Of slaves and masters : the subversion of brotherly love in Philemon

Abstract

The role and use of the Bible regarding the issue of slavery reflects the extremes of interpreters seeing the biblical witness as either condoning to that of condemning. The challenge therefore, for the reader of the Bible in dealing with these extremes is a challenge in hermeneutics. The purpose of this brief article will therefore be to propose an Evangelical solution to this impasse, with a brief outline of the Biblical witness regarding slavery, and an attempt to motivate a more adequate hermeneutic for dealing with the relevant Biblical passages. This is followed by a brief synopsis of slavery in the world and in South Africa, and concludes with a challenge to the modern-day church, especially Baptists in South Africa to re-adopt the historical stance of some of the best of our forebears in bringing about a new emancipation from all forms of modern slavery.