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content with his lot as a slave? He should be free and enjoy some of the goods of this
world. On the face of it this sounds very plausible, for why should a man be a slave
subject to the whims and fancies of another; has he no right, on the basis of Christian
principles, to an equal chance in life as his master? Certainly, but this is not the point of
this passage. The attitude of mind is that which is uppermost in the Apostle's thoughts,
for there were those who were,
"supposing that gain is godliness" (verse 5),
or better, "holding godliness to be (equivalent to) gain". So that for a slave to seek
betterment in the form of social standing, or particularly (in the context), by gaining
materially, was the process of godliness. Such a doctrine was contrary to "the words of
our Lord Jesus Christ" which taught that, "godliness with contentment is great gain"
(verse 6). It may seem hard to expect a slave to accept such a statement, but then Paul
adduces as his reason an observation true of all men of all times:
"For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
And having food and raiment let us be therewith content" (verses 7, 8).
Also it should be remembered, that Paul was not asking for an attitude of mind on the
part of others, which was contrary to his own:
"I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content" (Phil. 4: 11).
When Paul wrote these words he was in a Roman prison, not a very pleasant state to
be in, yet he was content, as is also emphasized in his reference to himself as, "The
prisoner of Christ Jesus" and "The prisoner of the Lord" (Eph. 3: 1; 4: 1), rather than
recognizing that he was a prisoner of the Roman power. If Paul could take such an
attitude to life from a position of captivity, and if he could encourage such an attitude in
those under the bondage of slavery, then those believers of the present time whose lot is
cast in "pleasant places" have no excuse for taking any other attitude. The wisdom of
God, which is foolishness from man's point of view, reveals that the contrary attitude, the
determination to be rich, leads to `temptation and a snare' (I Tim. 6: 9).
"Those who want to be rich fall into temptations and snares and many foolish harmful
desires which plunges men into ruin and perdition. The love of money is the root of all
evil things, and there are some who in reaching for it have wandered from the faith and
spiked themselves on many thorny griefs" (I Tim. 6: 9, 10 N.E.B.).
The attitude, the `bent' of the mind is all important. Paul directed that it should be on
things above, "where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God", and this was to be so
whether bond or free.
Summarizing Paul's attitude to slavery it is noted:
(1)
He never attacked it as an institution, but his teaching opposed it at heart.
(2)
He expected slaves to give due honour to their masters.
(3)
Slaves were not to care about their condition but to be content.
(4)
If a slave could obtain his liberty legitimately, he should do so.
(5)
"In Christ" there is neither "bond nor free".