Ex 21:
Ellicott explained:
Mosaic law provided a better treatment of slaves than other codes at the time. Other nations allowed their masters to kill their slaves.
From our modern sense of justice, that was unfair treatment. We need to understand these laws within their historical and cultural context.
From our modern point of view, these laws were unjustified. From the Israelites' point of view, their laws offered better treatment of slaves compared to other peoples' laws.
See also
Why did God allow slavery?
Read the disclaimer* below first. The Bible, both Old and New Testaments, does not explicitly prohibit slavery in the way that we understand it today. Slavery during biblical times was a socio-economic institution that was deeply entrenched in the ancient Near Eastern world, and the Bible reflects this historical reality. However, it does teach about the dignity of all people and sets moral limits on the treatment of slaves.
In the New Testament, there are several passages that speak to the ethical treatment of slaves:
1. Ephesians 6:5-8 - "Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free."
2. Colossians 3:22-4:1 - " Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven."
3. 1 Timothy 6:1-2 - "Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved."
These passages emphasize that slaves should obey their masters with respect, fear, sincerity, and reverence for God. They also stress the importance of working willingly and wholeheartedly as if serving the Lord Himself. By the way, all verses in this explanation are in the English Standard Version (ESV).
*Disclaimer: These passages do not condone or endorse slavery, but rather provide guidance for how to live out the moral and ethical principles of Christianity within a societal context where slavery existed. The New Testament does not contain any explicit command or teaching that would prohibit slavery outright. However, it is 100% essential to understand the historical context in which these texts were written and recognize that the ethical standards they set for slave relationships are significantly different from the exploitative, oppressive practices associated with slavery in later periods, including the transatlantic African slave trade and the American South.
TLDR: While the Bible does not explicitly prohibit slavery in the New Testament, it does emphasize the importance of treating slaves with respect, dignity, and compassion. It is a reflection of God's love for all people, regardless of their social status or station in life.
