Ephesians 6:5 Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; (NASB: Lockman)
I am in agreement with thee lack of condemnation of slavery in general of the bible. I have one year formal degree in bible studies,and my father with a Masters in Theology teaching me at home on biblical studies. I can tell you from an educated stand point that slavery is not condemned outwardly in the New Testament. Let me share with you what I found out.
Slave here in greek is "Doulos" 1.) a slave, bondman, man of servile conditiona slave 2.)"metaph.", one who gives himself up to another's will those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing his cause among men 3.)devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interests 4.) a servant, attendant.
So with Doulos defined we see here that is can mean the slaves I described to you. . However, the typical roman slave trade was also people either captured or born into slavery so I do apologize on my limited scope of the Roman slave trade. Back to Doulos, the context can mean bond servants, to typical slaves.Here the context is more the general meaning not really pin-pointing a specific group. So yes in Ephesians the author is referring to typical slaves as well as bond servants.
The term Kurios is the greek word for master. Definition is 1.)He whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has the power of deciding. The full definition will continue to states "owner, sovereign. I believe you get the idea. Now in the context of this, it is true this is talking about your master. So regardless of the morality of slavery (which it is wrong in my opinion), not all masters or leaders of servants were cruel.
Then you have Phobos greek word for fear. Meaning 1.)dread,terror, one that strikes terror. In this context however it means respect. Before you think of that parroted response, it is respect because he (kurios) can kill you. That kind of fear is the context in this phrase. In the next greek word you will see why.
Trembling, Tromos is the greek word for this. Which the definition means 1.)a trembling or quaking with fear. 2.)with fear and trembling, used to describe the anxiety of one who distrusts his ability completely to meet all requirements, but religiously does his utmost to fulfil his duty. So with this word with Phobos before it. It gives a rather negative context in reference to fearing your master.
So with other words meaning "sincerity" I think we can review this verse in its proper context. If we read verses before and after, we notice that the author is writing about the way Christians should act toward one another. So in short this verse is not a metaphor but to be taken literal. Now it comes to the conclusion, does this mean the author condoned slavery, it is not really clear his personal opinion on slavery. However, we know he did not condemn it. I believe after my research I find it tyrannical and rather negative to serve such a God. So while my point about slaves and bonds servants is true. You are right this verse shows the contradictory nature of God.
Now in conclusion of why did the New Testament not speak out against slavery. It is because it was written by man. At this time Christianity was fragile, not only in its following, but also politically. Much like Thomas Jefferson's and George Washington's view on slavery, it was not the right time. As in modern terms would have been political suicide and caused either retribution from the Roman government or Jewish Authority. I agree Scott, and I hope this information is helpful as it was eye opening to myself. (greek source http://www.preceptaustin.org/ephesians_65-6.htm)
(This was a facebook post, so forgive as it does seem to be a reply to someone else.)
I am in agreement with thee lack of condemnation of slavery in general of the bible. I have one year formal degree in bible studies,and my father with a Masters in Theology teaching me at home on biblical studies. I can tell you from an educated stand point that slavery is not condemned outwardly in the New Testament. Let me share with you what I found out.
Slave here in greek is "Doulos" 1.) a slave, bondman, man of servile conditiona slave 2.)"metaph.", one who gives himself up to another's will those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing his cause among men 3.)devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interests 4.) a servant, attendant.
So with Doulos defined we see here that is can mean the slaves I described to you. . However, the typical roman slave trade was also people either captured or born into slavery so I do apologize on my limited scope of the Roman slave trade. Back to Doulos, the context can mean bond servants, to typical slaves.Here the context is more the general meaning not really pin-pointing a specific group. So yes in Ephesians the author is referring to typical slaves as well as bond servants.
The term Kurios is the greek word for master. Definition is 1.)He whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has the power of deciding. The full definition will continue to states "owner, sovereign. I believe you get the idea. Now in the context of this, it is true this is talking about your master. So regardless of the morality of slavery (which it is wrong in my opinion), not all masters or leaders of servants were cruel.
Then you have Phobos greek word for fear. Meaning 1.)dread,terror, one that strikes terror. In this context however it means respect. Before you think of that parroted response, it is respect because he (kurios) can kill you. That kind of fear is the context in this phrase. In the next greek word you will see why.
Trembling, Tromos is the greek word for this. Which the definition means 1.)a trembling or quaking with fear. 2.)with fear and trembling, used to describe the anxiety of one who distrusts his ability completely to meet all requirements, but religiously does his utmost to fulfil his duty. So with this word with Phobos before it. It gives a rather negative context in reference to fearing your master.
So with other words meaning "sincerity" I think we can review this verse in its proper context. If we read verses before and after, we notice that the author is writing about the way Christians should act toward one another. So in short this verse is not a metaphor but to be taken literal. Now it comes to the conclusion, does this mean the author condoned slavery, it is not really clear his personal opinion on slavery. However, we know he did not condemn it. I believe after my research I find it tyrannical and rather negative to serve such a God. So while my point about slaves and bonds servants is true. You are right this verse shows the contradictory nature of God.
Now in conclusion of why did the New Testament not speak out against slavery. It is because it was written by man. At this time Christianity was fragile, not only in its following, but also politically. Much like Thomas Jefferson's and George Washington's view on slavery, it was not the right time. As in modern terms would have been political suicide and caused either retribution from the Roman government or Jewish Authority. I agree Scott, and I hope this information is helpful as it was eye opening to myself. (greek source http://www.preceptaustin.org/ephesians_65-6.htm)
(This was a facebook post, so forgive as it does seem to be a reply to someone else.)
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I would be a televangelist....but I have too much of a soul.
