Ephesians 6:9

“And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, and forbear threatening: knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no respect of persons with Him”

“Masters”: Christian masters did exist (Philemon). “Do the same things unto them”: “Treat your slaves in the same spirit” (TCNT). “Act toward your slaves on the same principles” (Wey) . Goodwill and sincerity is also demanded of the master. “The obligation of right conduct and fair dealing rests upon the employer as well as upon the employee” (Erdman p. 132). The "boss" must act in "good faith". “Give them the same good will, love and loyalty that you hope to receive from them” (Coffman p. 220). The master was morally obligated to practice neighbor love, even to his slaves (Matthew 7:12; Matthew 22:39). “That is, if you hope to receive respect, show it; if you hope to receive service, give it. It is an application of the golden rule” (Stott p. 254). This was an earth-shattering concept for the first century world (and for many other generations too). “In the early part of the twentieth century, American and European managers were taught that workers were tools or machines” (Caldwell pp. 303-304).

“Behind. commandment like this lay the infinite dimensions of those tremendous new value-judgments which were brought to mankind from above by Jesus Christ the Lord. The infinite value of human life!” (Coffman p. 220).

“Forbear threatening”: Stop using the world's methods. “The Christian will not adopt. management by intimidation philosophy” (Caldwell p. 304). “It is. common fault of human nature for people in authority to take out their frustration on those who are under them” (Boles p. 331). “Punishment was accepted in the Empire as the only way to keep slaves under control” (Stott p. 254). “Paul is not afraid of capital nor of labor” (Robertson p. 549). Unfortunately some "religious" leaders always side with "labor" or "management". God views the situation differently. In addition, some religious leaders argue that God is always on the side of the oppressed. Such is not true. The slave that steals is condemned (Titus 2:9). “Even at the present time it is possible for employers to keep employees in fear--by threats of lower wages or loss of employment, by the dread of hunger and of want” (Erdman p. 132).

“And there is no respect of persons with Him”: “No distinction of rank” (TCNT). “He has no favorites” (NEB). See Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11. “This sobering thought made Christian masters take. whole new outlook toward their slaves” (Boles p. 332). “Slave owners were used to being flattered and fawned upon, but they should not expect (for they will not receive) such discriminatory favoritism from the Lord Christ. Thus all three principles were designed to lesson the cultural and social gap between slave and slave-owner” (Stott p. 254). “Employers and employees alike have duties--the employee to give good work and the employer to pay. just wage. The major human problem in management-labor disputes is that each side concentrates on securing its own rights, and on inducing the other side to do its duty. Paul, however, reverses the emphasis. He urges each side to concentrate on its responsibilities, not on its rights” (Stott p. 258). “The problem of work would be solved if men and masters alike would take their orders from God” (Barclay p. 181).

The issue of Slavery

“It has seemed to many critics in inadequate Christian response to an unmitigated evil. Did the gospel offer no more radical solution to slavery than an adjustment of personal relationships? Even if Paul held back from inciting slaves to rise up against their owners and seize their freedom (as some hotheads wish he had), why did he not at least command slave-owners to emancipate their slaves?” (Stott pp. 254-255). The criticism is first hypocritical. If there is no God, then there is nothing wrong with even the most cruel forms of slavery. Thus the critic who does not believe in God or absolute truth, does not have. moral leg to stand on. Secondly, many so-called advocates of human "rights" are not really interested in human rights as much as they are interested in the "rights" which benefit them, such as abortion and so on.

Paul does give the "radical solution". Contrary to the thinking of some, man's worst problem is not economic oppression. It is sin! Boles rightly pointed out, “Paul does not call for the outright abolition of slavery. Had he done so, Christianity would have been diminished to. radical (and temporary) social movement to which slaves would come for their own selfish purposes” (p. 328). Paul directs the slave how to live acceptably before God, and principles that would apply whether he ever gained his freedom or not (1 Corinthians 7:20). Social status is useless, if one is still lost! Slavery never prevents anyone from living. life that is pleasing to God.

Such an argument fails to appreciate the economic standing of the "freeman". Life for the non-slave in the first century was not always. piece of cake either. Stott reminds us, “Even if Christians had liberated their slaves, they would have condemned most of them to unemployment and penury” (p. 255). The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia has an excellent article on slavery. Here is just. sample:

“The living conditions of many slaves were better than those of free men who often slept in the streets of the city or lived in very cheap rooms. The free laborer in New Testament times was seldom in better circumstances than his slave counter-part. In fact, in time of economic hardship it was the slave and not the free man who was guaranteed the necessities of life for himself and his family”. [Note:. The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible. "Slavery" Volume Q-Z p. 460..

Abuses will exist in every form of economic agreements which with mankind invents and experiments. The abolition of slavery did not stop all abuses of labor. Since the days of slavery we have seen child-labor, sweat-shops, next to nothing pay, firing people right before they are fully vested in some retirement program, getting rid of the old managers to bring in younger ones who will work for. cheaper salary, and so on. Our modern "enlightened" society does not have any moral right to elevate itself as morally superior to past "slave-owning" generations. The credibility of such critics is seriously lacking. It is amazing that some famous person can give. speech about human rights, while at the same time employing "legals" and "illegals" to cook their meals, "nanny" their children, and take care of the yard at. salary below minimum wage, and with no social security benefits. In the end, Christianity did abolish slavery. People did not abandon slavery because of the teachings of atheism, evolution, humanism, or some Eastern religion! The doctrine of reincarnation did not move anyone to free their slaves. The only doctrine that teaches us that the slave is. human being, made in the image of God and therefore deserves fair treatment of their fellow-men, is the doctrine of Christ. The only doctrine that taught masters that they are eternally accountable for how they treat their slaves, is the doctrine of Christ.