-Sung Psalm- 103---The OT law was clear- Israel was not supposed to enslave fellow Israelites. In certain cases -particularly for debt-, an Israelite might temporarily become a slave - but they were to be set free in the 7th year.- -Jeremiah 34 makes it clear that Israel was ignoring this requirement. Oh, sure, they -set them free- - only to enslave them once more.- -But God says that you should not enslave your brother. --In Philemon, Paul will make a big deal about how Onesimus is your brother. You should not be holding your brother as a slave.--Many have criticized Paul for failing to condemn the institution of slavery. They want Paul to be a modern abolitionist. But abolition takes as its goal merely the -end of slavery.- Abolitionism has no positive goal - what are you going to replace it with---Paul wants to see reconciliation between Philemon and Onesimus. He wants to see them live together as brothers.

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