Freedman
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In biblical times, the term "freedman" referred to a person who had been released from slavery. The concept of a freedman is significant in understanding the social and cultural dynamics of the ancient world, particularly within the context of the Roman Empire and early Christian communities.

Historical Context

In the Roman Empire, slavery was a common institution, and slaves could be found in various roles, from household servants to laborers and skilled artisans. A slave could be freed by their master through a formal process known as manumission. Once freed, these individuals were known as freedmen (or freedwomen), and they often continued to work in similar roles as they did while enslaved, but with greater personal autonomy and legal rights.

Freedmen were not entirely equal to those born free, as they often retained certain obligations to their former masters, now termed patrons. Despite these limitations, freedmen could achieve significant social mobility, and their descendants could eventually attain full citizenship rights.

Biblical References

The New Testament provides insight into the lives and roles of freedmen within the early Christian church. The Book of Acts mentions a synagogue of Freedmen in Jerusalem: "But some from the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria, as well as from Cilicia and Asia—rose up and disputed with Stephen" (Acts 6:9). This passage highlights the presence and active participation of freedmen in religious and communal life.

The Apostle Paul, in his letters, often addresses the social distinctions between slaves and free individuals, emphasizing the spiritual equality of all believers in Christ. In his letter to the Galatians, Paul writes, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28). This theological perspective was revolutionary, challenging the prevailing social norms and offering a new identity rooted in faith rather than social status.

Cultural and Theological Implications

The presence of freedmen in the early church underscores the inclusive nature of the Christian message. The early Christian communities were composed of diverse social groups, including slaves, freedmen, and free citizens, all united by their faith in Jesus Christ. This inclusivity is a testament to the transformative power of the Gospel, which transcends social and cultural barriers.

Theologically, the concept of freedom is central to the Christian faith. The liberation from physical slavery serves as a metaphor for the spiritual freedom offered through Christ. In the Gospel of John, Jesus declares, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36). This freedom is understood as liberation from the bondage of sin and the law, offering believers a new life in Christ.

Conclusion

The role of freedmen in the biblical narrative and early Christian communities highlights the transformative impact of the Gospel on social structures. By embracing individuals from all walks of life, the early church exemplified the radical inclusivity and equality that are foundational to Christian teaching.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(n.) A man who has been a slave, and has been set free.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
FREEDMAN; FREEMAN

fred'-man, fre'-man: The term occurs in 1 Corinthians 7:22 Colossians 3:11, and Revelation 6:15, and represents two slightly different words. In 1 Corinthians 7:22 the word is apeleutheros, "a freeman," one who was born a slave and has received freedom. In this case it refers to spiritual freedom. He that was in bondage to sin has been presented with spiritual freedom by the Lord. In Revelation 6:15 the word is simply eleutheros, "a free man" as opposed to a slave.

Greek
558. apeleutheros -- one freed away, ie a freedman
... one freed away, ie a freedman. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration:
apeleutheros Phonetic Spelling: (ap-el-yoo'-ther-os) Short Definition: a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/558.htm - 6k

3032. Libertinos -- Freedman, the name of a synagogue
... Freedman, the name of a synagogue. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration:
Libertinos Phonetic Spelling: (lib-er-tee'-nos) Short Definition: a freedman ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3032.htm - 6k

Library

Slaves and Free
... As the text puts it, 'He that is called, being a servant, is the Lord's freedman.'
A freedman was one who was emancipated, and who therefore stood in a ...
/.../maclaren/romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/slaves and free.htm

Christianity in Rome.
... Many of them became very wealthy, even millionnaires. The rich freedman was in
that age the type of the vulgar, impudent, bragging upstart. ...
/.../history of the christian church volume i/section 36 christianity in rome.htm

Quotations from the Lxx. In Early Christian Writings.
... speaking Jews, the freedmen of Roman families; and Clement himself, as Lightfoot
has suggested [858] , was probably of Jewish descent and a freedman or the son ...
/.../chapter iii quotations from the.htm

The Epistle to the Colossians.
... [1148] Epictetus ( Epiktetos), a slave and then a freedman of Epaphroditus (who
was himself a freedman of Nero), was considerably younger than Paul, and taught ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 94 the epistle to.htm

Christian Cemeteries.
... The petitioner, Arrius Alphius, a favorite freedman of the mother of Antoninus Pius,
writes to the high priests: "Having lost at the same time wife and son, I ...
/.../lanciani/pagan and christian rome/chapter vii christian cemeteries.htm

Note 1
... Antiquities and Life, is a more doubtful case; but the dedication implies that he
was a man of influence in Rome, and though obviously a freedman (on account ...
//christianbookshelf.org/ramsay/was christ born in bethlehem/note 1.htm

Paul Before Felix.
... Felix, before whom he was appointed to plead, was a freedman of the emperor Claudius,
by whom he had been entrusted with the government of Judea. ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xxvii paul before felix.htm

Roman Chronology to the Death of M. Aurelius.
... For if any one is anxious to learn them, he will ascertain them from the tables
which Chryserus the nomenclator compiled: he was a freedman of Aurelius Verus ...
/.../theophilus/theophilus to autolycus/chapter xxvii roman chronology to the.htm

Tryphena and Tryphosa
... Aristobulus was a grandson of Herod the Great, and Narcissus was a well-known freedman,
whose slaves at his death would probably become the property of the ...
/.../maclaren/romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/tryphena and tryphosa.htm

Prolegomena
... The presence among them of Hylas (Jerome Letter III, 3) the freedman of Melania,
the wealthy and ascetic Roman matron, shows that that relation had already ...
/.../life and works of rufinus with jeromes apology against rufinus /prolegomena.htm

Thesaurus
Freedman (1 Occurrence)
... (n.) A man who has been a slave, and has been set free. Int. Standard Bible
Encyclopedia. FREEDMAN; FREEMAN. ... Multi-Version Concordance Freedman (1 Occurrence). ...
/f/freedman.htm - 7k

Subapostolic
... Lightfoot, with some probability, supposes (Apostolic Fathers, I, 61) that Clement
was a "freedman or the son of freedman, belonging to the household of ...
/s/subapostolic.htm - 38k

Sub-apostolic
... Lightfoot, with some probability, supposes (Apostolic Fathers, I, 61) that Clement
was a "freedman or the son of freedman, belonging to the household of ...
/s/sub-apostolic.htm - 38k

Procurator
... But Claudius appointed a freedman, Antonius Felix, brother of the famous minister
of finance, Pallas, as procurator of Judea (Suetonius, Claudius xxviii ...
/p/procurator.htm - 13k

Nero
... opened. With the assistance of the emperor's freedman, Pallas, Agrippina
proved the successful candidate for Claudius' affections. ...
/n/nero.htm - 41k

Freed (32 Occurrences)

/f/freed.htm - 15k

Narcissus (2 Occurrences)
... On the other hand, Bishop Lightfoot (Phil, 175) holds that "the powerful
freedman Narcissus, whose wealth was proverbial (Juv. Sat. ...
/n/narcissus.htm - 9k

Freeman (9 Occurrences)
... the right to vote at elections. See Liveryman. Int. Standard Bible
Encyclopedia. FREEDMAN; FREEMAN. fred'-man, fre'-man: The term ...
/f/freeman.htm - 10k

Freedom (45 Occurrences)
... Under the Roman law the "freeman" (ingenuus) was one born free; the "freedman"
(libertinus) was a manumitted slave, and had not equal rights with the freeman ...
/f/freedom.htm - 21k

Freedmen (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) Plural of Freedman. Multi-Version Concordance
Freedmen (1 Occurrence). Acts 6:9 And there arose up ...
/f/freedmen.htm - 6k

Resources
What are the Dead Sea Scrolls and why are they important? | GotQuestions.org

Freedman: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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