calls on Christian masters to submit to their slaves. He does this because masters and slaves are equal in the eyes of God who is Master of them both.

It’s important to understand the social and historical background of the New Testament. Knowing this background can help us avoid incorrectly interpreting the Bible in light of our own context.

Learn more about Paul’s instruction to slaves and masters as well as to husbands and wives in the video below.