Slavery meme
A: The verse is very clear.
Scripture speaks of slavery and it is a good thing. It was like employment in OT, unless they were captured from conquering other countries and allowed to be slaves vs die; depending in God's judgment on them.
Scripture speaks of humans in slave terms and says we are either slaves to sin and Satan or slaves to righteousness and Christ. We cant serve two masters, but we are owned by one of them either way.
Scripture has nothing to do with illegally sold human trafficing chattel slavery which is what happened back when Africans both kidnapped or sold their troublemaker people to UK and of whom some ended up in America, and many more who went to Arab countries (which still happens today). Or the slavery or kidnapped women and children who are sold into sex trafficing, still happening today globally. That is condemned in Exodus 21:16.
In OT a slave was a person who works for you to pay off a debt. Today we are “slaves” to our employers. In Israel, after 7 years if the debt isn’t paid off they are still free. Most masters wouldn't take on a debt that would cost them more than their service would cost.
The Greek word used here is oiketai, sometimes translated as "servants" or "employer." The servants could be people who sold themselves into servitude, those captured in war and/or born into slavery. Now the verse in context is talking about believers submitting to authority whether that be government, kings, emperors, or masters of slaves/servants. Those slaves under a Christians care were to be treated like brethren, (thus treated way better than how the pagans treated their servants badly).
Heres are resources on the topic:
Further examination on the topic
Related resources
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