A few thoughts on misusing Philemon to defend antebellum slavers. THREAD:

It is common in convos about the antebellum South to see Philemon used as a means of defending, if not justifying, the ownership of slaves. Leaving aside a moment 1/

other orthodox interpretations (that aren’t thieving, runaway slave sent back to continue being enslaved), Paul had already forbade the kind of activity that made American slavery possible in the first place: men-stealing/slave trading. 2/

In 1 Timothy 1:10, Paul includes ἀνδραποδιστής in actions “contrary to sound doctrine.” The word relates to kidnapping people for enslavement, a slave dealer. The Apostle teaches slave trading was contrary to Christian teaching. 3/

Slavery in America was not the result of people subjugated in war or people in debt-bondage. The entire enterprise was based on a violation of 1 Timothy 1:10: the Middle Passage, the Atlantic trade routes, kidnapping in multiple African countries, American slave markets. 4/

Every step was a violation of holy writ. Even after the importation of Africans for American slavery halted in 1808, intra-state slave trading kept the doctrine of demons alive for nearly 6 more decades. It was perfectly legal to buy and sell enslaved black Americans, 5/

to force breeding for the purpose of selling the children to other plantations, to inherit slaves as property, or sell for cash. The institution of slavery in the South was built on and sustained by slave trading, men-stealing. 6/

There is no way to use Philemon as an out for Southern slave owners since they were already condemned by 1 Timothy 1:10. Whatever Paul’s instruction between Philemon and Onesimus meant, it wouldn’t have been unsound doctrine. 7/

Given the entirety of American slavery was fruit of the poisonous slave-trading tree, Philemon cannot in any way be used to support it or defend those who violated the word of God by participating in it. 8/

All antebellum slave ownership was part and parcel of slave-trading. It was and remains indefensible; you can’t support from Scripture what it condemns.

Even if the most widely-held view of Philemon is accurate, it still cannot be used to justify American slavery because 9/

Philemon was not a slave-trader. Had he been, Paul would have corrected him for being disobedient to sound doctrine. 10/10