Last week

• Onesimus
  • Runaway slave
  • Converted by Paul
  • Sent back
• Slavery in 1st Century Rome
  • How one came into slavery
  • Where slaves were employed
  • Laws protecting slave owners, not slaves
  • Treatment of slaves

Treatment of slaves under Rome

• Fair treatment was economically sound
  • Hard work often came with an allowance (peculium)
  • Some allowed to marry
  • Some made wills
  • Some held property
  • Some became close to household members

Celebrity slaves – gladiators

• Usually POWs or convicted criminals
• Physically fit
• Sent to special school
  • Trained by ex-gladiator trainers
  • Learned combat plus protocol
• Did not always die in the fight
  • Fighting a good fight was prerequisite for living
• Some became well-known celebrities
• Could be granted freedom

Paths to freedom

• Process called manumissions – several types
  • Most common – magistrate ceremony
  • Master’s will
  • Declared free by master – apply for citizenship
  • Slave women
    • Marrying their masters
    • Allowed children to be born free
  • Least common – buying one’s own freedom
• Some who gained freedom also did very well.
  • Eurysaces: a freed slave who opened a baking operation that made him rich.
• Although being a slave in Rome made life difficult, it was not always a hopeless situation.

Slavery and the Bible

• Old Testament
  • Curse upon Canaan (Genesis 9:25-27)
    • Was the “curse of Canaan” upheld in perpetuity by God?
    • Who were/are the descendants of Canaan and how many generations bore the curse, if it was to be borne?
    • Does God condemn people because of the sins of their ancestors? Ezekiel 18
  • Joseph sold into slavery by his brothers
    • Did God approve or was this part of God’s plan?
    • Did God condone the act?
  • Slaves held by Israelites
  • Law of Moses – Exodus 21-23
    • Treatment of slaves
      • Protects the slaves
      • Not the owners
      • Slaves to be freed after seven years
    • Taking of slaves
      • Allowed
      • Not allowed
  • God stated His distaste for his people being slaves – they were His.
    • Hosea 2:23; I Peter 2:10; I Corinthians 7:21

Did God approve of slavery?

• Did not approve of divorce – stated so
  • Malachi 2:16
  • Mark 10:2-12 (Matthew 5:31-32; 19:3-9) – “From the beginning”
• Where it starts
  • Exodus 21:16 – To forcibly take a slave = death
  • Appears forced slavery not allowed
  • Not restriction as to nationality or religion
• Fact of slavery
  • We know that God did not condone forcibly taking one into slavery at the time the law was given.
  • He did not want an Israelite to be a slave beyond Jubilee every. Why? Leviticus 25:55
  • God approved of slavery as punishment – Exodus 22:2-4

Caleb

• The familiar account
  • From Numbers 13 and 14
    • Spies chosen – one from each tribe (Numbers 13:2)
    • Caleb chosen from Judah (Numbers 13:4)
    • Contention upon their return (Numbers 13:25-33)
    • Caleb quiets their murmuring (Numbers 13:30)
    • Israel’s rebellion (Numbers 14:1-10)
    • Caleb and Joshua tear their clothes (Numbers 14:6-9)
    • Threat of stoning
    • Glory of the Lord fills the tent of meeting (Numbers 14:10)
    • God condemns Israel (Numbers 14:11-12)
    • Moses contends for Israel (Numbers 14:13-19)
    • God relents, passes judgment (Numbers 14:15-38)
• What follows
  • God’s promises
    • Joshua and Caleb survive (Numbers 32:10-12)
    • Caleb now arbiter of Judah’s inheritance (Numbers 34:16-19)
    • More on why this has come to pass (Deuteronomy 1:34-39)
      • Promise of land to Caleb
      • Note who will possess the land
      • Instructions concerning Joshua – encourage him
• Taking the land
  • Conquests of southern and northern Canaan
  • Conquests east of Jordan
  • Dividing the land (Joshua 14:5)
  • Caleb’s request of Joshua fulfilled (Joshua 14:6-15)
  • He’s got it, now he has to take it
• Taking possession
  • Starts in Joshua 15
    • Caleb takes Kiriath-arba
    • Drives out sons of Anak (remember Numbers 13:33?)
    • Offered his daughter to one who took Kiriath-sepher
    • Othniel wins the prize
• Passing it on
  • Caleb gives Othniel his daughter
    • She convinces Othniel to ask for land from Caleb
    • He agrees, she makes the request
    • Obtains Negev and its upper and lower springs
    • Stays in the family
    • Othniel becomes the first judge over Israel
• Takeaways
  • Caleb had faith in God and His promises
    • Expressed that faith
    • Stood for God when dangerous to do so
    • Continued in his faith
      • Patience for 40 years to enter promised land
      • Patience for 45 years to receive his inheritance
  • God rewarded Caleb’s faithfulness
    • Fulfilled His promise to Caleb
    • Added to that promise – became father-in-law to the first judge of Israel

Introduction

• Luke 16:14-17
• Matthew 23:23
• Mark 7:9, 13

Brief overview of Jesus’ history with the Pharisees

• Luke 7:30
• Luke 11:37, 45
• Luke 12:1
• Luke 14:1-6 – Jesus heals a man on the Sabbath
• Luke 15:1-32 – The joy of sinners who repent.

The Pharisees were lovers of money

• Luke 16:14

The Pharisees heard all these things

• Luke 11:54 – They heard, but not with righteous intent.
• James 1:21
• Luke 23:35

The Pharisees were exalting themselves – Luke 16:15

• God is the one who justifies. The Pharisees wanted to justify themselves in other people’s eyes.
• Luke 10:29
• Matthew 23:35
• Proverbs 21:2
• Luke 7:36

Conclusion

• Do not be complacent. Do not be proud or disdainful of others.
• We must have a right attitude toward money and possessions.
• Cultivate a humble godly attitude towards ourselves and encourage that in others.

Introduction

Thank God for the book of Daniel! Let the liberals and skeptics be ashamed and hang their heads in disgrace for their attacks upon it. - Homer Hailey

• Daniel 9:23; 10:11, 19 – Daniel was “highly esteemed.”
• Time period covered
  • Daniel 1:1 – 605 BC
  • Daniel 1:21 – 536 BC
  • The book covers about 70 years.
  • The word “year” occurs nine times in twelve chapters. An accident?
    • Historical accuracy of Daniel
    • Insight into the consistent character of Daniel

Why is Daniel so highly esteemed by God?

• The 80+ year life of Daniel tells us.

The chronological order of the book of Daniel

• Daniel 1-4 – Captivity and first interpretations of dreams and visions (605-602 BC)
• 50 years of silence
• Daniel 7 – Vision of the four beasts (553 BC)
• Daniel 8 – Vision of the ram and male goat (551 BC)
• Daniel 5 – Belshazzar’s feast – conquest of Babylon (539 BC)
• Daniel 9 – Vision of the seventy weeks (539/538 BC)
• Daniel 6 – Daniel in the lion’s den (539/538 BC)
• Daniel 10-12 – Daniel’s prayer and visions (536 BC)

The life of Daniel

Daniel 1:1 – third year of Jehoiakim (605 BC) – 18 years old

• Daniel 1:1, 21
• Had convictions and refused to compromise them – Daniel 1:3-13
• Courteous and respectful – Daniel 1:8, 12
• Good reputation with all – Daniel 1:20

Daniel 2:1 – second year of Nebuchadnezzar (602 BC) – 21 years old

• Daniel 2:1
• Interprets dreams: five kingdoms
  • Babylon
  • Medes-Persians
  • Greeks
  • Romans
  • God’s
• Sought wisdom from God – Daniel 2:19-23
• Gave God glory, was humble – Daniel 2:19-23
• Caused king to glorify God – Daniel 2:47-48

• Daniel’s first prophecy of Media-Persia: 605 BC
  • Media-Persia ascended to prominence: 539 BC
  • 605-539 = 66 years prior to fulfillment
• Daniel’s first prophecy of Greece: 605 BC
  • Greece ascended to prominence: 330 BC
  • 605-330 = 275 years prior to fulfillment
• Daniel’s prophecy of Alexander the Great: 547 BC
  • Alexander the Great rose to power: 330 BC
  • 547-330 = 217 years prior to fulfillment
• Daniel’s first prophecy of Rome: 605 BC
  • Rome ascended to prominence: 27 BC
  • 605-27 = 578 years prior to fulfillment

Daniel 3-4 – second year of Nebuchadnezzar (602 BC) – 21 years old

• Friends refuse to bow down to image – Daniel 3
• Order to interpret king’s (Nebuchadnezzar’s) dream – Daniel 4:1-18
• Spoke boldly to king: warning, advice – Daniel 4:19-27
• Nebuchadnezzar turned to animal – Daniel 4:28-33
• Caused king to glorify God – Daniel 4:34-36

50 years of silence

Daniel 7:1 – first year of Belshazzar (549 BC) – 74 years old

Daniel 8:1 – third year of Belshazzar (547 BC) – 76 years old

• Daniel 7:1; 8:1
• Vision of four kingdoms
  • “I desired to know” – Daniel 7:19
• Continued curiosity
  • “I kept looking” – Daniel 7:9
• Visions of oncoming kingdoms
  • “I sought to understand” – Daniel 8:15

Daniel 5 – first year of Darius (539 BC) – 84 years old

• Daniel 9:1-2
• Observing in “the books”
• Speaks plainly to Belshazzar – Daniel 5:22-23
• Foretells end of Babylonian kingdom; sees its fall – Daniel 5:13-31

Daniel 9 and 6 – first year of Darius (539 BC) – 84 years old

• Continues his study of scriptures – Daniel 9:1
• Prays for sins of his people – Daniel 9:2-19
• Held in high esteem by God – Daniel 9:23
• Refused to pray to king, prayed without ceasing to God – Daniel 6:1-15
• Lived life above reproach – Daniel 6:4
• Put God’s will above man’s – Daniel 6:13
• Thrown into lion’s den – Daniel 6:16-28
• Trusted God – Daniel 6:23
• Caused Darius to glorify God – Daniel 6:24-28

Daniel 10-12 – third year of Cyrus (536 BC) – 87 years old

• Daniel 10:1; 11:1
• Held in high esteem by God – Daniel 10:11, 19
• Set his heart to understand, humbled himself – Daniel 10:12

• All of these age groups are represented in the Benchley congregation. Compare our character to Daniel’s at the comparable stage of life.

Thank God for the book of Daniel! Let the liberals and skeptics be ashamed and hang their heads in disgrace for their attacks upon it. - Homer Hailey

Introduction

• Mark 9:14-29 – Jesus heals a boy with an unclean spirit.

“How long has this been happening to him?”

• Jesus is asking a question He already knows the answer to.
• Luke 6:6-8
• John 4:16-18
• For the benefit of the crowd.
  • John 20:30-31
  • Luke 9:43
• To show his compassion.
  • John 11:32-39 – Jesus showed compassion for Lazarus.

“If you can do anything”

• This situation caused the father to evaluate his own faith.
  • Mark 6:1-6
  • Matthew 8:5-10
  • Would Jesus marvel at your faith?
• How strong is YOUR faith?

“Why could we not cast it out?”

• Mark 9:28-29
• Matthew 17:19-20
• Lack of faith is a common problem … how do we fix it?
  • Luke 17:5
  • Prayer
  • Through God’s word
    • Romans 10:17
• Things we may lose faith in
  • Faith in God hearing / answering our prayers
    • I John 5:14-15; Matthew 7:7-11
  • Faith in the existence of God
    • Romans 1:18-20; Psalm 19:1-4
  • Faith in God providing for us.
    • Matthew 6:25-34
  • Faith in the forgiveness of sins.
    • Psalms 103:8-13

[Sorry, due to technical difficulties, the audio recording for this lesson is not available. -MRW]

Highlights from previous lesson about Abigail and David

• David sends men ahead to ask Nabal for some help.
• They’re snubbed, David and lineage insulted.
• David determined to avenge the insult via mass capital punishment.
• Abigail finds out and intercedes, David relents
• Abigail tells Nabal the next day and he goes catatonic – dies 10 days later
• David takes Abigail as his wife

Discussion

• Don’t procrastinate
• Be honest and don’t hide things from husband, wife, family member, etc.
• Don’t seek vengeance, leave it to God – Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19; Hebrews 10:30
• Could David’s throne have been destroyed by his transgression just as Saul’s throne had been?
  • Saul’s reaction to sin
  • David’s reaction to sin
• It is good and right for a woman to be decisive
• Courage is facing real fear rather than running from it
• You can respond to a fool without dishonesty or manipulation
• Speaking diplomatically can work better than being brash
  • You can do so respectfully rather than patronizingly
• Abigail did not rely on her beauty to bail herself out
  • Got on her knees and put her face in the dirt
• Her gentle, humble, respectful honesty dissuaded a young, brash warrior from an ill-conceived fight
• When action was the right thing to do, she disregarded the danger
  • Could have just run off
  • Could have thrown Nabal under the bus
• Her mainstay appeal was God’s righteousness
• You can do right no matter your marital or familial situation
• A woman can function properly and righteously in any situation
• Her beauty is mentioned, but it does not play into any real part of the situation

Onesimus

• Philemon 1:1-25
• What we know:
  • Has Roman (Latin) name – maybe given that name as a slave
  • Philemon’s slave – who’s run away
  • Maybe took something from Philemon or owes him (Philemon 1:18-19)
  • Was converted in Rome by Paul
  • Was Paul’s valued helper
• As for Paul:
  • Makes no excuses for Onesimus – realizes he did wrong
  • All things must be made right
  • What to do is up to Philemon
  • Onesimus is now much more than a slave
    • Had become useless to Philemon
    • His usefulness is by proxy now
  • Paul defers from his authority to Philemon’s heart

What are the implications of Paul’s letter?

• Converted slave – new kind of servitude
  • Service to Christ is better when unhindered
    • I Corinthians 7:21
  • At the same time, not impossible or wrong
  • Slavery was very much a fact of life in Rome during the first century

How did one become a slave under Roman law?

• Being captured during warfare and sold
• Being captured by pirates and sold
• Selling oneself into servitude to pay a debt
• Being born into slavery

Once a slave, what was the job?

• Found in every endeavor – household, government, business
• Domestic help was the most common
  • Educated slaves taught children
  • Some were cooks – specialty
  • Even hairdressers
• Some took civic positions (just as Jews in Babylon)
  • Librarians
  • Government Administrators

At the other end of the scale

• Some did hard manual labor
  • Jobs around large estates (senatorial class)
  • Ag work
  • Mine workers – high “turnover”
  • Construction workers – like Israelites in Egypt
• The most unfortunate were pressed into work as prostitutes
  • Both male and female

Roman law enforce slavery – favored the owner over the slave

• Masters – life and death
• Runaway – harsh punishments
• Assault or kill master
  • Often, death
  • Also, deaths of associated slaves

How were they treated?

• Made economic sense – treat fairly
• Many gained allowances (peculium)
• Marrying
• Even made wills
• Property holders
• Some became close to master’s family members
• Cicero and Tiro – personal secretary
  • Cicero’s brother: “I am truly thankful for what you have done with regard to Tiro, in judging his former status to be below what he deserved and preferring us to have him as a friend rather than a slave.”