Slavery
Just seeing the word slavery gives us a sick feeling inside. It brings to mind periods in history filled with brutality, injustice and inhumanity. But to the people living in Biblical times, the word slavery had other connotations. For an Israelite, slavery to a fellow countryman was an option-either temporary or permanent-for a person who needed to get out of debt. When Good News of Jesus Christ came to the Roman Empire, both slaves and masters became Christians.

The Bible also uses the master-slave relationship to describe something very positive: the attitude of complete submission that we owe to God. We should be completely obedient to God's will for our lives. Being a humble slave is the greatest privilege we could ever have with Jesus as our master.

The nation of Israel is born when God delivers the descendants of Jacob from 400 years of slavery in Egypt.
Exodus 2:23
Deuteronomy 5:6
Moses gives Israel many laws that protect slaves from abuse and inhumane treatment.
Exodus 21:1-11
Deuteronomy 15:16-17; 23:15-16
The Bible is more concerned that Christian slaves be faithful witnesses to their masters than they be set free, although freedom is always best if possible. Christian masters are to treat their believing slaves a s fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 7:20-24
Ephesians 6:5-9
Colossians 3:22-4:1
1 Timothy 6:1-2
Titus 2:9-10
1 Peter 2:18-20
The worst kind of slavery is not slavery to others, but slavery to sin.
John 8:31-36
Romans 6:15-22
Paul, one of the most freedom-loving and liberated heroes of the Bible, is proud to call himself a "servant of Christ."
Romans 1:1; 6:16-23
1 Corinthians 4:1
2 Corinthians 4:5
Titus 1:1
Philemon 1