5 writes, “Slave, obey your master.” The Bible condemns neither the raping nor beating of slaves; given that the owner purchased them, he could do as he wished. Any knowledgeable man of the bible realizes that it does indeed refer to slavery and the justification of it numerous times. Jacobs writes that the “[plantation owners] seem to satisfy their consciences with the doctrine that God created the Africans to be slaves” (44). She continues by quoting the Bible, stating “What a libel upon the heavenly Father, who ‘made of one blood all nations of men!’” (44). This statement says that all men are equal, although other verses directly contest it.The Bible’s verses concerning slavery contradict other verses in several places when discussing slavery and the treatment of slaves. Ephesians 6:5-9 instructs masters to “give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.” Galatians 3:28 states that “[T]here is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” Again, the Bible illustrates that slaves were equal to all others, stating “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, … whether we be bond of free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” Abolitionists undoubtedly used these quotes in order to put an end to slavery. In Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Jacobs discusses the role that religion played in a slave’s life. The Tenth Commandment in Exodus 20:10 says to “[R]emember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, … in it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant.” Being a Christian meant Sunday was free, as a day of relaxation and recovery from a week of hard working in the fields. The slaves had “their little church in the woods...
