The History Of The Christian Church Volume 1, Philip Shaff 1819-1893

210 CHAPTER VIII CHRISTIAN LIFE IN THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH. the worst effect upon the character of the slaves. They freedom, as it pervades the whole New Testament, has are described by the ancient writers as mean, cowardly, also, in fact, gradually abolished the institution of slavery abject, false, voracious, intemperate, voluptuous, also as in almost all civilized nations, and will not rest till all the hard and cruel when placed over others. A proverb pre- chains of sin and misery are broken, till the personal and vailed in the Roman empire: “As many slaves, so many eternal dignity of man redeemed by Christ is universally enemies.” Hence the constant danger of servile insurrec- acknowledged, and the evangelical freedom and brothtions, which more than once brought the republic to the erhood of men are perfectly attained. brink of ruin, and seemed to justify the severest meaNote on the Number and Condition of Slaves in sures in self-defence.

Greece and Rome.

Judaism, indeed, stood on higher ground than this; Attica numbered, according to Ctesicles, under the yet it tolerated slavery, though with wise precautions governorship of Demetrius the Phalerian (309 b.c.), against maltreatment, and with the significant ordi- 400,000 slaves, 10,000 foreigners, and only 21,000 free nance, that in the year of jubilee, which prefigured the citizens. In Sparta the disproportion was still greater. renovation of the theocracy, all Hebrew slaves should go As to the Roman empire, Gibbon estimates the num622 free. ber of slaves under the reign of Claudius at no less than This system of permanent oppression and mor- one half of the entire population, i.e., about sixty milal degradation the gospel opposes rather by its whole lions (I. 52, ed. Milman, N. Y., 1850). According to Robspirit than by any special law. It nowhere recommends ertson there were twice as many slaves as free citizens, outward violence and revolutionary measures, which and Blair (in his work on Roman slavery, Edinb. 1833, p. in those times would have been worse than useless, but 15) estimates over three slaves to one freeman between provides an internal radical cure, which first mitigates the conquest of Greece (146 b.c.) and the reign of Althe evil, takes away its sting, and effects at last its entire exander Severna (a.d. 222–235). The proportion was of abolition. Christianity aims, first of all, to redeem man, course very different in the cities and in the rural diswithout regard to rank or condition, from that worst tricts. The majority of the plebs urbana were poor and bondage, the curse of sin, and to give him true spiritual unable to keep slaves; and the support of slaves in the freedom; it confirms the original unity of all men in the city was much more expensive than in the country. Marimage of God, and teaches the common redemption and quardt assumes the proportion of slaves to freemen in spiritual equality of all before Rome to have been three to two. Friedländer (Sittenges623 God in Christ; it insists on love as the highest duty chichte Roms. l. 55, fourth ed.) thinks it impossible to and virtue, which itself inwardly levels social distinc- make a correct general estimate, as we do not know the tions; and it addresses the comfort and consolation of number of wealthy families. But we know that Rome a.d. the gospel particularly to all the poor, the persecuted, 24 was thrown into consternation by the fear of a slave and the oppressed. Paul sent back to his earthly master insurrection (Tacit. Ann. IV. 27). Athenaeus,as quoted the fugitive slave, Onesimus, whom he had converted to by Gibbon(I.51) boldly asserts that he knew very many Christ and to his duty, that he might restore his character (παμ́ πολλοι)Romans who possessed, not for use, but where he had lost it; but he expressly charged Philemon ostentation, ten and even twenty thousand slaves. In a to receive and treat the bondman hereafter as a beloved single palace at Rome, that of Pedanius Secundus, then brother in Christ, yea, as the apostle’s own heart. It is im- prefect of the city, four hundred slaves were maintained, possible to conceive of a more radical cure of the evil in and were all executed for not preventing their master’s those times and within the limits of established laws and murder (Tacit. Ann. XIV. 42, 43). customs. And it is impossible to find in ancient literature The legal condition of the slaves is thus described a parallel to the little Epistle to Philemon for gentleman- by Taylor on Civil Law, as quoted in Cooper’s Justinily courtesy and delicacy, as well as for tender sympathy an, p. 411: “Slaves were held pro nullis, pro mortuis, pro with a poor slave. quadrupedibus; nay, were in a much worse state than This Christian spirit of love, humanity, justice, and any cattle whatsoever. They had no head in the state, no name, no title, or register; they were not capable of be622 Lev. 25:10: “Ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land unto all the inhabitants ing injured; nor could they take by purchase or descent; they had no heirs, and therefore could make no will; they thereof.” Comp. Isa. 41: 1; Luke 4:19. were not entitled to the rights and considerations of mat623 Gal. 8:28; Col. 3:11.