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Slavery in Roman History

It is often the temptation to read our modern context into the Scriptures. We do this because it’s our frame of reference, and often it leaves us with an incomplete or even wrong understanding. Mention the word “slave,” and it naturally conjures up pictures of the pre-Civil War American South and the harsh ownership and treatment of those on cotton plantations. But, if we’re going to understand what Paul is addressing here, which we must, since he gives instructions to slaves (bondservants) and their masters, then we need to address the issue first from his cultural standpoint.

When Ephesians was written, slavery was common. Some estimates say that there were around 60 million slaves in 1st century Rome. That’d be about 18% of our nation today. It would mean that about 1/3 of the population of Ephesus was slave. That’s a lot. So, we might ask, “Why were there so many slaves?”

The truth of the matter is that most jobs were done by slaves. It wasn’t just menial work. They were managers and worked most professions, and it wasn’t uncommon for a slave to be more educated than his master. They were allowed to make money, and there was a real probability for many of them to buy or earn their freedom. Because there were so many slaves, there was no “slave class” because slaves were present in every layer of the economic and social framework except the highest.

Second, there was a real possibility that a slave could change his “station” in life. There was an opportunity to actually rise above the life you were born in to. Felix, who famously threw Paul in prison, was a slave at one time, but he eventually became a governor in Judea. And, I came across this excerpt from the ancient novel called Satyricon:

“I was no bigger than this candlestick here when I came out of Asia Minor.… For fourteen years I was the master’s little darling. The mistress’ too.… The gods were on my side—I became the head of the household, I took over from that pea-brain of a master. Need I say more? He made me a co-heir in his will, and I inherited a millionaire’s estate.”

Our modern idea of slavery would find it hard to imagine a scenario where a slave becomes his master’s heir and inherits his multi-million dollar estate, but that wouldn’t necessarily be beyond comprehension in the 1st century Roman world.

Next, slaves really could gain their freedom. As a matter of fact, one scholar points out that many slaves actually did gain their freedom by the time they turned thirty. Those who worked the more “white collar” jobs would be fairly certainly of gaining their freedom, and that came with a precious blessing: Roman citizenship. This could even explain why some would willingly become slaves—they could earn freedom and citizenship in the process.

Now, I don’t want to give a false view of 1st century slavery. Life truly was cruel. The truth of the matter is, the treatment of the slave was very much so dependent upon his master. Therefore, Paul addresses both in this letter.

Slavery in Biblical History

The fact of the matter, however, is that Paul addresses slaves and masters, so is he endorsing it? After all, misguided “believers” have claimed that? Why didn’t Paul just say, “Abolish slavery!”

First, let’s be clear: the Bible does not endorse slavery. But, this still doesn’t answer the question. Why don’t they outright call for it’s abolition?

There’s a pragmatic reason: Christians were rather insignificant, practicing an unlawful religion and politically powerless in their world.

Slaves were regularly freed, as mentioned before, sometimes abundantly.

Conditions were beginning to change in Rome during Paul’s day. According to one scholar, there were humanitarian efforts beginning by the 1st century.

Paul’s purpose is to address what is, and he’s tackling what it means to live under the authority of Christ in the 1st century home.

Second, the Bible does oppose cruel slavery, what we think of when we say “slavery.”

Slavery fails to uphold the great commandment—love your neighbor as yourself.

Slavery fails to uphold the golden rule—treat others as you would be treated.

Slaves, nor their masters, are viewed positively in the Bible. Think of Egypt and Israel. Their slavery was never painted in a positive light. And, coming out of slavery, when God gives the law, He says (Exodus 21:16 ““Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death.”)

The NT undermines slavery, destroying its premise. The NT writers are not silent, they simply crumble it’s foundation with different arguments.

They call for believers to imitate God, and part of God’s character is that He is just and opposes oppression.

It outright calls human trafficking a sin (1 Timothy 1:10 “the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine,”).

And, the idea of any particular race being so superior to another that they could then own that race is clearly destroyed by the NT’s arguments of equality Colossians 3:11 (“Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.”) for instance.

Finally, Paul actually encourages freedom in 1 Cor.7:21.

The gospel is a picture of liberation. When Jesus begins His ministry, and He reads from the scroll of Isaiah in the synagogue, the last line He reads is, “to set at liberty those who are oppressed.” (Lk 4:18). But, it’s more than that. It actually provides a way for the foundation of slavery to be destroyed. And, Paul does that here.

Both slaves and masters are encouraged to treat each other the same way they would treat Jesus.

Both slaves and masters are reminded that ultimately they have the same Master: Kind Jesus. One scholar actually says this is the point that ultimately undermined slavery.

Masters are called to do the same to their slaves. He isn’t telling them to treat all their slaves the same. He’s pointing back to vs.7—rendering service with a good will as to the Lord. It’s basically telling them to both treat each other with the golden rule in mind.

That’s a lot of context, but it gives us a good working background as we try to cross a cultural bridge and make some application in our present-day lives.

Work for Christ

Interpretation:

As we’ve seen throughout these last few weeks, the frame of submission and obedience is this: “as you would Christ.” Everything we do, and that includes the bondservants’ work, centers on Jesus. There is actually a transfer of masters, even if a person never had an opportunity to transfer their job. No matter who our earthly master is, we all have a higher calling: Christ is now our Lord. So, how can we honor Christ in our work?

We can work respectfully. Paul says our work should be done with fear and trembling. These ideas deal with respect. Be punctual. Honor your boss’ desires. Be cooperative. Treat others well.

We can work with our whole hearts. Paul calls it a sincere heart and doing the will of God from the heart. This means our desires and wishes line up with God-pleasing motives. Our desire in the work place should be to please Christ through diligent work that reflects Christ well. This doesn’t mean “all work and no play.” It does mean that we seek to honor Christ in how we approach our work.

We can work willingly. We should render service with a good will. There should be no begrudging spirit within us.

We can work with great expectations. Verse 8 says, whatever good anyone does…he will receive back from the Lord. There is a good reward that is coming. We may not see it in this job, or in any job, but the Lord knows it all. He sees it all, and He rewards accordingly. That hope carries even the most desperate of hearts through even the darkest of circumstances.

Illustration:

There's a famous story—whether every detail is perfectly documented or not, the point rings true—that President Kennedy met a janitor at NASA and asked what he was doing. The janitor replied, “I'm helping put a man on the moon.” He understood that mopping floors was connected to something much bigger than mopping floors.

Paul would say something even greater. The Christian doesn't merely work for a company mission. He works for Christ's kingdom. Every honest day's work becomes part of glorifying the Lord.

Application:

Tomorrow morning, many of you will go back to the same desk, the same classroom, the same shop, the same hospital, the same truck, the same kitchen. The work may not change—but your Master has. And when your Master changes, your motivation changes. You are no longer working merely for a paycheck, a promotion, or a person's approval. You are working for the King of kings.

So, let our work look like it. Pray for the Spirit’s strength to help you look like Jesus in your work. Model Christ in all that you do, remembering that He took the form of a servant so that He could serve and surrender His life and rights. And, do it all to show the world that your greatest treasure is Jesus.

Lead like Christ

Interpretation:

The instruction turns our attention to masters now, and Paul has a good word for how we lead others.

Practice mutuality. The same guidelines that are practiced by workers should be practiced by their leaders. The NLT says, “treat your slaves in the same way.” There should be integrity, respect, humility, and gentleness in our interaction. Treat others as you want to be treated, or treat them as you would treat Christ Himself. Give respect in order to get respect.

Don’t threaten them. The workplace could easily turn into a hostile environment. Guard against that. The text says, stop your threatening. What does bullying and aggression say about us? What does it say about Christ?!

Be accountable to Christ. We all have the same Master. Life gets rather dicey when we forget who the real boss is. If judgment from the Lord awaits the slave and master the same, then our service better be first and foremost to Jesus!

Remember that God has no favorites! While the world may try to write partiality into the code of our existence, God did not. There is no partiality with Him. If anything, bear in mind that the first shall be last and the last, first. Remember that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.

Illustration:

Imagine a construction foreman left in charge of a job site while the owner is away. He starts acting like he owns the company. He yells at workers, cuts corners, belittles people, and demands unquestioning obedience. Then one morning the owner's truck pulls into the parking lot.

Suddenly everything changes.

The foreman remembers, "I'm not the owner. I'm accountable to the owner."

The workers were never ultimately his. The project wasn't his. Even his authority wasn't his.

That's Paul's point. Whether you're a supervisor, business owner, teacher, parent, pastor, or manager, you've been entrusted with your position—but you don't own it. Christ does. You'll answer to Him for how you treated those under your care.

Application: