Slavery in the Greco-Roman World w/ Ryan Meyer
Notas do episódio
In this episode of Theologically Driven, host Phil Cecil sits down with Dr. Ryan Meyer to explore one of the most challenging topics in New Testament studies: Paul's view of slavery. Before diving into Paul's letters, Dr. Meyer lays essential groundwork by unpacking what slavery actually looked like in the first-century Greco-Roman world — and it may surprise you.
Dr. Meyer explains how slavery in Paul's day differed dramatically from the race-based chattel slavery of American history. In major Roman cities, up to a third of the population were enslaved. Slaves held roles ranging from household servants to doctors, teachers, ship captains, and city officials. Slavery was primarily a legal category, not an ethnic one, and manumission by age 30 was a reasonable expectation for many urban slaves.
Yet none of that softens its fundamental evil. As Dr. Meyer puts it, what makes all slavery wrong — ancient or modern — is one image bearer owning another.
This episode helps listeners avoid two common errors: minimizing how bad slavery was in order to defend Paul, or reading first-century texts through a purely modern lens. It's an honest, careful look at the historical context every reader of Paul's letters needs.