If you are referring to the verses JECE mentioned, no.Jamiet99uk wrote: ↑Fri Dec 15, 2023 11:07 amThe Bible said slavery was moral, did it not?CaptainFritz28 wrote: ↑Fri Dec 15, 2023 2:42 amSo when slavery abolitionists were a minority, was slavery moral?Jamiet99uk wrote: ↑Fri Dec 15, 2023 1:40 amThe "moral code" of a very small minority of people who have chosen to breach some of society's most basic conventions does not need to be respected. So we put them in jail.
The Bible also states in Matthew 5:44 "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you"
Does this condone the persecution of Christians? No. What it does is tell Christians what ought to be done if such an evil is perpetrated against you. Likewise, these verses do not say "slavery is good" but rather "if you are a slave, here's what you should do when evil is perpetrated against you."
Notably, JECE's source (an interesting one, to be sure) fails to include any context.
Colossians 4:1
"Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven." (this is talking about bondservants, which are laborers that are working to pay off a debt, but it can be cross-applied)
Ephesians 6:5-9
"Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him."
Exodus 21:16
"Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death."
Deuteronomy 23:15-16
"You shall not give up to his master a slave who has escaped from his master to you. He shall dwell with you, in your midst, in the place that he shall choose within one of your towns, wherever it suits him. You shall not wrong him."
I don't know how much clearer it gets. The transatlantic slave trade was entirely an immoral institution.
The selling of oneself into slavery to pay a debt is a different matter. It is a choice of the individual to do so, but even then their master is commanded to deal well with them, not threatening or harming them. This is what the Bible refers to when it mentions bondservants or slaves.
Again, no interpretation needed. Just read.