Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | Titus 2:9 ¶ Urge bondslaves to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Titus 2:9 ¶ Urge bond-servants to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be pleasing and not talk back, |
Subject: Slavery |
Bible Note: 3 thoughts on slavery. Hi Mark. Well, first off, it conflicts with my comfort zone ; ) I will try to flesh out some of the thoughts in my head. I would be interested in YOUR understanding of how slavery is treated in the NT. Perpective 1. This passage tells slaves to obey their master beyond the letter of the law. This whole book emphasizes orderly behaviour for all people, and is applied to slave as well. Where some would see resisting injustice as the kind of Good Work we are called to perform, freedom for the slaves is not suggested here. So then, this is one side of it... accepting slavery as uncomfortable but not immoral. The higher importance is placed on living an orderly, rather than rebellious, life. Perspective 2) When Paul says that, in Christ, there is neither male nor female, slave nor free (Gal 3:28), he is not saying I cease to be a male... rather he is saying we are equal. Same for slaves. Thus the radical claim is that slave and master are EQUALS before God. Perspective 3) The whole book of Philemon. Here, Paul appeals for the freedom of a Slave. The letter underscores the absurdity of Master and Slave beeing equal in Christ, but so unequal in their relationship to each other. Paul, here, is appealing to a master who is devout. What hope, then, is there for slaves who have pagan (or perhaps capitalist) masters. So theres a start. This isnt so much a contradiction as a complexity worth understanding. JRM |