Proclaimer Blog
So, what did the academic miss….?
Did you read Henig's letter to the TImes (below)? If so, did you spot where he might have gone wrong? It's not unimportant because these are the kinds of errors we make all the time as we strive to "rightly handle the word of truth."
- First, there's an error of historical context. Henig implies strongly that 18th Century slavery is a direct counterpart to Roman slavery. True, there are some things in common. And, for sure, Roman slavery could be horrific as plenty of contemporary accounts show. But they are not the same. Professionals (such as doctors), for example, were mostly slaves in the Roman system. Context demands that we understand the kind of issue Paul is writing into and about.
- Second, there a false logic. Even if, (and I will refute this in a moment) Paul is tacitly accepting of slavery as Henig argues, then it does not necessarily flow that slavery and sexual ethics are in the same category and so an error in one must therefore indicate an error in another. For me, as an evangelical, this is not a key point, because I think that Henig has significantly misinterpreted the text, but even if had not, drawing close connections between the two issues is not legitimate without further explanation.
- Third, there is an error of immediate context. What are the main things going on in these passages which will inform our understanding of those particular texts. I don't need to go in to that now, you can no doubt go away and read it up for yourself; suffice it to say it would change Henig's interpretation.
- Fourthly, there is an error of language. Both injunctions, taken on their own, are commands to slaves to obey their masters. Neither is either implicitly or explicitly, an endorsement of slavery. The words just don't say that.
They're common enough errors – probably in my own preparation and preaching too if I'm not careful.