If it didn't settle it this may.
MORE ABOUT SLAVERY AND THE NEW TESTAMENT
I Peter 2:18; " "Slaves, be subject with all fear to your Masters, not
only to the good and gentle, but also to the crooked (perverted). 2:19;
For this is worth being contented with... " (Inferred: "Because you'll
get your 'reward' in Heaven).
There are many, many instances of the preoccupation of the writers of the
New Testament with the issue of Slavery. They continually make statements
for the purpose of 'calming' them down and trying to give them reasons to
be 'content'. They keep making an issue of how it does not matter how
they are treated, or how lousy life is here on Earth for them, because
THEY will get their reward in Heaven. Not only are the slaves promised an
everlasting life in Heaven, but seemingly, an additional 'reward' as
well.
For Slaves (Luke 14:14); "...For thou shalt be recompensed ('rewarded')
at the resurrection of the Just (i.e., "in Heaven")."
Colossians 3:22 to 4:1; (a direct statement to Slaves and their Masters)
"Slaves, obey your Masters in all things of the flesh, not with
eyeservice as menpleasers (in otherwords, not by merely 'looking' like
you are doing something, or in ordinary duty), but in singleness of heart
(and mind), fearing God (above your Masters), and whatsoever you do, do
it heartily, as if you are doing it for the Lord, and not just to/for
men, knowing that of/from the Lord you shall receive the 'reward' of your
inhertitance (perhaps to mean to slaves that they will not only be
rewarded for their own slavery and suffering, but also for the
generations of slaves in their family's past - compounded! In other
words, a reward 'with interest'!), for you serve the Lord ("curious")
Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he has
done, and there is no respect of persons (or 'station' in life, i.e., no
difference in judgement between 'earthly' Master and Slave). Masters,
give unto your Slaves that which is just and equal (between them),
knowing that you also have a Master in Heaven."
There is so much more to the issue of Slavery and Slaves in the NT that
we just don't have the time to get to the majority of it, but we will try
to give you what you need in order to find out more about it for
yourself.
Remember, the whole reason for the war between the Romans and the Jews
(Pharisees) was over the issue of slavery. The uprising was done by the
Pharisees to stop the practice of slavery in the Roman Empire, and then
afterwards to be able to make strides in the area of human rights. That
was the plan. That's what all the fuss was about. And, also in so doing,
the Pharisees (who were a political party, not a religious group), wanted
to put an end to the farce of lying to people with religion. They simply
wanted people to be treated like people, with respect and as if they had
some brains in their head.
Colossians 3:15 "And let the peace of God* rule in your hearts (and
minds), to which you are called (to be in) one body, and "be content. ."
This word ("euxaristo"), in this sentance, means 'content', but can also
have the meaning of 'thankful' or 'grateful'. To hide this fact, some
translaters chose not to use the correct word because it makes the case
for what follows later in Colossians 3:22 to 4:1, and that is that the
writings dealing with slaves were written with the idea of making them
'content' with their lot in life. *The 'Peace of God', of course, being a
reference to 'Jesus' ("The Prince of Peace", "Son of God").
"Be humble, meek, and long-suffering..." Colossians 3:12
Bear in mind that the NT was written by the Romans for a variety of
reasons, not just to address the slaves and try to 'content' them. They
also wanted to make the Roman people as a whole to be and live the same
way. They wanted them all to be more easy to handle and to control, give
them a sense of 'unity' so that they will be easy to send off to war and
lay down their lives... because soldiers who are good Christian
'believers' would think that they would live forever if they should
happen to die in battle.
"Render unto Caesar what is Caesars, and render unto God what is God's."
In other words, "go off to war for Caesar, pay your taxes to Caesar, but
don't forget to pay your tithes to the Church and that way, if you die in
battle you will give your life up to the Lord and live with him in Heaven
forever."
The writers of the NT used words with double-meanings in order to say
things that the average reader would not detect the true meaning of, and
yet be able to say things that the aristocrasy and hierarchy of both
sides of the war would be able to understand. They made threats and
belittled their enemies in this way.
Here are a few crude 'slights', attacks and analogies against the male
slaves that had turned against Rome and their Masters, it seems, by
leaving to join the Pharisees in their fight against slavery.
James 3:4; "Behold, also the ships, which though they be so great
(large), and are driven by "violent"* winds, yet are they turned around
with a very small rudder, (to) wherever the whim of him who steers may
wish (it to go)."
The word used here for 'violent' ("sklhros") is a word that has two
meanings 'hard/harsh' (or by inferrence even 'bad'), and also the word is
the masculine plural form of the word for 'slave'. So this word means
'hard' or 'violent male slaves'. The inferred analogeous meaning of what
is said above is that "even though a huge thing be driven by violent
(rebellious) male slaves, it can be "turned around" with the smallest of
things." The same word, with the same meaning is used in Acts 9:5 and
Acts 26:14. The use of this word in Acts 9:5 reveals better that fact of
the intentional use of the word...
Acts 9:5; "... And the Lord ("curious") said, I am Jesus whom you
persecutest "violent male slaves" for your own sake (i.e. on your own
behalf) [and] against the (sharp/painful) spears are (they) kicked (or
thrown up against)." Instead of the meaning simply being 'hard' here, the
actual other meaning of the word can be used to reveal the true meaning
of the statement. To make the statement clearer, we repeat it here with
the real meaning...
"... And the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom you persecute "violent male
slaves" for on your own behalf, and against the spears are they thrown!"
In other words, instead of meaning that they are persecuting 'Jesus', the
meaning is changed to 'Jesus' saying that HE is the REASON that the
rebellious male slaves are being persecuted!!!
Acts 26:14; "And when we were all down to Earth (serious?), I heard a
voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language (in other words
this is the Jews or Pharisees speaking to Paul), Saul/Paul, Saul/ Paul,
why persecute me? There are (plenty of) "violent male slaves" for you to
kick/throw against the spears!"
That "slavery" is addressed so much in the NT, even to the point of
'hiding' the issue of it by the use of words with double-meanings, should
illustrate to any thinking person that this was indeed an important
central theme in/of the New Testament. Below is a list of Book, Chapter
and Verse that make use of the words "MASTER" and "SLAVE".
"MASTER": Mat. 1:6, Mat. 6:24, Luke 16:13, Luke 10:24, Luke 6:40, Luke
17:24, Luke 23:8,10, Luke 26:25, Mark 5:35, Luke 9:33, Luke 10:17, Luke
10:25, John 3:10, John 11:28, John 13:13, Romans 14:4, 1 Corinth. 3:10,
Eph. 6:5, 1 Peter 2:18, Colossians 4:1, 1 Tim. 6:1, James 3:1.
"SLAVE": Mat. 10:25, Luke 12:47, Mat. 25:21, Luke 17:10, John 8:35, John
15:15, 1 Corinth. 7:21,23, Eph. 6:5, 1 Peter 2:18, Romans 6:16,
Colossians 4:1, 1 Tim. 6:1, Rev. 22:3.
The idea of rewarding slaves monitarily (tossing them a bone) in order to
keep them contented and to prevent them from running off to join the
fight against slavery with the Pharisees is represented in Matthew 25:14.
Words for "Slave" in the New Testament; (1) "Douleuo" which has the
meaning of "to be a slave," as the first meaning and which is used in
Eph. 6:7, and Romans 9:12. The second meaning of this word is "to be
slave to" and is used in Romans 7:6, and Galations 4:8. (2) "Doulos"
which is used in Romans 6:19 and in reference to a female slave in Luke
1:38,48, has a meaning that is representative of the lowest form of
'slave'. (3) "Doulon" meaning "to reduce to slavery" is used in Acts 7:6,
Corinth. 9:19, and 1 Corinth. 7:15. (4) the use of "Sklhro-kardia" has
the meaning of a certain type of slave inferred in the "sklhro" part of
the word as "sklhra" means 'slave', "sklhro" is the masculine form.
"Sklhro-kardia" is used as "hard-hearted" in the sentance, but the
"sklhro" portion also means "lowly tuft" with "male slave" inferred. This
word is used in Mat. 19:8, Mark 10:5, Mark 16:14.
Further related reference:
"(to be) contented" the word used is "euxapisto", and this is in
Colossians 3:15.
"reward" is "antapodosis" and is used in Colossians 3:24. |
