Michael Parsons on Slavery and the New Testament Equality and Submissiveness

The following article is now on-line in PDF:

Michael Parsons, "Slavery and the New Testament Equality and Submissiveness," Vox Evangelica 18 (1988): 90-96.

Michael Parsons concludes:

First, we can see that the apostles used the contemporary form of house codes in their ethical instruction with creative and imaginative pastoral insight. Keeping the idea of order and submission, the New Testament writers show by their motivation and expectations that slaves and masters are equal in standing in Christ and are equally responsible to him. Paul employs the Haustafeln to emphasize that liberty does not mean disordered and unruly behaviour. It may mean the transforming of the relationships within hierarchical structure. Peter draws the church together in unity within the context of suffering. Second, there is a need to begin with the Haustafeln and then to proceed to Galatians 3:28. We thereby see that the ideas of equality and hierarchy are not incompatible within the influence of the gospel.