Bible Verses About Slavery

Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God;

Bible passage behind the early Christian instruction

Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

Bible passage behind the early Christian instruction

Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.

Bible passage allowing harsh treatment context

Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.

Masters owe justice and fairness

Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.

Bible passage used in later Christian household teaching

Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.

Believing masters and slaves are addressed within the same Christian fellowship.

That every man should let his manservant, and every man his maidservant, being an Hebrew or an Hebrewess, go free; that none should serve himself of them, to wit, of a Jew his brother.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Direct Bible freedom text often used by Christians

Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.

Shows the biblical option to gain freedom if possible.

Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?

Directly says the slave is a beloved brother in the Lord.

So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

Contrasts children of the free woman with the slave woman.

For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.

States the slave in the Lord is Christ’s freedman.

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Direct Bible freedom text used in Christian teaching

Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

Direct Bible text on being set free from sin

For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.

Direct Bible text on slavery to sin

Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

Warns believers not to become slaves of men.

And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.

Masters must forbear threatening

Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

States the reward is the same whether slave or free.

If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.