---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In supporting argument for segregation…"
description: "\"In supporting argument for segregation, Paul [the apostol] addresses the people in his epistle to the Colossians, and he tells them how to treat their ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/236/john-shelby-spong-1488_addresses_in-supporting-argument-for-segregation-p_1109923.jpg"
---

#  In supporting argument for segregation, Paul \[the apostol\]…

![“In supporting argument for segregation, Paul &#91;the apostol&#93; addresses the people in his epistle to the Colossians, and he tells them how to treat their slaves. &quot;Slaves, obey your masters. Masters, be kind to yourslaves.&quot; Paul was in favor of a kinder and gentler slavery; it never occurred to him to…” quote by John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/236/john-shelby-spong-1488_addresses_in-supporting-argument-for-segregation-p_1109923.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/236/john-shelby-spong-1488_addresses_in-supporting-argument-for-segregation-p_1109923.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/236/john-shelby-spong-1488_addresses_in-supporting-argument-for-segregation-p_1109923.jpg)

> “In supporting argument for segregation, Paul \[the apostol\] addresses the people in his epistle to the Colossians, and he tells them how to treat their slaves. "Slaves, obey your masters. Masters, be kind to yourslaves." Paul was in favor of a kinder and gentler slavery; it never occurred to him to raise the question about whether slavery itself was immoral.”

[John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Paul’s epistle advises slaves to obey masters and masters to be kind, reflecting a moral blind spot that accepts slavery without questioning its immorality.

**In simple terms:** Paul’s letter accepts slavery without moral critique.

Key Takeaway

Recognize moral blind spots.

Themes

morality ethics power historical context religion

Mood

critical thought‑provoking

Type

theological ethical

When to use this quote

- historical analysis
- ethical education
- faith critique
- social reform

Key Concepts

theology human rights social justice

Questions to Reflect On

- How do we reconcile historical texts with modern ethics?
- What responsibilities do we have to reinterpret such passages?

A Different Perspective

Modern readers may find the stance abhorrent and contradictory to broader teachings.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/) [Colossians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colossians/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Segregation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/segregation/) [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) [Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery/)

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