Is Slavery Morally Wrong? Immoralities in the Bible? Part 1 of 3

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This episode examines the biblical problem of slavery through a natural law framework, distinguishing between immoral slavery and morally permissible servitude. Dr. Jacobs argues that what the Bible describes as "slavery" more closely resembles contractual servitude arrangements, lacking the five essential traits that make slavery immoral: abduction, coercion, brutality, squalor, and dehumanizing treatment. Using Eastern Orthodox theological anthropology and classical realism, he demonstrates how true slavery violates human nature by denying the fundamental freedom that defines rational beings. The analysis shows that both Old Testament law and early Christian teaching consistently condemned actual slavery while permitting voluntary service arrangements that preserved human dignity and self-determination.

00:00:00 Introduction
00:04:35 Let's talk about slavery
00:07:28 Providentialists
00:11:00 Good and evil as pleasure and pain
00:17:10 My "level 4" perspective
00:24:58 Moral responsibility
00:31:37 The natural law case against slavery
00:36:30 The features of slavery
00:41:18 Discipline for one's formation
00:45:28 The great chain of being
00:50:12 Slave/master relationship
00:53:00 Are the 5 traits of slavery essential?
00:56:47 "Slavery" scenario #2
01:00:31 Defining our terms
01:01:36 Is servitude immoral?
01:06:03 The early Christian view

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