The Ten Minute Bible Hour Podcast PLMN044 - Paul's Remarks on Slavery are Shocking, But Maybe Not For the Reason You Expect
Dec 18, 2025
Explore the surprising insights from Paul's letter to Philemon, focusing on the complex relationship between Philemon and Onesimus. Discover how the original audience would react to Paul's unexpected framing of slavery, which humanizes those enslaved. Learn about the contrast between Greco-Roman household codes and Paul's Christ-centered ethics, which emphasize dignity and moral agency. This engaging discussion sets the stage for a deeper understanding of slavery in a biblical context, with much more to come!
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Paul's Personal Letter About Onesimus
- Matt Whitman paraphrases Paul's message to Philemon about Onesimus being a Christian and returning to his master.
- He frames the letter as paired with Colossians and as offering a new 'operating system' centered on Christ's supremacy.
Two Different Shocks In Slave Instruction
- Paul’s command for slaves to obey sounds shocking to modern ears but would also have shocked the original Colossian audience.
- The shock came for different reasons: modern listeners recoil at endorsing slavery while first-century listeners recoiled at Paul's treatment of slaves as moral agents.
Household Roles Framed 'In The Lord'
- Paul's household instructions reframe common Greco-Roman expectations as duties 'in the Lord' rather than cultural norms.
- This shifts motives: behaviors toward wives, children, and slaves are commanded because they honor Christ, not just social convention.