— Overview
They also mark that Jesus did not simply deny slavery, without taking that to mean that slavery ought to remain.
— Contents and key concepts
A letter, and a passage from Corinthians
The notes take up the Letter to Philemon. What first caught the writer, though, was a mention of slavery in a letter Paul wrote on his missionary journeys: 1 Corinthians 7:20–24.
Each person, as they hear Paul, should remain in the condition in which they were called, and should not be anxious about that condition. The saying stayed with them before they turned to the shorter letter named in the title.
Two principles, held together
They hear two principles in the saying. The freedom of the soul matters more, so present status need not be the main worry. And yet it may still be good to try to leave slavery — not for status itself, but in order to receive Jesus’ teaching better.
The pairing, they write, is somewhat paradoxical. Stay, and also, if you can, leave. The two sit together uneasily, and that is why the passage stood out.
What is not being said about slavery
They also mark, following the book in their hands, that Jesus did not simply deny slavery. At first glance that can look at odds with his teaching, and can raise resistance. The hidden meaning they find is not that slavery need not end.
The order of what should be freed first has been set differently, they write. What should be blamed is not only a low status, but the way that status can keep a person from receiving the teaching well. They wanted to keep that tension in view. A longer form of the same Korean notes can be read on CampusDown.
Sources
- Student notes on the Letter to Philemon, read beside 1 Corinthians 7:20–24 and Paul’s remarks on slavery.
Last updated 15 November 2026
Frequently asked questions
Which passage first caught the writer, as they come to Philemon?
1 Corinthians 7:20–24, a mention of slavery in a letter Paul wrote on his missionary journeys: each person should remain in the condition in which they were called, and should not be anxious about that condition.
What two principles do they hear in that saying?
That the freedom of the soul matters more, so present status need not be the main worry; and that, even so, it may be good to try to leave slavery, not for status itself, but in order to receive Jesus’ teaching better. They find the pairing paradoxical.
How do they read Jesus’ relation to slavery, as the book they are using frames it?
They mark that Jesus did not simply deny the institution, which at first glance can look at odds with his teaching. They do not take this to mean that slavery need not end; the order of what should be freed first has been set differently.
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