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Some of the few solid teachings and concepts the NT speaks of slavery can be derived from the letter of Paul to Philemon:(who had been missing a slave Oneisimus, who had become a Christian and had been serving Paul. Philemon was also known to Paul as you will see in this letter). The OT has quite a few passages regarding slavery but the question is how are Christians to view slavery.

Philemon 1

Greeting

1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer, 2 to the beloved[a] Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philemon’s Love and Faith

4 I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, 5 hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, 6 that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you[b] in Christ Jesus. 7 For we have[c] great joy[d] and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.

The Plea for Onesimus

8 Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting, 9 yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you—being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ— 10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, 11 who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me.

12 I am sending him back.[e] You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, 13 whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel. 14 But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary.

15 For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, 16 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.

Philemon’s Obedience Encouraged

17 If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me. 18 But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account. 19 I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. I will repay—not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides. 20 Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord.

21 Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. 22 But, meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you.

Farewell

23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, 24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers.

25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

There is no real passage in scripture that says” owning slaves and doing what you want with them is lawful...if you can keep them.”

I don’t need to have any inaccuracies about slavery corrected...it’s ultimately a shameful practice. It’s a no brainer that some households treated slaves better than others...but reading thru various histories of the Roman empire was quite revelatory as to the intertwining social and psychological dependencies that grew up between slave owners, slaves, and freedmen. Treatment also did depend on the conscience of the slave owner; for example Philemon, whose conscience Paul hoped to prick.

Paul also wrote the Galatians letter, chapter 3:26-29 which, I again remind you, lays out the utter unity of all men in Christ with no regards to class, race, or status. Indeed, juxtaposing Philemon verses 12-16 with the Galatians passage lays out the spiritual reality that is in Jesus Christ, that all men and eventually nations will someday share in.

Oneisimus was being returned to Philemon not just as a slave but as a brother in Christ and Paul practically commands Philemon to treat him as such...urging Philemon subtly, with loving tact, but with spiritual imperative !(Paul even offers to pay any losses incurred).

There is no direct new Testament verse that says “you can be a slave owner and God won’t hate you for it...because they are inferior people. If they weren’t inferior, they wouldn’t be slaves...so have as many as you can and treat them how you wish”. Such teachings have been said to be inferred from scripture, but Galatians chapter 3:26 thru the end pretty much spells out what Christ thinks about the differences between men.

Nope, no slaves in Christ’s kingdom other than all men being slaves to Jesus Christ...who states, “learn of me for I am meek and lowly, take my yoke upon you for my yoke is easy and my burden is lite!”