[steve-b]

Any Christian slaveholder had to violate Christianity to own slaves.

Wrong.

Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh...
--Ephesians 6:5

[Raycpa]

The verse you copied is directed to slaves, so it is not addressed to masters. What does the bible say to Masters?

[Raycpa]

Here Steve, let me help you out here.

5Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, 8because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.

9And masters, treat your slaves in the same way

Masters are told to treat slaves "in the same way". That means Masters are told to

obey your earthly mastersslaves with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, 8because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.

So, Ann seems to be right again.

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

"Any Christian slaveholder had to violate Christianity to own slaves. "

Wrong.

Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh...
--Ephesians 6:5

That answer illustrates a deficiency in reading comprehension.

First, it is an instruction to slaves, not slaveholders. It has practical value in not inviting punishment and death. But also it recognizes being a slave as just another challenge to spirituality that must be overcome in one's life to be an example of Christian strength in adversity.

But the message to the slaveholder is twofold: That the slaveholder does not own the slave's spiritual life, only their flesh. And "according to the flesh" is an implied rebuke to the slaveholder for holding people in bondage according to man's rules in contradiction to God's Will, illustrated by the exodus.

I hope that clarifies the passage for you so that you stop defaming it.

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

"Any Christian slaveholder had to violate Christianity to own slaves. "

Wrong.

Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh...
--Ephesians 6:5

That answer illustrates a deficiency in reading comprehension.

First, it is an instruction to slaves, not slaveholders. It has practical value in not inviting punishment and death. But also it recognizes being a slave as just another challenge to spirituality that must be overcome in one's life to be an example of Christian strength in adversity.

But the message to the slaveholder is twofold: That the slaveholder does not own the slave's spiritual life, only their flesh. And "according to the flesh" is an implied rebuke to the slaveholder for holding people in bondage according to man's rules in contradiction to God's Will, illustrated by the exodus.

I hope that clarifies the passage for you so that you stop defaming it.