Early Christian Beliefs About Slaves and Christian Freedom

Didache, The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles Direct teaching

...mes not to call according to outward appearance, but to those whom the Spirit has prepared. And you bondmen shall be subject to your masters as to a type of God, in modesty and fear. Ephesians 6:5; Colossians 3:22 You shall hate all hypocrisy and everything that is not pleasing to the Lord. In no way forsake the commandments of the Lord, but keep what you have received, neither adding to it nor taking away from it. Deuteronomy 12:32 In the church you shall acknowledge your transgressions, and you shall not come near for your prayer with an evil conscience. This is the way of life.

Ignatius, Epistle to Polycarp (Syriac Version) Direct teaching

...u already do. Stand firm. Hold frequent gatherings: invite each person by name. Do not look down on slaves, whether male or female; nor let them be disrespectful, but let them work harder for the glory of God, so they may be deemed worthy of a more valuable freedom, which is from God. Let them not seek to be freed from the common fund, lest they become slaves to desire.

Ignatius, Epistle to Polycarp (Short Version) Direct teaching

... Let your gatherings be frequent: seek after everyone by name. Do not despise either male or female slaves, but neither let them be puffed up with conceit. Instead, let them submit themselves more, for the glory of God, so that they may receive a better freedom from God. Let them not long to be set free from slavery at the public expense, so they are not found to be slaves to their own desires.

Ignatius, Epistle to Polycarp (Long Version) Supporting witness

...Gather together frequently and seek out everyone by name. Do not look down on either male or female slaves, yet do not let them become conceited, but rather have them submit themselves even more, for the glory of God, so they may obtain better freedom from God. They should not wish to be freed [from slavery] at public expense, so that they are not found to be slaves to their own desires.

Ignatius, Epistle to Polycarp (Syriac Version) Supporting witness

Despise not slaves, either male or female; but neither let them be contemptuous, but let them labour the more as for the glory of God, that they may be counted worthy of a more precious freedom, which is of God.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching

... give testimony about them. Their conduct and manner of life must be examined, and whether they are slaves or free. If anyone is a slave, ask who his master is. If he is the slave of one of the faithful, ask his master whether he can give him a good report. If he cannot, let him be rejected until he shows himself worthy in the sight of his master. But if he gives him a good report, let him be admitted. If he is a household slave of a heathen, let him be taught to please his master, so that the word may not be blasphemed. If he has a wife, or if a woman has a husband, let them be taught to be content with each other. But if they are unmarried, let them learn not to commit fornication, but to enter into lawful marriage. But if his master is one of the faithful and knows that he is guilty of fornication, and yet does not give him a wife, or does not give the woman a husband, let him be separated. But if anyone has a demon, let him indeed be taught piety, but not received into communion before he is cleansed. Yet if death is near, let him be received. If anyone is a keeper of harlots, let him either stop prostituting women, or else let him be rejected. If a harlot comes, let her sto

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

Let the slaves work five days; but on the Sabbath day and the Lord's day let them have leisure to go to church for instruction in piety.

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Direct teaching

...pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, lest they become discouraged. Servants, obey in all things those who are your masters according to the flesh. Do not serve only when watched, like people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. And whatever you do, do it wholeheartedly, as serving the Lord and not men. For you know that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance, for you serve the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will receive the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. Masters, give your servants justice and fairness, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free; but Christ is all, and in all.” And the earthly Church is the image of the heavenly, just as we also pray that the will of God may be done on earth as in heaven. Matthew 6:10. “Therefore, put on compassion, gentleness, humility, meekness, and longsuffering. Bear with one another, and forgive one another, if one has a complaint against any man. Just as Christ has forgiven us, so also let us do. And above all these things, put on charity, wh

Peter of Alexandria, Canonical Epistle Direct teaching

In the case of those whose Christian slaves were sent to offer sacrifice for them, the slaves were in their masters' power. In a sense, they were also under their masters' control and were threatened by them. Because of fear, they came to this and fell away. They must, during the year, show the works of repentance. In this way they may learn for the future, as slaves of Christ, to do the will of Christ and to fear Him. They should listen especially to this: "Whatever good thing anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is slave or free." Ephesians 6:8

Peter of Alexandria, Canonical Epistle Supporting witness

In the case of those who have sent Christian slaves to offer sacrifice for them, the slaves indeed as being in their master's hands, and in a manner themselves also in the custody of their masters, and being threatened by them, and from their fear having come to this pass and having lapsed, shall during the year show forth the works of penitence, learning for the future, as the slaves of Christ, to do the will of Christ and to fear Him, listening to this especially, that whatsoever good thing any man does, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. Ephesians 6:8

Peter of Alexandria, Canonical Epistle Supporting witness

...because they pretended to sacrifice and seemed to agree to it, and because they forced their fellow servants to offer sacrifice. They did not obey the apostle, who told them to stop threatening their servants, since the masters themselves are servants of God and fellow servants with their own household servants. Then they hurried to save their own lives, and drove their fellow servants into idolatry, even though those servants might have escaped.

Aristides, The Apology Direct teaching

...rom all uncleanness, in hope of the reward to come in the other world. Further, if any of them have bondmen or bondwomen or children, out of love toward them they persuade them to become Christians. And when they have done so, they call them brothers without distinction. They do not worship strange gods, and they live in all modesty and cheerfulness. Falsehood is not found among them, and they love one another. They do not withhold their esteem from widows, and they rescue the orphan from anyone who treats him harshly. He who has gives to him who has not, without boasting. And when they see a stranger, they take him into their homes and rejoice over him as a true brother. For they do not call them brothers according to the flesh, but brothers according to the spirit and in God. And whenever one of their poor passes from the world, each of them, according to his ability, cares for him and carefully sees to his burial. And if they hear that one of their number is imprisoned or afflicted because of the name of their Messiah, all of them eagerly care for his needs, and if it is possible to redeem him, they set him free. And if there is among them anyone who is poor and needy, and th

Aristides, The Apology Supporting witness

Further, if one or other of them have bondmen and bondwomen or children, through love towards them they persuade them to become Christians, and when they have done so, they call them brethren without distinction.

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Direct teaching

and there is no respect of persons. Masters, render to your servants justice and equity;

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

... even by civil law. For who will be able to raise sons unless he has the power of a lord over them? Nor is he called father of a household without reason, although he has only sons. For it is plain that the name of father also includes slaves, because household follows it. And the name of household also includes sons, because the name of father comes first. From this it is clear that the same person is both father of his slaves and lord of his sons. Finally, the son is set at liberty as if he were a slave. And the freed slave receives the name of his patron, as if he were a son. But if a man is called father of a household so that it may appear that he possesses a double power, because as a father he ought to indulge, and as a lord to restrain, it follows that he who is a son is also a slave, and that he who is a father is also a lord. Therefore, just as by the necessity of nature there cannot be more than one father, so there can be only one lord. For what will the slave do if many lords give commands that conflict with each other? Therefore the worship of many gods is contrary to reason and to nature, since there cannot be many fathers or lords. But in this argument it is nece

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

But if a man is named father of a household, that it may appear that he is possessed of a double power, because as a father he ought to indulge, and as a lord to restrain, it follows that he who is a son is also a slave, and that he who is a father is also a lord.

Colossians 3:22 Direct teaching

Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.

1 Timothy 6:1 Supporting witness

Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed.

Ephesians 6:8 Supporting witness

knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.

1 Timothy 6:2 Supporting witness

Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved. Teach and urge these things.

Colossians 4:1 Supporting witness

Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.

Leviticus 26:13 Supporting witness

I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, where ye were slaves; and I broke the band of your yoke, and brought you forth openly.

Exodus 21:20 Supporting witness

And if a man smite his manservant or his maidservant, with a rod, and the party die under his hands, he shall be surely punished.

Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Direct teaching

Listen to the parable I am about to tell you about fasting. A certain man had a field and many slaves. He planted part of the field as a vineyard. Then he chose a faithful, beloved, and highly valued slave. He called him and said, "Take care of this vineyard that I have planted, and put stakes in it until I come back. Do nothing else to the vineyard. Pay attention to this command of mine, and I will give you your freedom." Then the master of the slave went away to a foreign country. After he had gone, the slave took care of the vineyard and put stakes in it. When he had finished staking the vines, he saw that the vineyard was full of weeds. Then he thought to himself, "I have kept this command of my master. I will dig up the rest of this vineyard, and it will be more beautiful when it is dug up. And since it is free of weeds, it will produce more fruit, because they will not choke it." So he dug up the vineyard and pulled out all the weeds that were in it. And the vineyard became very beautiful and fruitful, because it had no weeds to choke it. After some time, the master of the slave and of the field returned and came into the vineyard. He saw that the vines were properly supporte

Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Supporting witness

"Hear," he answered, "the Son of God is not in the form of a slave, but in great power and might." "How is that, sir?" I said. "I do not understand." He answered, "Because God planted the vineyard. That is, He created the people and gave them to His Son. And the Son appointed His angels over them to keep them. And He Himself purged away their sins, after suffering many trials and undergoing many labors. For no one is able to dig without labor and toil. He Himself, then, after purging away the sins of the people, showed them the paths of life by giving them the law that He received from His Father. "You see," he said, "that He is the Lord of the people, because He received all authority from His Father." "Now listen to why the Lord took His Son as counselor, and the glorious angels also, concerning the inheritance of the slave. The holy, pre-existent Spirit, which created every creature, God made to dwell in flesh, which He chose. This flesh, in which the Holy Spirit dwelt, was nobly subject to that Spirit. It walked religiously and chastely, in no way defiling the Spirit. Therefore, after it had lived excellently and purely, and had labored and worked together with the Spirit, and

Ignatius, Epistle to Polycarp (Long Version) Supporting witness

Do not despise either male or female slaves, yet neither let them be puffed up with conceit, but rather let them submit themselves the more, for the glory of God, that they may obtain from God a better liberty.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Supporting witness

from whom also He has brought down liberty to those who, in a lawful manner, and with a willing mind, and with all the heart, do Him service;

Hippolytus, Exegetical Fragments Supporting witness

Himself of lofty extraction, He chose, by His own subjection, to set the slave free;

Tertullian, De Corona Supporting witness

For even then, as ransomed by Christ, you were under no bondage to man;

Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness

...2. We must endure and persevere, beloved brothers, so that, being admitted to the hope of truth and liberty, we may attain to truth and liberty itself. For the very fact that we are Christians is the substance of faith and hope. But for that hope and faith to attain their result, there is need of patience. For we are not following after present glory, but future glory, according to what Paul the apostle also warns us and says: “We are saved by hope; but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man sees, why does he hope for? But if we hope for that which we do not see, then by patience we wait for it,” Romans 8:24-25. Therefore, waiting and patience are needful, so that we may fulfill what we have begun to be, and may receive what we believe and hope for, according to God's own showing. Moreover, in another place, the same apostle instructs the righteous and the doers of good works, and those who lay up for themselves treasures in heaven with the increase of the divine usury, that they also should be patient. He teaches them, saying, “Therefore, while we have time, let us labor in that which is good to all men, but especially to them who are of the household of faith. But let u

1 Corinthians 7:22 Supporting witness

For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.

1 Corinthians 7:21 Supporting witness

Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it.

1 Corinthians 7:23 Supporting witness

Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

Galatians 4:31 Supporting witness

So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.

Philemon 1:16 Supporting witness

no longer as a slave but more than a slave—a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.