er in society. (Lewis, 1973). Frederick Augustus Ross, who was a pastor of the Presbyterian church of Huntsville, Alabama, used a quotation from the Bible in showing his support for slavery: "The powers that be are ordained of God." (Romans 13:1, 1965, p. 137). Ross then concluded that "slavery is of God, and to continue for the good of the slave, the good of the master, the good of the whole American family, until another and better destiny may be unfolded." (Ross, 1969, p. 5). It was !common practice for the preachers to quote from the Bible in showing their support for slavery.The Lord told Moses, "Now these are the judgements which thou shalt set before them. If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing. If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him." (Exodus 21:1-3, 1965, p. 61). The Lord then continues to tell Moses the various conditions allowable under slavery, which continues through the rest of chapter 21 in Exodus. The preachers would use the quotation from Exodus in saying that slavery was permissible under certain conditions. These preachers would argue that slavery was a patriarchal institution; the relationship of master to servant was no different then that of husband to wife, parent to child, or landlord to tenant. (Barnes, 1969). The Bible even gives reference to the fact that we are all servants (slaves) of God."Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same he shall receive of the Lord, whether he is bond or free." (Ephesians 6:5-8, 1965, pp. 165-6). The Lo...
