Christianity and the Slavery Question

Abstract

"The evangelists Matthew and Luke tell of Jesus' conversation with a centurion who was concerned about his slave. The centurion explained that he was the captain of a military company. As such he gave orders to his soldiers when and where they were to come and go. He said further, "Also to my slave I say do this and he Both it"(Matt. 8:9; Luke 7:8). Jesus, far from making a statement in condemnation of the institution of slavery, commends the centurion for his exemplary faith. By his statement the centurion had assigned the same finality to the words of healing of Christ as he gave to his own commands to his slaves"