Hebraic Musing – Regarding
Slavery, was Paul a Northerner or a Southerner?
Both North and
the South had Christians who used Scripture references to defend their opposing
positions regarding slavery. How can that
be? Can Paul’s epistles be read two
ways? Theologians point out that some of
the “Pauline” epistles were in Paul’s name but not actually written by Paul, a
common practice then.
And many
scholars think these more patoral Epistles were written later in Paul’s name: Ephesians, Colossians, 2 Thessalonians, 1
& 2 Timothy and Titus. And Paul
probably did not write Hebrews.*
Could the
Northerners have been using these Anti-Slavery
references from writings personally authored by Paul? Paul preached to give up all for Christ:
·
Paul preached that there is no place for slavery
in Gal. 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female,
for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
·
Philippians 3:8-9 What is
more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of
knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I
consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ NIV
·
“We are
all brothers” in Philemon 16 -- no longer as a slave, but better than a
slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you,
both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.
Could the
Southerners have been using these Pro-Slavery
references from Epistles written by others after the revolt, destruction of the
temple in Jerusalem in 70 A.D. when serious persecution began? These Epistles tell how to treat slaves which
were the fabric of the existing social/economic system:
·
Col. 4:1 Masters, provide your slaves with what is
right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
·
Eph. 6:5-9 Slaves,
obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of
heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when
their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your
heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you
were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward
everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. And masters, treat your slaves in the same
way.
·
Pastoral epistle - Titus 2:9-10 Teach
slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them,
not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can
be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God
our Savior attractive.
No wonder the
“Civil War” was not “civil”!
Points to ponder
Could
these contradictions in NT Scripture have resulted from
writers pressured to accommodate the world systems in those times?
writers pressured to accommodate the world systems in those times?
Which
of the writers was not “politically correct”?
How
are societal, economic and worldly pressures
being accommodated in today’s preaching?
being accommodated in today’s preaching?
Yosef a.k.a. Joe Brusherd November 25, 2014
Books author “Hebraic Insights”; “Biblical Marriage”; “Musings v.1 – A Victorious Life”
Weekly e-mails “Hebraic Musings” at insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com/
Yosef1@cox.net or www.InsightsByYosef.com
Weekly e-mails “Hebraic Musings” at insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com/
Yosef1@cox.net or www.InsightsByYosef.com
* Scholars have no difficulty attributing these
Epistles (approximate dates) to Paul’s direct authorship – Romans (A.D. 57-58);
1 Corinthians (A.D. 55); 2 Corinthians,
(A.D. 56); Galatians (Prison A.D. 49 or 55); Philippians (Prison A.D. 60-61); 1 Thessalonians (A.D. 51-52);
Philemon (Prison A.D. 61).
No comments:
Post a Comment