Yes, the Bible allowed Slavery. It also Brought About its End.
Why didn’t the Bible outlaw slavery?
Like war and famine, slavery was a human horror that afflicted cultures throughout all of history. God knew the sinfulness of the human heart, and allowed it, just as he allowed divorce (Matt. 19:8). Making a single law to outlaw slavery was about as reasonable as decreeing that humans sprout wings and fly. Instead, God dealt with it in a more comprehensive, long-term way.
If you look closely at the biblical story, you can see that slavery is on God’s mind from the very beginning, and it will strongly shape the history and laws of his people Israel.
The Book I’m Working on with Dr. Milly Erema Maturu
If you’ve been reading my newsletters and articles in the past few years, you know that I’ve become friends with an Old Testament professor from Uganda, Rev. Dr. Milly Erema Maturu. We are now working on a book for Zondervan that is tentatively titled, Reading the Bible as an Insider.