Why did Christianity historically resist abolitionism?

I. Historical Overview

Christian communities have, over the centuries, wrestled with debates surrounding slavery and abolitionism. While many believers were at the forefront of the abolition movement (such as William Wilberforce in England and the Quaker abolitionists in America), others resisted ending slavery for social, economic, and interpretive reasons.

This entry explores the nuanced reasons why certain Christian groups and leaders historically resisted abolitionism. It surveys pivotal scriptural passages, cultural contexts, ecclesiastical positions, and how interpretive approaches contributed to the debate. Although various traditions and denominations differ across time and region, these themes illuminate why opposition to abolitionism emerged despite many biblical principles that affirm the value and dignity of every human being.

II. Scriptural and Ancient Near Eastern Context

Slavery in the ancient world—both in Israel and surrounding cultures—differed markedly from the race-based chattel slavery that developed in later centuries. Ancient servitude sometimes resembled debt-servitude or indentured labor. Archaeological finds, such as slave contracts discovered in Mesopotamian regions, attest to more contract-like forms of servitude, often time-bound and with specific rights.

In Scripture, certain passages regulated servitude, seeking to mitigate harsh practices common in neighboring nations. For example, Exodus 21:2 states, “If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years, but in the seventh year he shall go free without paying anything.” Such verses highlight that biblical law aimed to protect servants from perpetual enslavement. Yet later Christian readers sometimes conflated this ancient system with modern bondage without nuance regarding historical context.

III. Passages Interpreted to Justify Slavery

Some Christians who resisted abolitionism appealed primarily to isolated passages:

• Ephesians 6:5: “Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear and sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.”

• Colossians 3:22: “Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only to please them while they are watching, but with sincerity of heart and fear of the Lord.”

These were often cited to argue that Christianity sanctioned the existing social structure. Yet such instructions were addressed to believers living under the Roman Empire’s slavery system, which was embedded in every aspect of daily life. The apostles often spoke pastorally, helping first-century Christians navigate the system they were born into.

Paul’s letter to Philemon also troubled some later interpreters because he encouraged Philemon to treat the returning slave, Onesimus, as a brother in Christ (Philemon 1:16). Rather than reading this as a call to undermine slavery entirely, some in history merely interpreted it as a command for masters to be more humane, stopping short of advocating total abolition.

IV. Cultural and Economic Pressures

Throughout late antiquity, the Middle Ages, and into the modern era, slavery and forced labor were integral to many societies’ economies. In certain regions, especially in colonial contexts, wealth and power depended on enslaved labor. Thus, economic concerns impinged upon the Church’s perception. Maintaining the status quo seemed safer than confronting deeply rooted financial systems.

During the 17th to 19th centuries, especially in parts of Europe and the United States, the slave trade drove agricultural economies. Plantation owners, whose livelihood relied on forced labor, defended slavery through selective scriptural citations. Many believed that a sudden renunciation of slavery would unleash economic ruin and social unrest, fueling resistance to abolition, even among Christian congregations.

V. Interpretive Shifts and Doctrinal Misunderstandings

The hermeneutics (interpretive methods) employed by different Christian traditions often played a pivotal role. Some interpreters took a literalistic approach to passages mentioning slaves and masters, absent a broader reading of Scripture’s redemptive arc. They pointed to biblical figures who owned servants—Abraham, for instance—without weighing the cultural distinctions between ancient servitude and modern forced labor.

By contrast, other theologians used the overarching biblical principles of love and equality in Christ to argue for abolition. Galatians 3:28 declares, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” These interpreters emphasized the unity of all believers, contradicting any notion of permanent enslavement. Over time, as biblical scholarship became more closely tied to the original languages and historical contexts, movements arose that strongly challenged race-based slavery.

VI. Historic Resistance Among Certain Church Authorities

Some church authorities and denominational groups explicitly defended slavery or were neutral due to political inclinations:

1. Pro-Slavery Publications: In the 18th and 19th centuries, certain Christian leaders in America and Europe penned treatises snooping through Scripture for justification of continuing slavery.

2. Regional and Denominational Schisms: The Southern Baptists in the United States split from northern counterparts because of different stances on slavery. Resistance to abolitionism sometimes took the form of denominational fracturing.

3. Appeals to Church Tradition: Medieval and early modern texts occasionally reinforced social hierarchies. Church councils did not uniformly condemn the practice, allowing it to persist.

Though not universal across Christendom, these examples illustrate why multiple areas of the Church did not stand unanimously for abolition from the beginning.

VII. The Role of Reformers, Revivalists, and Abolitionists

While some believers resisted abolition, others championed it. Revival movements—particularly in England and across America—fostered newly awakened consciences against slavery, transforming hearts and fueling anti-slavery campaigns. John Wesley’s writings took strong stances against slavery, influencing early Methodists. Quakers likewise condemned slavery outright as inconsistent with the teachings of Christ. William Wilberforce, a Member of Parliament and devout Christian, labored tirelessly for decades to abolish the slave trade and eventually slavery itself in British territories.

Despite objections, these reformers rooted their arguments in biblical values—God’s creation of all people in His image (Genesis 1:27) and Christ’s sacrificial love for every human being. Over time, their advocacy shifted societal attitudes. As more archaeological, historical, and linguistic insights clarified the difference between biblical servitude and modern race-based slavery, the moral imperative of abolition became overwhelmingly clear.

VIII. A Broader Ethical Understanding Emerges

Increasingly, Christian ethicists referenced the fullness of Scripture rather than individual proof-texts. The biblical message of liberation—reflected in events like the Exodus and teachings commanding believers to “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 19:19)—gradually gained sharper prominence. This broader ethical understanding highlighted that any form of enslavement violating human dignity contradicted the heart of biblical teaching.

Eventually, as popular sentiment evolved, many churches overcame older defenses of slavery, acknowledging that earlier interpretations lacked sensitivity to the full counsel of Scripture. Church statements and denominational confessions began repenting of past complicity, noting that Scripture intended to transform social realities, not to endorse oppressive systems.

IX. Conclusion

Christianity’s historical resistance to abolitionism arose from a mixture of cultural, economic, and hermeneutical factors. Isolated passages about slavery, coupled with entrenched social structures and financial interests, compelled many believers to uphold the institution. Economic dependencies and concerns over social upheaval also contributed to a reluctance to condemn slavery outright.

Nevertheless, a biblical emphasis on the equality and value of all people, culminating in Christ’s work of redemption, provided the very foundation upon which the Christian abolition movement was built. Over time, believers who embraced a holistic reading of Scripture, informed by ancient context and guided by the centrality of Christ, became powerful voices for emancipation. This gradual shift reveals how the transformative truths of Scripture eventually prevailed over deeply ingrained cultural norms, showing that while certain Christian communities resisted abolition for a season, the ultimate trajectory of biblical teaching champions human dignity and freedom in Christ.