#75 -- Gospel and Spiritual Growth

Valley – January 26, 2003 a.m.

THE ROLE OF SLAVERY IN THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY IN THE WORLD SYSTEM IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

We continue with the third message on the role of slavery in the world system and its industry and commerce. This message focuses on the world system in the Roman Empire during the New Testament era. The economy of the Roman Empire depended on its system of slavery for its sustenance and growth. Slavery was most extensive in cosmopolitan and suburban areas for these were the center of multiple elements of the order of the world system. The agrarian countryside required less slaves except on large estates. The family property of freemen was usually smaller and less productive so there was little capital to purchase and maintain slaves. Slaves were accepted by society as normal. Those who were slaves generally considered their slavery as a way of life. They had no rights or legal standing except through their master. Many slaves were Christians (in fact some believe that local churches often had a majority of slave members). Paul and Peter both addressed how spiritual Christian slaves and masters were to live in their particular roles. The best-known slave in the New Testament was Onesimus the slave of Philemon.

There is a great deal of New Testament revelation available for the study of slavery as a normal part of culture in the world system. I. A. lists the key words and the number of their occurrences in the New Testament. B. describes the concepts of slavery in the New Testament. C. Involves the question of how many slaves there were in the Roman Empire. I have heard that as much as 90% of the total population was slaves. The lowest figure I have seen is between 30-35%. Many of the older writers took their figures from the number of slaves possessed by individual slave owners mentioned in the literature of the day. Often these were exceptional numbers as such were mentioned in these written accounts. I am more inclined to guesstimate the number is between 60 and 70% from the historical accounts I have read of the era. To say the least, a good number of people who were instrumental in keeping the world system going were slaves in the New Testament era. Many Roman slaves were spoil from military endeavors of the victorious Roman Empire. Historical records indicate that there were slave dealers who attached themselves to the Roman army with the purpose of buying excess conquered slaves or slaves sold by soldiers who had earned them. Others were taken by slave raiders or pirates. There were also persons so poor that slavery was the only option they had. Some persons became slaves as punishment for crimes committed. A major part of the expanding slave population was through reproduction. Slaves born to slaves automatically became the master's property. Reproduction was encouraged and the slave families often produced many generations for the master. In the Greek era, the Greeks rarely had Greek slaves. They lived in free city states and saw those who served kings as perfect candidates for slavery. They had no problem capturing slaves from among the non-Greeks because they were used to being subjects to others. In the Roman Empire slaves were not considered persons but legal property. The owners of slaves had absolute rights early in the history of the Empire though these were slightly modified as time went by. The culture and every part of the world system supported slavery and understood its importance to the success of the Empire.

The second section covers passages primarily in the Gospel of Matthew that refer to slavery. Jesus often referred to elements of slavery in his parables and in his teaching. He assumed that all who hear could understand the concept of slavery and so in his parables He made it more frustrating to those who heard by using a common situation. The main heading describes the truth learned from each passage listed.

III. discusses the matter of Christian slaves and Christian masters. 1 Cor. 7:20-24 very clearly says that a slave who is called to salvation is not to make an effort to change his social status (his calling) because he or she is a Christian. If freedom is given, they could take it but were not to make a huge effort to change their status. Notice that this revelation is presented to the Corinthian church that was one of the more wealthy churches. A Christian slave was to use his slavery to glorify God. He or she was to obey with a proper attitude, to honor the master and to be subject to the master whether he was good or perverse. A Christian master was to have a proper relationship to a Christian slave. Paul encouraged Philemon to take the runaway slave Onesimus back even though he had been unprofitable. He was saved and was now profitable. Notice that Paul never told Philemon to release Onesimus but to take him back as a slave who was now a Christian brother. Paul even offered to make up for any losses caused Philemon by Onesimus and his flight.

Slavery provides another example of the differences that exist between the functions of this life on planet earth and one's relationship in Christ. A slave wasn't to seek freedom when he became a Christian. He rather remained a slave. In Christ there is no difference between a freeman and a slave (Gal. 3:26-28 and Col. 3:10, 11). A Christian slave was in the world system but not of it. He was a part of the mechanism that kept the world system rolling yet he was in Christ in the spiritual realm. God expected him to use the world system where he was and enjoy all he was or had in Christ. What a great example of life in the two realms. With it comes the potential for glorifying God in whatever condition on is in one earth.

God is so good!

Living in the new man certainly is better than in the old man [old position in Adam].

Enjoying the unity of the oneness in Christ,

DKS

#75 -- Gospel and Spiritual Growth

Valley – January 26, 2003 a.m.

THE ROLE OF SLAVERY IN THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY IN THE WORLD SYSTEM IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

1 John 2:15

Proposition: To examine the role of slavery as revealed in the New Testament and to demonstrate that God did not denigrate the system for its slavery but encouraged Christian slaves to function as Christians in it.

Introduction

A. The Dependence of Commerce and Industry Throughout the Roman Empire on Slavery

1. Essential for Progress as Ordered

2. Effective for Progress in the Order

B. The Geographical Distribution of Numbers of Slaves in the Roman Empire

1. Cosmopolitan and Suburban

2. Countryside and Rural Environment

C. The Development of a Slave Society

1. Matters of Culture: Accepted as Normal

2. Matters of Law: No Legal Standing or Rights

D. The Duties of Christian Slaves and Masters

TRANS: There is a great deal of information concerning slavery in the New Testament. This revelation is different than the Old Testament in that it does not include regulations of slavery but instructs Christian slaves and masters to be Christians while they remain n their condition.

I. THE DISCUSSION OF SLAVERY IN THE NEW TESTAMENT AND NEW TESTAMENT ERA – REVELATION AND QUESTIONS CONCERNING SLAVERY IN THE NEW TESTAMENT – SLAVERY AS A NORMAL PART OF THE CULTURE OF THE WORLD SYSTEM

A. The Variety of Words Describing Human Slavery or Bondage

1. The Key Root and Its Derivatives

a. Slave – dou/loj (doulos) – 125 times

b. To Serve as a Slave – douleu,w (douleuo) – 25 times

c. Other Forms of the Root = Eight Forms with 33 Total Occurrences

d. Grand Total = 183 times

2. The Root qera,pwn (therapon) = household slave [49X – more of healing]

3. The Word pai/j (pais) = young servant – 24x

4. The Word paidi,skh (paidiske) = young female servant – 13x

5. The Word oivke,thj (oiketes) = house servant – 4x

B. The Greek Concepts of Servitude or Slavery

1. Human Servitude to Another Human Being – ex. Eph. 6:7; 1 Tim. 6:2; Jn. 8:33; Matt.

6:24

2. Men Who Serve the Mosaic Law – Gal. 4:25

3. Men Who Serve God – Matt. 6:24; Rom. 7:6; 12:11

4. Human Saints Serving One Another – Gal. 5:13

5. Human Servitude to Idols – Gal. 4:8

6. Human Servitude to the Sin Nature – Rom. 6:17, 20

C. The Matter of Proportion of Slaves in the Population of the Roman Empire in the New

Testament Era

1. The Higher Percentages

2. The Lower Percentages

D. The Acquisition of Slaves in the Roman Empire

1. Through Military Invasion and Victory

2. Through Piracy

3. Through Poverty and Penalty

4. Through Reproduction

E. The Attitude of the Citizens Toward Slaves

1. The View of the Greeks Toward Slaves Before the Greek Era

2. The Legal Recognition of Slaves as Property Rather Than Citizens

3. The Rights of Slave Owners in the Roman Empire

4. The Relationship of Slaves to the Economy of the World System

TRANS: In the New Testament there is no formal description of the practice of slavery in the Roman Empire. Much of what we learn about slavery in the Gospels is found in Christ's parables and illustration which were easily understood by His audiences living in the Roman-Jewish society of His day. The Gospel of Matthew provides some core information concerning slavery.

II. THE ASSUMPTIONS CONCERNING SLAVERY IN JESUS CHRIST'S EARTHLY MINISTRY – THE RELATIONSHIP OF SLAVERY TO CHRIST'S TEACHING IN HIS EARTHLY MINISTRY – SLAVERY AS A BASIS FOR LIMITED ELEMENTS OF CHRIST'S ILLUSTRATIVE TEACHING (Note: Jesus Christ used common cultural knowledge of slavery in His parables and teaching to communicate specific truths.)

A. The Necessity for Serving a Single Master – Matt. 6:24 (cf. Lu. 16:13)

B. The Necessity of Exclusive and Absolute Obedience to the Master – Matt. 8:9

C. The Necessity of Doing the Will of the Master – Matt. 13:27, 28

D. The Power of the Master Over His Slaves – Matt. 18:23-34

1. The Potential for One to Be Sold Into Slavery for Debt Owed – vss. 23-27

2. The Potential for Compassion – vs. 27

3. The Provision of Unmerciful Punishment for Evil – vs. 34

E. The Representation of the Master's Interests – Matt. 21:33-36; 22:2-4, 6, 8, 10

F. The Placing of Slaves in a Position of Responsibility and Command – Matt 24:45-50

G. The Delegation of Responsibility to Slaves – Matt. 25:14-30

H. The Slave Who Neglects or Fails in His Duty Is Considered Malignantly Evil – Matt. 18:32; 25:26, 30; Lu. 19:22

TRANS: Slaves became Christians. Several letters in grace revelation give revelation addressed to Christian slaves and Christian masters. At no point is there a divine mandate against the slavery that dominated the Empire. The status of a new Christian was to remain the same in most instances.

III. THE GUIDELINES FOR CHRISTIAN SLAVES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT ERA – THE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR CHRISTIAN SLAVES LIVING IN THE WORLD SYSTEM – SLAVERY AS A CONDITION FOR SOME CHRISTIANS IN THE CHURCH AND ITS EXPECTATIONS

A. Feeling at Ease in the Condition One Was in When Called to Salvation – 1 Cor. 7:20-24

1. The Principle of Feeling at Ease – vs. 20

2. The Principle of Using One's Slavery – vs. 21

3. The Principle of a Primary Relationship to the Lord – vss. 22-24

B. Expecting Obedience from the Christian Slave to His or Her Human Master

1. Obey with a Proper Attitude – Eph. 6:5-9; Col. 3:22, 23; Tit. 2:9, 10

2. Honor the Master – 1 Tim. 6:1

3. Be Subject to Your Masters (Good & Perverse) – 1 Pe. 2:18, 19

C. Requiring Equity from Christian Masters – Eph. 6:9; Col. 4:1

D. Maintaining the Status Quo with Compassion -- Philemon

TRANS: In the physical and cultural realms the New Testament accepts slavery as a part of the world system in its day neither supporting it nor rejecting it. Those who were either slaves or owners (lords) who became Christians were placed under some constraints but were never encouraged to rebel against the practice. On the other hand, in the spiritual realm there is no distinction between social classes in Christ. This provides a special basis for all Christians living in that environment and society.

IV. THE POSITION OF THE BELIEVER IN CHRIST AND SLAVERY – IMPUTATION IN THE MIND OF GOD AND SLAVERY – SLAVERY AS SOMETHING ISOLATED FROM BEING N CHRIST IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM

A. Spirit Baptism Placing One "in Christ" Changes Relationships Affected by the World System – Gal. 3:26-28

B. Participation in the New Creation Affects Worldly Distinctions – Col. 3:10, 11

TRANS: Slavery carried the world system in its commerce and industry. The Roman Empire became great because of the work of slaves. This was especially true before the Republic was established. Naturally this affected the whole Empire.

Conclusion

Valley Baptist Church

P. O. Box 99, Gaston, OR 97119