Presentation 17

1. Studies in Ephesians Presentation 17

2. The Structure of the Book Be what you are in Christ See what you are in Christ Chap 4-6 Chap 1-3 Doctrine Truth Application

3. Slaves and Masters Chap 6.5-9

4. Introduction Paul, in this section of his epistle, deals with masters-slave relationships which often experienced stress and tension. He lays down principles of conduct designed to deal with these tensions. It is important to understand that Paul in neither condemning nor condoning the idea of slavery. He is dealing with the social conditions of his day. Several additional subjects are implicit here: the attitude of the Christian to the state and political structure, to reform and rebellion.

5. Attitude to the Old Society The Christian church is God's new society. But the church still lives out its daily life in a broken world and fallen society thus producing tension between the two societies. Does the church have a mandate to abolish existing social, political and economic structures. In Gal 3.28 Paul taught that "there is neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free, male nor female; you are all one in Christ Jesus". But many have wrongly concluded that Christianity should therefore set out to destroy these distinctions as they exist in society. But what Paul is arguing for is that from the standpoint of SALVATION there are no differences between all of these categories and indeed that all are of equal value to God.

6. Attitude to the Old Society Paul is not advocating conflict with the state. Christians have not always recognised this. [In Europe in the 16thC. a Christian group - the Anabaptists - refused to pay taxes or recognise legal authority. ] Its is equally wrong to teach that the church's role is to overthrow particular political ideologies. Today, some teach that the church should take up arms and engage in revolution. But Paul is not saying, “Slaves join Sparticus and overthrow your Roman masters, rebel against a social order that permits slavery”. Paul lays down an interesting principle in 1Cor.7.20-1 ‘Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him. Were you a slave when you were called? Don't let it trouble you-although if you can gain your freedom, do so’.

7. Attitude to the Old Society The fact that we've become Christians does not sever our relationship towards the social, political and economic conditions of our day. Jesus taught his followers that they had a twofold responsibility: “Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's.” Matt 22.21 Paul’s chief concern is not to defend the status quo - the Roman empire - with all its inherent evil, but to instruct Christians on how best they are to live in an evil world.

8. The Abolition of Slavery • It troubles many people that the New Testament does not offer a more radical solution to slavery than the adjustment of personal relationships. If Paul would not incite a slave rebellion, could he not at least have commanded slave owners to emancipate their slaves? • A number of arguments have been made to explain why he did not. • A Pragmatic Argument. Christians were still an insignificant group. Christianity was in many places outlawed and • Christians were clearly politically powerless.

9. The Abolition of Slavery An Economic Argument. The abolition of slavery would have resulted in the disintegration of society. Often there were more slaves in a city than freemen. The liberation of slaves would have condemned most of them to unemployment and poverty. A Historical Argument. Slavery in the first century was quite different from the slave trade of the eighteenth century. Slaves could be adopted by their masters or buy their freedom if they so wished.

10. The Abolition of Slavery Despite these arguments the Christian West cannot escape the shame that we tolerated slavery for so long before its abolition. It should have been abolished centuries before it was. The best Christian minds recognised this cf. John Calvin, one of the great theologians of the 16thC attributed slavery to original sin and wrote that slavery was, “a thing totally against all the order of nature that human beings fashioned after the image of God should ever be put under such reproach”.

11. The Abolition of Slavery That said, this epistle lays the foundation for the changes that would eventually take place in society. The emancipation of slaves in the West, came through the effort of Christians like William Wilberforce. The change was the result, not of the church fighting the state but of teaching its members Christian principles. Christians in political office then made their voice heard. Change took a long time. Wilberforce was dying, when he heard that slavery had been abolished. He showed what it means to be salt and light in society.

12. Slaves in the Roman Empire Its been estimated that there were some 60million slaves in the ancient world. Little value was placed on them. Aristotle wrote on the subject; “A slave is just a tool just as a tool is an inanimate slave.” This dehumanisation of slaves was mirrored in Roman law, for legally slaves were goods without rights, masters could treat them as they pleased. Both Greeks and Romans would have thought it remarkable that Paul bothered to address slaves in this manner! He is saying, despite the value society places on slaves, all men are made in God's image and are therefore of immense value to him. He would not share the view of some today who argue that the black is of less value than the white, or that the Filipino is less valuable than the Emirati.

13. The Duty of Slaves How can we apply the slave-master instruction to contemporary society? There is an analogy between slave and master and employee and employer. If wives are to submit to husbands and children to obey their parents then [slaves] employees are to respect their [masters]employers. ‘Respect’ is the meaning that lies behind the word ‘fear’ in v5. Not a cringing fear, that says, ‘yes sir, no sir, three bags full sir’, in his employers presence but then mocks him in his absence. The respect we show should be ‘sincere’ not hypocritical. When we respect for our employer’s authority we show respect for Christ who stands behind his authority.

14. The Duty of Slaves Paul required the slave or menial worker to see himself as working for Jesus, “just as you would obey Christ”. This transforms the most menial task. A significant figure of church history called Brother Lawrence worked in a monastery kitchen. He was famous for his great joy no matter how menial the task he was given. What was his secret? Whatever he did he did for Jesus - cleaning pots, etc. He saw himself as Christ’s slave! Many have found that a help in coping with their monotonous duties. A church member who had held a senior position in local government volunteered to sweep the hall floor during a children’s mission. Was than not too menial? No He was working for Jesus.

15. The Duty of Slaves To see ones service as ultimately being given to Christ will affect our attitudes towards those who are over us whether they are a master or an employer. Our service should be willing and cheerful instead of reluctant and grudging. And it is because he are consciously doing the will of God that the slave/employee can put his heart into his work He knows that the Lord will leave no good work unrewarded. “because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free”. Eph 6.3

16. The Duty of Slaves Finally, the Christian employee is to be conscientious, "not offering eye service as men pleasers". I've been in offices where employees only work when the boss is watching...they do so in order to curry favour. Now Christ is watching all the time and we would not want to give him work of inferior quality. Whether or not men appreciate us, or reward us suitably for our labour is of secondary importance. God, who takes stock of everything, most certainly will reward us in due time.

17. The Duty of Masters Christian masters were given 3 principles with far reaching implications. First, "treat your slaves in the same way". That is if you hope to gain respect, show it. If you hope to receive service, give it. Paul doesn't argue that the master/employer is superior and able to dispense with the very courtesies which they expect to be shown. Nor does he ignore the difference between master and servant; the servant must serve and the master lead. But since God is the master of both, they must serve one another. This is good psychology because it ensures the maximum respect for one another.

18. The Duty of Masters 2. The second principle is that masters "do not threaten". They are not to misuse their position by issue threats of punishment. Paul recognises that threats are a weapon that the powerful often wield over the powerless. He says, that’s not to be the practice of the Christian master/employer, for a relationship based on threats cannot bring out the best in the workforce and devalues the employer-employee relationship.

19. The Duty of Masters 3. The third principle Paul mentions is that masters have a Master. cf. the insight of the centurion in Matt8.9…. Since Jesus is Master of both slave and free, employer and employee, he will not discriminate or show favouritism. Slave-owners were used to being flattered and told that their actions were right, even when they behaved unjustly. Why? No one wanted to offend them. Paul says, “don’t expect Jesus to show that kind of favouritism. Just because you are a master does not mean that unjust conduct will be overlooked”.

20. The Duty of Masters These 3 principles not only narrowed the cultural and social gap between slave and slave-owner in Paul’s day but they are also relevant in the workplace today. Christians in industry should apply them. The concept of equality is often missing. Often the employer does not value his workforce as he ought and vice-versa. Christians should be at the forefront of labour relations. Some Christian employers today only recruit Christian workers. Then they quite deliberately pay a minimum wage. Why? Because they think their Christian workforce are less likely to complain!

21. The Duty of Masters In labour relations there is seldom a desire for justice based on reciprocal rights. Employers and employees both have duties; the employee to give good work and the employer to pay just wages. Then each persons duty becomes the other persons right. The problem is that each side concentrates on securing its rights and demands the other side does its duty. As a result agreement is not easily reached. Paul urges the Christians to concentrate on their responsibilities and not on their rights. Doing so sweetens labour relations.

22. The Duty of Masters To be a Christian employer or employee is to be part of the same brotherhood. This reminder of being one in Christ challenged the thinking that separated master and slave and produced a ‘proprietor and property’ mentality. Employers today still talk of ‘my workforce’ and the workforce often views the employer as ‘the enemy’ with disastrous results Paul has dealt with relationships within the church that might be the cause of stress and a bad witness. Christian employers and employees by setting a good example can make an impact on an increasingly selfish and materialistic society.