Slavery (sources)

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Survey of fictional works on Slavery.

Early Christian sources

Letter of Paul to the Galatians

Galatians 3:28 -- There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Letter of Paul to the Corinthias

1Cor 7:21-23 -- [21] Were you a slave when called? Do not be concerned about it. But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity. [22] For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a slave of Christ. [23] You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men.

1Cor 12:13 -- For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

2Cor.11.20 -- For you bear it if someone makes slaves of you, or devours you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face.

Letter of Paul to Philemon

Philemon 1:10 -- [10] I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment. [11] Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful both to you and to me. [12] I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. [13] I wanted to keep him with me, so that he might be of service to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel; [14] but I preferred to do nothing without your consent, in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced. [15] Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back forever, [16] no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother--especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. [17] So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. [18] If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account...

1 Peter

1 Peter 2:18-25 (NRSV) -- [18] Slaves, accept the authority of your masters with all deference, not only those who are kind and gentle but also those who are harsh. [19] For it is a credit to you if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly. [20] If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God's approval. [21] For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps. [22] "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." [23] When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. [24] He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. [25] For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

Letter to the Ephesians

Ephesians 6:5 -- Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ... [8] knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.

Letter to the Colossians

Col 3:11 -- Here [i.e. in the church] there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

Col 3:22 -- Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Col.4.1 Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

=1 Timothy

1 Timothy 6:1 -- Let all who are under a yoke as slaves regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled.

Letter of Titus

Titus 2:9 -- Slaves are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative...

Later Christian sources

John Chrysostom

"He who has immoral relations with the wife of a slave is as culpable as he who has the like relations with the wife of the prince: both are adulterers, for it is not the condition of the parties that makes the crime" ("In I Thess.", Hom. v, 2; "In II Thess.", Hom. iii, 2).