Q5. Slavery and Gospel

[Eldress Rowe]

The Gospel has sown the seeds that will eventually destroy slavery by letting us know that their is neither bond or free for their is unity of all human beings in Christ Jesus.   In calling, justifying, and saving men God is no respecter of person but all who are saved are saved by His grace.

Paul seems to condone slavery in this passage because he gives instructions on how servants are to behave with regards to their masters and vice versa. Jesus Christ did not come to dissolve the bond of civil relations but to strengthen it and Paul is giving instructions as to how it can be strengthen.

 

Pau's motive was to encourage the Gentiles and demolish the pride, vanity, and boasting of the Jews.  If servants who embrace the Christian religion grow insolvent and disobedient to their masters the doctrine of Christ would be reflected on as if it had made men worse livers than they had been before they received the Gospel.  And if we who profess Christianity misbehave ourselves the name of God and the doctrine of Christ are in danger of being blasphemed by those who seek to speak evil of that worthy name by which we are called.

[Zanele Tlhakanelo]

Paul is emphasizing that the Gospel is accommodative of all mankind because before the eyes of God we are all equal. Slaves which are Christians should honor and respect their masters who are non-Christians so that the teachings and God's name are not slandered. Much as we honor our Master, they should do the same.

Pauls seems to condone slavery because we must all have our freedom and as such, slaves are expectant to be obedient just like masters are supposed to take good care of those they have hired. The relationship between the slaves and their masters need to be strengthened by their harmonious understanding of each other's roles.

Paul's motive is to ensure that there is unity among people just as Christ gave Himself for all mankind and did not choose to die for one race. He gave us the freedom to choose to be God's children and be obedient to the Will of God so that God may be glorified in all humanity.

[Clelie]

In Christ there is no distinction of races, color, slaved or free. We are all free in Christ Jesus, not bound by any slavery to hierarchy or things of this world.

Slaves who have become believers should behave with respect towards their unsaved masters to show they are followers of Christ who taught them to love even their enemies. 
slaves who have become followers of Christ should have more  respect for their believers masters for they have become brothers and share the benefits of their faith all for the sake of the gospel of Christ.

[Niyonka16]

Q5. (1 Timothy 6:1-2) In what ways has the Gospel sown the seeds that will eventually destroy slavery?

ANSWER: Spreading the Gospel is like sowing seeds because you are trying to create the most receptive place for the seed to be planted. Sharing the Gospel is a relational endeavor, and preparing the soil simply means building a relationship with the people around us. The lesson we learnt from 1 Timothy 6:1-2:…It means you are strong. It means you are truly free in Christ. You are so free, that, if those in authority over you misbehave, you do NOT have to retaliate.

Jesus and the apostles did not outright condemn slavery. They didn’t need to. The effect of the gospel is that lives are changed, one by one, and those changed lives in turn bring transformation to entire families, clans, and cultures. Christianity was never designed to be a political movement, but, over time, it naturally affected political policy. In nations where Christianity spread and took firm hold, slavery was brought to an end through the efforts of born-again individuals. The seeds of the emancipation of slaves are in the Bible, which teaches that all men are created by God and made in His image which condemns those who kidnap and sell a person,  and which shows that a slave can truly be “a brother in the Lord.”

Why does Paul seem to condone slavery in this passage?

ANSWER: According to 1 Timothy 6:1, the reason for slaves maintaining their inferior position in society was “so that the name of God and the teaching may not be blasphemed.” Paul wasn’t condoning slavery, but was showing that his overriding concern was the proclamation of the Gospel in light of the soon coming of the Lord. For Paul and the early church fathers, the importance of preaching the gospel in light of the soon return of Christ took priority over the social order.

It is imperative for us to realize that slavery is not a part of creation {i.e., God’s original created order}; it is a product of sin. In 1 Timothy, we see that biblical instructions concerning slavery do not imply biblical approval of slavery. When Paul addresses slavery, he is not endorsing it; he is helping to shepherd people who are involved in a sinful economic and social system in which slavery is prevalent.

What is Paul’s motive?

ANSWER: Paul’s motive was to helped raise the status of slaves, and eventually to bring an end to slavery, by encouraging Christian slaves to work with responsibility and dignity. Although slavery is a product of sin, slaves should live for the glory of God and the advancement of the gospel.

The care being commanded here is not for slaves. Rather, care and honor is demanded from them. The entire letter is a polemic of sorts. It's a defense of the gospel. Paul demands that slaves conduct themselves in a manner that adorns and protects the gospel of Jesus Christ rather than detracts from and discredits it. Paul gives two reasons why slaves (and by implication every Christian) must be concerned about their conduct as they serve men.

[Sister Evelyn]

Q5. (1 Timothy 6:1-2) In what ways has the Gospel sown the seeds that will eventually, destroy slavery? 

The Truth will set you Free. "Seed of Freedom" and "Free in Christ." Paul condone slavery because some slaves were captives of war and others had sold themselves into slavery because they could not provide for themselves.

[t-c]

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?

A few verses come to mind: In Matt 7:12, Jesus said, “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” And later on He asks a man, what is the greatest commandment: He replied, love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself.                        
These truths are incompatible with slavery, even though it was mainstream at that time and for centuries to come. Without God/Chtistianity where we would be. It’s frightening to think about. Praise God!

He’s not condoning it, he just realizes that slavery is a fact and widespread in first century Asia Minor. And has been for thousands of years. There were slaves as well as slave owner who followed Christ, within the church.

I think that Paul here was to keep the focus on God and not let the name of Christianity be spoken against. To encourage slave believers as well as slave owner believers to focus on the fact that they are brothers in Christ and to realize in their behavior they are serving God and not mere men. It’s the beginning of slavery’s undoing.

[Jonathan Edwards]

We are all one in Christ.   St Paul beautifully expounds on this topic in his letters to Ephesians and Colossians.  Christ is all, and in all.  The Mosaic Law provided compensation for the loss of freedoms,and considerate treatment was definitely secured by the Torah.

St Paul didn't intend to upset the constitution of the Roman empire by starting fruitless endeavor for social equality.  St Paul did recognize that proper respect for distinction of rank and class must be paid to those in authority.  

The early Apostles had big challenges to maintain the Orthodox Christian faith and to catechize the new believers.   They were in many ways restricted in how to proceed in proper fashion within a pagan society.   Apostle Paul didn't get involved in various political struggles in the Roman empire.

 

[Old Jerry]

The gospel is sowing seeds that will eventually destroy slavery by telling the people that if they are slaves to respect and obey their masters. Paul is just trying to make it easier on Christians because they were being looked down on because of their religion. So, there was no use in telling they to rebel

[hanks]

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?

I don’t think Paul was condoning slavery; but he also did not call for its dissolution. We may ask why Paul, as a Christian leader, tolerated the existence of slavery without denouncing it. We must note that the timing was not right for the liberation of slaves; that would come later. He did not want outright revolt by the slaves nor the continuation of the situation as it was. He wrote that the slave was to honour his master and the master was to be kind to the slave. The ill-will, dishonesty, and laziness of many slaves would be replaced by willing service, integrity, and hard work. The cruelty and brutality of many masters was to be replaced with kindness and love. Thus, the grace of Christ, working from within, would eventually bring an end to slavery. We are all one in Jesus: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:28). As the teachings of Christianity spread, we notice the abuses of slavery being abolished. We should, however, remember that as a true believer we are a bondslave of Jesus Christ - we have been bought with a price; we no longer belong to ourselves; and Jesus Christ owns us - spirit, soul, and body.