Q5. Slavery and Gospel

[nerraw20]

Q5. (1 Timothy 6:1-2) In what ways has the Gospel sown the seeds that will eventually destroy slavery? Why does Paul seem to condone slavery in this passage? What is Paul's motive?

In Christ all are truly free. It was more important to portray the church correctly than to be seen as rebellious.

[User Name Theophila]

Q5. (1Timothy 6:1-2)

In what ways has the Gospel sown the seeds that will eventually destroy slavery?

Why does Paul seem to condone slavery in this passage?

What is Paul's motive?

I don

[Jewell]

The gospel sows the seeds of destoying slavery in the request that the slaves respect their Christian and non-Christian masters so as not to give the perception that Christianity encourages rebellion. I don't know that Paul condones slavery as much as he encourages slaves to act in a way that does not bring reasons for others to speak against or persecute Christians.

[Mrstoler]

Q5. (1 Timothy 6:1-2) In what ways has the Gospel sown the seeds that will eventually destroy slavery? Why does Paul seem to condone slavery in this passage? What is Paul's motive?

The Gospel teaches how all Christians are equal in God

[KWADWO]

Q5. (1 Timothy 6:1-2) In what ways has the Gospel sown the seeds that will eventually destroy slavery? Why does Paul seem to condone slavery in this passage? What is Paul's motive?

The gospel makes it clear that we were all created in the image of God, whether slave or freeman. The blood that was shared was for the remission of sin of all. Paul was just stating what God meant. We must love and respect people not because of their status but because they have the image and breath of God. He was therefore in no way condoning slavery. His motive was for people to love and respect each other.

[prosenstein]

Q5. (1 Timothy 6:1-2) In what ways has the Gospel sown the seeds that will eventually destroy slavery? Why does Paul seem to condone slavery in this passage? What is Paul's motive?

The Gospel has sown the seeds that will eventually destroy slavery: Paul said in Galatians 3:28 that all are one in Christ and that there are no distinctions between slave or free.

Paul appears to condone slavery becasue he doesn't want to heap more condemnation on the church, who is currently being accused of being atheistic. Paul is just trying to protect the church from appearing too rebellious in society as it is dealing with all the condemnation that it can handle during that time.

[emmaus]

The bible has sown the seeds that will destroy slavery by saying,"there is neither slave nor free". Paul's duty was to spread the gospel. If he had encouraged the slaves to revolt he and his ministry would have been stopped right there.

[CHRISTinUS]

1 Timothy 6:1-2

* In what ways has the Gospel sown the seeds that will eventually destroy slavery?

Paul speaks of the "yoke of slavery" which is to be broken, because Jesus Christ has come to free all, regardless of our condition. The times dictate the conditions which have no bearing on the spiritual life of individuals.

* Why does Paul seem to condone slavery in this passage? What is Paul's motive?

The way of life is the doing of the times, and despite those conditions, the relationship between slaves and masters is to continue according to the laws that God and His teaching has given us, with its full respect in order to honour Him and in order to live as brothers. In doing so, Paul's motive is to keep a respectful harmony and a true heart of hope in validating the Word of God in the way we treat each other.

[Commissioned]

Q5. (1 Timothy 6:1-2) In what ways has the Gospel sown the seeds that will eventually destroy slavery? Why does Paul seem to condone slavery in this passage? What is Paul's motive?

The Gospel has sown seeds of freedom that will eventually destroy slavery. Paul said it in Galatians: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28) Paul seemed to condone slavery in this passage because he is teaching obedience to authority. His motive here is obedience which pleases God.

[Peggy Crans]

Q5. (1 Timothy 6:1-2) In what ways has the Gospel sown the seeds that will eventually destroy slavery? Why does Paul seem to condone slavery in this passage? What is Paul's motive?

The Word tells us that we are all one in Christ. I think Paul was not condoning slavery or putting it down, It was the times they were living in there was slavery he was giving guidance to them so God's name and their teaching would not be slandered. If they had a believing master(brother in the Lord) or a non-believing master they were to respect them and Their teaching would not be very fruitful if they were disrespectful and lax when it came to the work they were to do.

[rambler]

Q5. (1 Timothy 6:1-2) In what ways has the Gospel sown the seeds that will eventually destroy slavery? Why does Paul seem to condone slavery in this passage? What is Paul's motive?

That all men are one in Christ. He is not condoning it. He is simply teaching them to react in a godly way to their present situation so that the gospel would not be slandered. Paul encourages slaves to get their freedom, if at all possible (1 Corinthians 7:20-23), and encourages Philemon to free his now-Christian slave Onesimus (Philemon 10-16).

[debbiemoore]

Q5. (1 Timothy 6:1-2) In what ways has the Gospel sown the seeds that will eventually destroy slavery? Why does Paul seem to condone slavery in this passage? What is Paul's motive?

that if you are a slave then you should be good and do as you are told and if you master is a beleiever then do it even better tis may be that eventualy lead to freeing them he does not condone this but this is how we should be as they say treat people how you want to be treated and theywill threat you the same

[DrD]

In the Gospel and according to Jesus - all are equal - basically we are all slaves in that Jesus is our Master - although we are not held against our will - we are surrendered and willingly serve Jesus. . .

Paul is NOT condoning slavery - he is encouraging the Christians that might be in that situation to remain civil, and to respect their masters so that the Name of Christ - nor His teachings would not be slandered. . .

Paul's motive for this is that the Church would continue to progress and grow. . .

[Old Jerry]

The ways that the Gospel has sown the seeds to eventually destroy slavery is that we are all equal in God

[Eagleswings01]

Q5. (1 Timothy 6:1-2) In what ways has the Gospel sown the seeds that will eventually destroy slavery? Why does Paul seem to condone slavery in this passage? What is Paul's motive?

The way in which the Gospel has sown the seeds that will eventually destroy slavery is that we are all one in Christ Jesus.

Paul seems to condone slavery in this passage because he did not want to give more reason to speak against and persecute the Christians.

Paul's motive was that so God's name and our teaching may not be slandered. Also if the slaves treat their masters with respect then maybe somewhere down the road, they(masters) would probably have some compassion and some mercy on them, a change of heart.

[Kent]

At the time, slavery was legal within the Roman society. Some slaves were already Christians as were some of the masters. Paul says that the Christian slaves should serve their masters as well as they can, and not try to "slack off" by taking advantage of both being Christians. Likewise he tells the Christian slaves to serve their non-believing masters well. In both cases, he says that such good performance of their duties will display good Christian lives and values.

[Gerbrand van Schalkwyk]

In what ways has the Gospel sown the seeds that will eventually destroy slavery?

The Bible, especially the New testament, regularly calls us all even. Jesus died for us all. We are all part of His Body, so we sould not have slaves, considered as posessions, not humans.

Why does Paul seem to condone slavery in this passage?

He teaches Christian living. Just as we still have evil bosses today, he could not say, dont work for that boss. Slavery was part of life, the same as bad bosses are a part of life today.

What is Paul's motive?

He wanted to remove false teachings and give a guidline for Christian living. This included all levels of life, even slaves.

[Craig]

Q5. (1 Timothy 6:1-2) In what ways has the Gospel sown the seeds that will eventually destroy slavery? Why does Paul seem to condone slavery in this passage? What is Paul's motive?

The Christian belief and statement reflected in Galatians 3:28: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

The love, unity, and the elevation in the treatment of all humanity reflected in the teachings of Jesus Christ sown the seeds that would eventually destroy slavery.

Paul isn't condoing slavery in this passage. What he is saying is that the slave should count their own masters worthy of all honor. This means that they should give them due respect, work obediently and faithfully, and in general seek to be a help rather than a hinderance. The great motive for such diligent service is that the the testimony for Christ is involved. If a Christian slave where to act rudely or rebelliously, then the master would blaspheme the name of God and the Christian faith. He would conclude that believers were a worthless lot.

The history of the early church reveals that Christian slaves generally commanded a higher price on the slave market than unbelievers. If a master knew that a certain slave on the auction block was a Christian, he would generally be willing to pay more for that slave, since he knew that slave would serve him faithfully and well. This is high tribute to the Christian faith.

These verses remind us that no matter how low a person's position my be on the social scale, they still have every opportunity for witnessing for Jesus Christ and bringing glory to His name.

[wifee]

5a)The gospel declares all humans are united and one in Christ Galations 3:28,Jesus died that we would be set free.The seeds of freedom &true equality have been sown,we are all equal persons in the family God &in the church.He also encourages slaves to gain their freedom, if that it becomes available (1 Corinthians 7:20-23), encouraging Philemon to free his slave Onesimus,(now believer) (Philemon 10-16).He shows Word makes provision for slaves.
b)Paul gives guidelines for slaves behaviour,urges believing slaves to serve believing masters even better as their fellow believers,united in christ for the sake of the church.He implied he wanted slaves to maintain their role in societybecause he didn’t want to encourage any rebellion amongst slaves that would encourage further persecution&labelling as a sect.We are all bondslaves to JC,who he sets free is free indeed.How we respect our masters(employers) now irrespective of their faith reflects our relationship with Christ,our witness
.c)Paul didn’t want speaking of Jesus&his teaching to be made any more difficult,his prime concern was to spread the gospel.

[Krissi]

Paul seems to defend the status quo often, perhaps because he knows our life here is transitory and not important compared to eternal life. We want to recreate heaven on earth with our ideas of equality and justice, but we know, deep in our hearts, it will never happen. The human condition, post-fall, is sinful. Wars ... slavery ... poverty ... inequality  .... it's all part of sin.

Slavery will only be abolished when sin is abolished. There are plenty of defacto slaves even in Western countries, now, many of whom work for the government. I don't believe Paul is condoning slavery, however, but merely acknowledging it's perpetual existence on earth. 

When I was very young, I believed that spreading the gospel would ameliorate human suffering on earth. This does happen, but only on an individual basis. Corporate/governmental-caused suffering still exists, and will exist until the parousia. 

I think this is Paul's message, that these things will persist. God allows sin. God allows human suffering. God allows injustice and persecution. He may even desire them, on some level. If such things bring us to Him, closer ... ever closer, then their eternal purpose overshadows their transitory, earthly sinfulness. Paul wants our eyes to be on Christ, not on our circumstances. He is fixated on Christ and, to him, nothing else is "gain." 

 

[Katy]

Q5. Paul was teaching Timothy what he needed to teach to slaves. Paul is not condoning slavery but he accepts that at that time there were people who were slaves. These slaves if they were Christians needed to act in such a way as to honour their Lord, Jesus Christ. If their masters were not Christians they were not to bring disrepute to God by acting in a disrespectful manner to their Master and those they came into contact with on a daily basis. If their Master was a believer, He deserved even more respect because he was a brother in Christ. As a believer his Master will care for the welfare of His slaves. In God eyes every person is equal to another, He does not see Greek or Jew, slave or non slave, one race or another, one religion or another. We are all equal to each other. This is a great lesson and example to us all.

[haar]

Q5. (1 Timothy 6:1-2) In what ways has the Gospel sown the seeds that will eventually destroy slavery? Why does Paul seem to condone slavery in this passage? What is Paul's motive?

A5.

The Gospel teaches love and equality in Christ. Consequently, this calls for us to treat one another as brother and sister and thus eliminate the tendency of treating others (especially slaves) as inferior.

I don’t think Paul might have been condoning slavery. Rather, he tried to encourage Christ like relationship between slaves and their masters without having to advocate for separation of the existing relationship.

Paul tried to balance the relationship between slaves and their masters by advocating peaceful and godly relation among Christian slaves and their masters. He also tried to encourage Christians slaves to show love to their non-Christian master as that could win their non-Christian masters to Christ.
 

[Nicolaas A.P. Mostert]

Q5. (1 Timothy 6:1-2)

In what ways has the Gospel sown the seeds that will eventually destroy slavery?

Pauls instruction to Galatian was', there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Why does Paul seem to condone slavery in this passage?

Slaves were most likely Caucasians like themselves and prisoners of war and their offspring.

What is Paul's motive?

Paul encourages slaves to get their freedom, if that option becomes available. 

[Diane D.]

The Gospel show sus that all people young or old, male or female are precious to God and that we all have eternal souls.  It looks to the heart of the person and not their standing in society.  Paul writes that slaves who are able should get their freedom as well.

Why does he appear to condone slavery?  I don't believe that Paul is condoning this practice, but he is also a realist.  He knows that there are many people who own slaves and employ them in their businesses.  Destruction of slavery may destroy their very society.. not that it is condoned, but where possible, a peaceful transition to freedom should be sought.  In the interim, this letter also exhorts those who own slaves to treat them fairly and in a Christian manner since they, too, are brothers in Christ with the same eternal spirit.

[crissy464]

By spreading the Gospel and bringing people to Christ.
                 He wants slaves to excel in their service. Paul’s apparent social conservatism has been the subject of much misunderstanding. To bring order and Christian character to the forefront of their lives until they could be legally, and physically set free.