What does the Bible say about Slavery?

Exodus highlights how the slaves could be held to pay off debts. 

When I first began exploring the Bible more deeply, I was struck by how often it’s described as a book of love, justice, and liberation. But then I encountered something that made me pause: slavery. Not just stories about it, but actual laws and instructions that seem to permit or even endorse it. That discovery was jarring—and it forced me to ask some hard questions. 

Let’s be honest: the Bible contains passages that depict God permitting slavery. In the Old Testament, the Law of Moses includes regulations for how Israelites could own slaves. Exodus 21:2–11 outlines how Hebrew slaves could be held temporarily to pay off debts, with release in the seventh year. Leviticus 25:44–46 goes further, allowing Israelites to permanently enslave people from surrounding nations. These aren’t vague references—they’re detailed laws. 

Slavery in the Bible.

Then there’s the New Testament. While it doesn’t create new laws about slavery, it reflects the social norms of the Roman Empire, where slavery was deeply entrenched. In Ephesians 6:5-9, Colossians 3:22- 4:1, 1 Timothy 6:1–2, Titus 2:9–10, and 1 Peter 2:18–20, slaves are told to obey their masters. There’s no

call for abolition—just instructions for how to live faithfully within the system. 

    Some argue that the Bible was simply reflecting the cultural norms of its time. And that’s partly true. Compared to other ancient societies, the Bible did call for more humane treatment of slaves. Hebrew slaves were to be freed after six years, and physical abuse was condemned. Exodus 21 even states that if a master injured a slave, the slave was to be set free. Leviticus 25:39–43 instructs masters not to rule harshly over fellow Israelites. In the New Testament, masters are told to treat their slaves with kindness and fairness. 

    But still—slavery was accepted. 

 And yet, there’s another thread running through Scripture. A deeper one. Galatians 3:28 declares, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” That verse doesn’t just sound nice—it’s revolutionary. It undercuts the very idea of permanent social hierarchies. It plants the seeds of equality that would later inspire abolitionists and civil rights leaders. 

Throughout history, these passages have been interpreted in vastly different ways. Slave owners in America cited biblical texts to justify slavery, while abolitionists leaned into themes of liberation, human dignity, and justice—especially the Exodus story, where God delivers the Israelites from bondage. The Bible became both a weapon of oppression and a source of hope. 

Today, most modern biblical scholars emphasize the importance of reading these texts in their ancient cultural context. Slavery in biblical times was not identical to the race-based chattel slavery of the modern era. It was often economic, temporary, and regulated. But even so, the Bible’s acceptance of slavery remains a troubling reality. 

So how do we reconcile this? 

I’ve come to see the Bible as a complex, layered text. It doesn’t always give us easy answers. Sometimes it reflects the brokenness of the world it was written in. But it also points us toward something better. Toward a kingdom where no one is owned, no one is oppressed, and everyone is seen as fully human. 

As a student of both faith and history, I believe we must be honest about what’s in the Bible—even the uncomfortable parts. But we also must read it with an eye toward its trajectory. The Bible may not have started with abolition, but I believe it ends with liberation. 

AI Disclosure: After researching biblical passages and historical accounts of slavery with my classmate Liz Bowhey, I utilized ChatGPT, Claude, and Microsoft CoPilot to refine the text and format it in a readable manner. I then edited the AI-generated text. I added photos and captions. I expanded on the AI-generated text by adding some of my personal thoughts and opinions.