Does God Approve of Slavery?

One of the biggest criticisms against the Bible in recent days has been its apparent approval of slavery. Old Testament commands giving masters instructions on how to treat their slaves raises the ire of skeptics who reject the Bible and the God who “supposedly” wrote it. In the face of such criticism, Christians may struggle to respond, or even find their own faith shaken. The stakes are high, and the need for a thoughtful response is critical. 

But as much as skeptics can sometimes be overly cynical about the Bible, Christians can come across as overconfident. Simple answers that reframe all Old Testament slavery as merely indentured servitude show an unwillingness to wrestle with the ugly realities of biblical times. And, broad claims regarding the Christian roots of the abolitionist movement fail to appreciate the chequered history of the church’s involvement and attitudes toward slavery. More is needed than soundbites or broad truisms. We must be prepared to give humble, well-informed answers.

In October of 2025, Scott Stein participated in the Ready Answers conference hosted in Sault Saint Marie, Ontario. In it, he addressed the question: “Does the Bible Condone Slavery?” If this is a question that has troubled you, or you wish you had a better answer for, listen in as Scott seeks to carefully and thoughtfully:

• Address the major and important objections made against the Bible’s teaching on slavery
• Clarifies the Bible’s, and especially the Old Testament’s, teaching about slavery
• And, reveals God’s redemptive purpose and goal for humanity which provides the only real solution to the problem of slavery.