God's Heart for Liberation: Understanding Biblical Slavery

 

Summary

Today’s teaching explored the complex and often misunderstood topic of slavery in the Bible, particularly as addressed in Ephesians 6. Rather than shying away from the difficult history and the ways these verses have been misused, the focus was on understanding the broader biblical narrative and the heart of God as revealed through scripture. The journey began with the Greco-Roman context, where slavery was a pervasive and normalized part of society, not based on race but on citizenship and conquest. In that world, slaves were often treated as property, yet some could earn their freedom, though they remained at the bottom of the social hierarchy.

Turning to the Old Testament, the form of servitude described was more akin to debt servitude or indentured servitude, with built-in protections such as the release of slaves every seven years and commands to treat them with dignity. The Exodus story, where God delivers Israel from slavery, became the defining narrative for the people of God—a God who hears the cry of the oppressed and sets them free. This theme of liberation and dignity is woven throughout the Psalms and the law, shaping the biblical imagination.

In the New Testament, Jesus radically redefines greatness and leadership by taking on the posture of a servant—even a slave—washing his disciples’ feet and giving his life as a ransom for many. Paul and other church leaders identify themselves as “slaves of Christ,” a shocking reversal in a culture where slaves had no honor. The early church became a place where social hierarchies were upended: slave and free, Jew and Greek, male and female—all were one in Christ. Paul’s letter to Philemon, urging him to receive Onesimus not as a slave but as a beloved brother, exemplifies this radical new community.

While Paul does not call for open rebellion against the institution of slavery in Ephesians 6, his words subvert the system by addressing slaves directly, affirming their worth, and commanding masters to treat them with the same respect and service. The church’s historical witness, especially in the early centuries and again in the abolitionist movements, has often been at the forefront of challenging and dismantling systems of oppression.

The call today is to imitate Jesus’ way of servanthood, to honor the dignity of every person, and to engage in both personal and systemic efforts to oppose modern forms of slavery. Ultimately, this is rooted in the character of God—the one who sets people free and calls his followers to do the same.

Key Takeaways

- God’s Heart Is for Liberation and Dignity
From the Exodus to the Psalms, the biblical story reveals a God who hears the cry of the oppressed and acts to set them free. This is not just a historical event but a defining aspect of God’s character. When we misunderstand the Bible’s teaching on slavery, we risk misunderstanding the very heart of God, who is always on the side of liberation and human dignity. [33:22]

- Jesus Redefines Power Through Servanthood
Jesus’ willingness to take the lowest place—washing feet, serving the marginalized, and dying a slave’s death—reframes what it means to be great in God’s kingdom. True greatness is found not in dominance but in sacrificial service, and followers of Jesus are called to embrace this posture in every sphere of life. [34:36]

- The Early Church as a Radical Community of Equality
By identifying themselves as “slaves of Christ” and welcoming slaves and masters as equals, the early church created a countercultural community where social hierarchies were dismantled. This radical equality was not theoretical but lived out in relationships, challenging the very foundations of the surrounding society. [39:10]

- Scripture Subverts, Rather Than Supports, Oppression
Though some have misused biblical texts to justify slavery, a careful reading shows that both Old and New Testaments consistently undermine systems of oppression. Commands to honor, serve, and treat all people with dignity, as well as the direct repudiation of slave trading and the call to seek freedom, reveal a trajectory toward justice and liberation. [53:42]

- Faithful Witness Requires Both Personal and Systemic Action
Imitating Jesus means not only serving others and honoring their dignity in daily life but also engaging with the broader systems that perpetuate injustice. Whether through prayer, financial support, or advocacy, followers of Christ are called to participate in God’s ongoing work of setting captives free, both spiritually and physically. [58:39]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[15:18] - Announcements and Community Life
[17:01] - Honoring Departing Military Members
[19:58] - Scripture Reading: Ephesians 6:5-9
[21:08] - Addressing Slavery in the Bible
[22:11] - Greco-Roman Context of Slavery
[26:53] - Social Hierarchy and Freedom in Rome
[27:12] - Old Testament Context: Debt Servitude
[29:40] - Biblical Law and the Treatment of Slaves
[32:02] - Exodus: God the Liberator
[33:44] - Jesus and the Posture of a Servant
[36:37] - Paul and the Early Church’s Radical Equality
[39:29] - One in Christ: Breaking Social Barriers
[41:15] - Paul, Philemon, and Onesimus
[44:12] - Paul’s Words in Ephesians 6
[46:34] - Undermining Slavery Through Community
[49:06] - Church History and the Abolition of Slavery
[54:16] - Living Out Servanthood Today
[58:39] - Engaging Modern Slavery and Systemic Injustice
[01:00:11] - Worship and Responding to God’s Character

Study Guide

Small Group Bible Study Guide: Ephesians 6 and the Bible’s Vision of Liberation and Dignity

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### Bible Reading

- Ephesians 6:5-9
Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.

- Galatians 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

- Exodus 3:7-8
Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians…”

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### Observation Questions

1. In Ephesians 6:5-9, what instructions does Paul give to both slaves and masters? What is surprising about the way he addresses each group?
2. According to Galatians 3:28, what does Paul say about the distinctions between people in Christ?
3. In the Exodus story (Exodus 3:7-8), what is God’s response to the suffering of the Israelites?
4. The sermon mentioned that in the Greco-Roman world, slavery was not based on race but on citizenship and conquest. How does this differ from the way slavery is often thought of in American history? [[24:31]]

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### Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Paul addresses slaves directly in Ephesians 6, instead of only speaking to masters? What does this say about their value in the early church? [[44:59]]
2. The sermon described how Jesus “redefined greatness” by taking the posture of a servant—even a slave. What does this teach us about the kind of leadership and power Jesus values? [[34:36]]
3. The early church was described as a “radical community of equality.” How might this have challenged the social norms of the time? [[39:10]]
4. The sermon said that both Old and New Testaments “undermine systems of oppression.” What are some specific ways the Bible does this, according to the teaching? [[53:42]]

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### Application Questions

1. The sermon emphasized that God’s heart is for liberation and dignity. Is there a person or group in your life that you tend to overlook or look down on? What would it look like to honor their dignity this week? [[56:00]]
2. Jesus modeled servanthood by washing his disciples’ feet and giving his life for others. What is one practical way you can take the “lowest place” and serve someone in your home, work, or community this week? [[34:36]]
3. The early church broke down social barriers and welcomed everyone as equals. Are there barriers—social, economic, racial, or otherwise—in your life or in our church that need to be addressed? How can you help break them down? [[39:10]]
4. The sermon challenged us to treat every person with dignity, even those we might disagree with or find difficult. Who is one person you struggle to honor, and what is one step you can take to see them as God does? [[56:21]]
5. The teaching called us to engage not just personally but also systemically in opposing modern forms of slavery and injustice. What is one action you could take this month—prayer, giving, advocacy, or learning more—to join in God’s work of setting people free? [[58:39]]
6. The sermon mentioned International Justice Mission as a way to get involved. Would you consider praying for or supporting an organization fighting modern slavery? What might hold you back, and how could you take a step forward? [[59:12]]
7. When you read difficult passages in the Bible, like those about slavery, how do you process them? What helps you see the bigger picture of God’s character and story? [[33:22]]

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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for eyes to see the dignity in every person, courage to serve like Jesus, and wisdom to engage in God’s work of justice and liberation in the world.

Devotional

Day 1: God Sets People Free

Throughout the story of Scripture, God is revealed as the one who hears the cries of the oppressed and acts to set them free. From the Exodus, where God delivers the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, to the Psalms that celebrate God as deliverer, this theme is central to understanding who God is. The law given to Israel not only provided for the humane treatment of servants but also mandated their release, reflecting God’s heart for liberation and dignity. When we misunderstand the Bible’s teaching on slavery, we risk misunderstanding the very character of God, who is always working to bring freedom and restoration to His people. [33:22]

Exodus 20:1-2 (ESV)
And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.”

Reflection: Where in your life do you need to trust God as your deliverer, believing that He is still the one who sets people free today?


Day 2: Jesus Embraces the Posture of a Servant

Jesus, though fully God, chose to take on the role of a servant—literally, a slave—demonstrating humility and sacrificial love. He washed His disciples’ feet, a task reserved for the lowest in society, and taught that true greatness is found in serving others. His ultimate act of service was giving His life as a ransom to set people free, embodying the very heart of God’s redemptive work. Jesus calls His followers to imitate this way of life, laying down status and pride to serve others in love. [36:23]

Matthew 20:26-28 (ESV)
“But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Reflection: What is one practical way you can take the posture of a servant in your home, workplace, or community this week?


Day 3: Radical Equality in Christ

The early church was a revolutionary community where social hierarchies were upended, and all people—regardless of ethnicity, gender, or social status—were welcomed as equals in Christ. Paul and other leaders identified themselves as “slaves of Christ,” and the church became a place where slaves and masters, Jews and Greeks, men and women, all stood on equal footing. This radical equality was unheard of in the ancient world and remains a powerful witness to the reconciling work of Jesus. [39:29]

Galatians 3:28 (ESV)
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Reflection: Who in your life or community do you tend to see as “other” or less than? How can you intentionally honor their dignity as an equal in Christ today?


Day 4: The Call to Serve and Honor All People

The way of Jesus is the way of service and honoring every person as made in the image of God. The New Testament calls believers to lay down their lives in love, not seeking fairness or status, but seeking to elevate others. This means treating every person—regardless of their background, beliefs, or social standing—with the dignity and respect that God gives them. It is a daily invitation to see others through God’s eyes and to act accordingly, even when it challenges our comfort or pride. [56:00]

James 2:1, 8-9 (ESV)
My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory… If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

Reflection: Is there someone you are tempted to look down on or ignore? How can you show them the love and honor of Christ this week?


Day 5: Joining God’s Work of Justice

God’s heart for freedom and justice calls His people not only to personal acts of service but also to engage in the work of setting others free from oppression. Throughout history, Christians have been at the forefront of movements to abolish slavery and fight injustice, inspired by the God who liberates. Today, there are still millions trapped in various forms of slavery, and we are invited to pray, give, and act on their behalf. As we join in God’s mission, we reflect His character and participate in His ongoing work of redemption in the world. [58:39]

Isaiah 1:17 (ESV)
Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.

Reflection: What is one step you can take this week—through prayer, giving, or advocacy—to join God’s work of justice for those who are oppressed or enslaved?

Quotes

Taken out of context these verses have been used to justify all kinds of horrors actually in the world and particularly in the US. Um, so I don't know. I just had a lot of sadness actually sort of studying this text and then looking at American history a little bit and just feeling, man, we've totally missed the mark in so many ways in applying biblical context. [00:21:15]
What happens is right we take this verse we read it and we think oh okay I guess the Bible condones slavery and then but we miss so many layers of the biblical story we miss so many layers of the New Testament so what I want to do today is try to do kind of like four things well at least this is the path so we're going to do a little bit of Greco Roman historical context then we're going to go to biblical context this is old and new testament and then after we've done all of that then we will actually deal with Paul's words in Ephesians and then we'll actually talk about Christians after Paul uh because I want us to kind of get these words in a larger scope of salvation history. [00:21:51]
Slavery in the ancient world like slavery in the modern world and anywhere in between has had really I mean they slave masters have treated slaves horribly. Um, it's also true in the ancient Roman world that you might not know, but there were some slaves that had it much worse and some slaves that had it much better. For instance, if you were a slave in ancient Rome, you often could start your own business. [00:25:10]
So Bible, right, Old and New Testaments, uh, slavery in the Old Testament is much less like antibbellum or pre-war pre-war slavery in the south. It's actually more appropriate compared to like debt servitude. So I don't know if you know this, uh, but like when Europeans when a lot of Europeans came to the US, uh, they couldn't afford the fairs, right? [00:27:14]
The law also specifically says that you were to be treated or you were to treat your hired hand or treat the debt servant like a hired hand uh and not to be ruled over ruthlessly. That's from Leviticus 25. So not only do you have this sort of debt servitude which is different than the Roman context, but you also have this freedom every seven years and in the midst of it you need to be treated with some level of kindness. [00:29:40]
We have in the Bible the first appeal appeals in world literature, right? Ever ever written to treat slaves as human beings for their own sake and not just in the interests of their masters, right? This is baked into the scriptures that Paul reads that shapes his imagination for ethics and how you treat human beings. [00:31:12]
God hears their cry. And what does he do? He sets them free. And this story becomes the anchor for how the Hebrew people even understand themselves and who God is. They are the people that are rescued out of slavery. Who is the God? The God who sets them free. So much so that when the law is given, the first thing that God says before the ten commandments, I am the God who set you free. [00:32:10]
When we get slavery wrong in the New and Old Testaments, we get God wrong because this is who God is. He's the God who sets people free. Amen. All right. But what about the New Testament? All right. What do we do with this whole Jesus thing? [00:33:17]
When Jesus says this, what he's saying is, I have come to take on the posture of a slave. Hey guys, you follow me. And more than that, he says, I have come to give myself as a ransom. If you read in the New Testament, you'll see these words like redemption, ransom. [00:34:39]
Jesus again embraced sort of this idea at uh the last supper, right? Footwashing was generally performed by the slave in the house. Jesus dresses for the part. He takes off his outer clothes. He wraps a towel around his waist. He pours water into a basin and he washes his disciples feet. [00:35:24]
The idea of Paul or a leader in a church identifying with a slave is absolutely unheard of in the ancient world. This never happened. Right? Paul writes, "Uh, nope. Nope. Is there No. All right. 1 Corinthians 6:19. You are not your own. You were bought at a price. Right. Just as slaves live to do their master's work, Christians are framed as having to do the work of the master of Jesus. [00:37:51]
It was the only place in the entire Roman world where they were equals with everyone else. Imagine how this would have sounded. Right? This is first Corinthians. Uh nope. There we go. Imagine how this would have sounded. For in one spirit we are all baptized into one body, Jews or Greek, slaves or free. All were made to drink of one spirit. [00:39:12]
It literally undermines the entire institution of slavery simply by creating a place of equality. And more than that, Paul actually uh repudiates slave trading in 1 Timothy 1:10. He calls people sinful that deal in people. He encouraged slaves in 1 Corinthians 7 to acquire their freedom. [00:40:34]
Paul is trying to create a community where masters and slaves can be equal under Jesus. Right? Hey master, slave, you in the church, you are both under Jesus. And guess what, master? You might think the slave is there to serve you. What does Paul say? Actually in the same way, master, you should be serving the slave or the bondervant. [00:47:30]
One of the core paths of the New Testament is to sort of imitate Jesus. The way of Jesus is as a servant or a slave. And I guess I just wonder like are you open to living in the way of a servant? We live in a historical moment where it's very easy to look down on different groups. [00:54:30]
There's all kinds of ways you can participate, but particularly I would say prayer and money are probably the best ways for us as a community to actually address slavery in the world. So this week, are you willing to serve? Is there anyone in your life that you're tempted to not treat with dignity? [00:58:26]

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