Chapter 17: Race, Christianity and Judaism, Pg. 5 of 15 ORDER NOW!

When I brought up the clear racial teachings of the Old Testament, my Sunday school teacher said that Jesus Christ brought a change by His coming for all mankind. I had to agree that the teachings of Jesus Christ do not concur with the harsh ethnocentrism of the Old Testament. The New Testament provides that the grace of God and the salvation of Christ are available to all people and all nations. Those who believe in Jesus Christ become the "children of God," the new "chosen people" through their salvation. Following are some often-quoted verses from the New Testament.

     For you are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
     For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
     There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, male or female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
     And if ye be Christ's then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:26-29)1

Egalitarians frequently use these verses to justify their belief in racial and sexual equality. After pondering the verses carefully, I asked myself some questions. Do the verses mean that there are literally no males and females, no Jews or Greeks, and no slaves or freemen in the world? Obviously the answer is no. The New Testament repeatedly recognizes distinctions between men and women, Jews and Greeks, and servants (slaves) and freemen. In fact, although it may shock some who do not realize it, the New Testament routinely accepts the institution of slavery and says explicitly that slaveholders can be believing Christians and brethren. Examine the verses below.

  • Slaves, be obedient to those who are your earthly masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as to Christ... (Ephesians 6:5)2
  • Let all who are under the yoke of slavery regard their masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be defamed.
  • Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brethren; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their service are believers and beloved. Teach and urge these duties. (1 Timothy 6:2)3
  • Bid slaves to be submissive to their masters and to give satisfaction in every respect; they are not to be refractory, nor to pilfer, but to show entire and true fidelity, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior. (Titus 2:9-1)4
  • Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to the kind and gentle but also to the overbearing. (1 Peter 2:18)5

I do not condone slavery or any kind of oppression of people. However, Jesus Christ obviously had no opposition to it, anymore than had God when he told the Israelites that they could keep their slaves (of other tribes) forever. (Leviticus 25:44-46)6 Jesus walked among slavery His entire life, reproaching all kinds of sin, yet He never uttered a word condemning slavery or slave owners.

  1. KJV Galatians 3:26-29.
  2. RSV Ephesians 6:5.
  3. RSV 1 Timothy 6:2.
  4. RSV Titus 2:9-10.
  5. RSV 1 Peter 2:18 .
  6. RSV Leviticus 25:44-46.
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