The Apostles and Slavery

Attitude of the Apostles toward slavery in the Roman Empire. They did not attempt to do away with the terrible evil immediately. This would have been a hopeless task, and such an attempt would have been doubtless crushed by the iron hand of Rome. Rather, they were satisfied to give forth Christian principles, and so preach the gospel of liberation from sin, that the result would be to do away with human slavery through the conquering power of CHRIST. Paul's letter to Philemon has, no doubt, done more to overcome slavery than any other document ever written. [Manners And Customs of Bible Lands]