¹All who are under the yoke as slaves are to regard their own masters as worthy of all honor so that the name of God and our doctrine will not be spoken against. ²Those who have believers as their masters must not be disrespectful to them because they are brethren, but must serve them all the more, because those who partake of the benefit are believers and beloved. Teach and preach these principles.

Transformation of the most challenging circumstances is part and parcel to being a believer in Jesus Christ. If Christianity “works” in the context of slavery, it can work in any setting. We must guard against reading our twenty-first-century political-ethical sensibilities into the ancient mindset. To be sure, slavery is an atrocity against humanity—make no mistake about that. But Christianity is not, at its core, a social-political movement, but a spiritual revolution. Indeed, there are social-political ramifications, but the NT does not seek primarily to change societal structures. Instead, it transforms individual lives at the most fundamental level, namely, their relationship to God. This then affects everything else, but not necessarily in the way we might expect.

Paul writes elsewhere, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28). In that context, he refers to our vertical relationship, that is, with God. He doesn’t specifically address there the horizontal relationship of how this spiritual equality works its way out in social arrangements. But here in 1 Timothy the apostle does precisely that; he addresses how being a believer affects a person in a slave-master relationship.

In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul writes, “Were you called [to be saved] while a slave? Do not worry about it; but if you are able also to become free, rather do that” (1 Cor. 7:21). He is not endorsing slavery but working within the system, so to speak. There was a way for slaves to become free, and Paul says the believer should take it if it is available. But in 1 Timothy, Paul addresses cases where freedom is not an option. How then should the believer act?

In Roman times, slavery was widespread due to the capture of conquered people groups. When Roman armies defeated another army or city, they sold the captives into slavery. The logic seems to have been that killing them all would be a waste of human resources, but to let them go free would ensure another uprising. Slavery, then, became part of the economy, inexpensive labor for the upper class. And manual labor was not the only role: slaves could serve as trusted counselors, household managers, scribes, and many other positions in society. In some cases, they became a part of the families of the masters.

Lord, help me to live out my faith in whatever circumstances I find myself.