Why Did God Allow Slavery in the Old Testament and Barely Says Anything About It in the New Testament?
1) Direct answer
God never endorsed cruel, man-stealing slavery. In the Old Testament He stepped into a fallen world and put strict limits, mercy, and release into a system already present, pointing Israel toward redemption and brotherly love. In the New Testament He went to the root—changing the heart by the new birth—so the gospel dissolves slavery from the inside by making master and slave brothers in Christ. The Scriptures address it, but the aim is salvation and holy conduct, not political revolt.
2) Scriptural explanation
- God forbids man‑stealing and trafficking:
- “He that stealeth a man…shall surely be put to death” (Exodus 21:16; cf. 1 Timothy 1:10).
- Israel’s servitude was tightly regulated and tempered with mercy:
- Release for Hebrew servants in the seventh year with generosity (Exodus 21:2; Deuteronomy 15:12-15).
- “You shall not rule over him with rigor; but shall fear your God” (Leviticus 25:43).
- Protection for the vulnerable and the stranger; do not oppress, love him as yourself (Leviticus 19:33-34; Deuteronomy 10:19).
- An escaped slave was not to be returned or oppressed (Deuteronomy 23:15-16).
- When Israel refused to release servants, God rebuked and judged them (Jeremiah 34:13-17).
- God’s purpose was redemption, not bondage:
- Israel was redeemed from Egypt’s slavery (Exodus 20:2), and God says, “They are my servants…you shall not rule over him with rigor” (Leviticus 25:42-43).
- The New Testament plants the freedom principle in Christ:
- “There is neither bond nor free…all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).
- If you can be made free, rather use it (1 Corinthians 7:21-22).
- Masters must give what is just and equal, knowing they have a Master in heaven (Colossians 4:1; Ephesians 6:9).
- A slave is received “no longer as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved” (Philemon 15-16).
- The Lord’s program is liberty: “He hath sent me to preach deliverance to the captives” (Luke 4:18). “If the Son…make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).
3) Simple clarifying logic
- Now notice: God met people where they were, in a hard world, and fenced in the existing system with justice, time limits, generosity, and protection. That is not approval of oppression; it is restraint and guidance toward mercy.
- You see, the law was a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ (Galatians 3:24). As with divorce, certain concessions existed “because of the hardness of your hearts,” but from the beginning it was not so. God’s heart is redemption and brotherhood.
- In the New Testament, the Church does not wield the sword of the state; it wields the Word and the Spirit. So the Lord dealt with the root—sin in the heart. When a master and a servant are both born again, fear and force give way to love and equality in Christ. You cannot rightly enslave the one you now recognize as your brother for whom Christ died.
- If God approved of cruel slavery, why is man‑stealing a capital crime (Exodus 21:16)? Why command love to the stranger (Leviticus 19:34)? Why require release and generosity (Deuteronomy 15:13-15)? The answer is clear: God was moving His people from bondage to freedom, both naturally and spiritually.
4) Reinforcing statement
The Old Testament restrained a fallen practice; the New Testament removes its roots. The gospel sets men free—first in the soul, then in their relations—until love fulfills the law.
Ask a Follow-up Question
What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
Earnestly contending for the faith once delivered
56-0419 §21
Now let's go back to the beginning and find out what kind of a faith the saints had. And then compare it with that, with what we're taught then we have some general conception. Then if we can find out what the faith was and that faith becomes a living article right here, not in 1956, but this night, here in Spindale, then it becomes the same faith that was back there, living, acting, everywhere like it was then, we'll really contend for it then, because the Scripture says. The first time we were called saints, of c...
The Identified Masterpiece of God
64-1205 §56
He came to reflect the Father, and the Father was the Word. Amen! Now I feel real religious. He came to reflect the Father's Word. God said He would be there, and there He was---the perfect masterpiece of God's great handiwork. Oh, my! He was the perfect reflection of Him. He reflected everything that God had spoke of. He reflected what Adam said about Him, He reflected about all the prophets said, about all the patriarchs said. Everything that He said, He was the fulfillment of the Word. All types was fulfilled in...
The resurrection of Jairus' daughter
54-0331 §7
So, now, we want to talk just a few moments. Awhile ago, there was such a terrible emergency. We haven't been taking calls during the time of the meetings, because you just get so... But, there was a lady who called, was in a desperate condition. And my wife come into the room, said, "Honey, I hate to call you from study, but," said, "this is just such an awful emergency." And said, "The woman's fixing to commit suicide." And, so I got to the phone. And while standing at the phone, the Holy Spirit told her just who...
Hebrews, Chapter 1
57-0821 §8
And so, he made me a pair of glasses, and the bottom part you can ... it's for reading. He said, "Now, in your pulpit..." He thought I was one of these here dignified preachers, you know. And said the top part's just regular window glass---just regular glass. And the bottom part's got some kind of a grind in it that I can read it close, you know, like that. So I just hate to put them on; I do. And now, in Bible teaching and... I've got the New Testament tonight. I got a Collins New Testament, and it's got good-size...
Spiritual Inspiration
56-0128 §15
II Kings the 4th chapter and the 30th verse we'll read just for a little text, and maybe God will reveal a context for us as we study His Word. And the mother of the child said, As the Lord liveth, and thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee [think of it]. And he arose, and followed her. May the Lord add His blessings to this reading. Our minds are brought back when we read from the Old Testament because the Old Testament has always been one of my favorite books to speak from, because it's a type of the New Testamen...