missions
Alex O’Connor Says Scripture Supports Slavery. He’s Wrong.
By Kyle Tucker at The Gospel Coalition
· June 19, 2026
· 5 min read
Does the Bible support slavery? Perhaps no issue has been more fiercely debated in the last few years. Underneath this controversy are questions about the goodness of God, the authority and ethical consistency of Scripture, and the credibility of Christian witness. In a recent viral debate with Glen
Key takeaway In a recent viral debate with Glen Scrivener, Alex O’Connor argued that Scripture can just as easily be used to condone slavery as to condemn it.
Why this matters
The debate over whether the Bible supports slavery has significant implications for Christian witness and the credibility of Scripture. Alex O'Connor's argument that the Bible can be used to condone slavery highlights the need for careful interpretation and contextualization of biblical teachings. The image of God in every human being is a crucial aspect of Christian theology, and its implications for human dignity and rights cannot be overstated. By downplaying this concept, O'Connor's interpretation subtly distorts the biblical message, which, when read as a whole, presents a radical critique of oppression and slavery. The ancient world's acceptance of slavery as a natural hierarchy underscores the revolutionary nature of Scripture's teaching on the inherent value of every human being. As Christians engage with critics like O'Connor, they must be prepared to articulate a nuanced and contextualized understanding of biblical teachings on slavery, one that takes into account the full narrative of Scripture and its implications for human dignity and rights.
About this story
Original reporting by The Gospel Coalition . Jesus Give surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
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Category: missions ·
Published: June 19, 2026 ·
Source: The Gospel Coalition ·
Reading time: 5 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Does the Bible support slavery? Perhaps no issue has been more fiercely debated in the last few years. Underneath this controversy are questions about the goodness of God, the authority and ethical consistency of Scripture, and the credibility of Christian witness. In a recent viral debate with Glen
When was this published? This article was first published on June 19, 2026 by The Gospel Coalition and curated for Jesus Give readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Kyle Tucker at The Gospel Coalition. To learn more about how Jesus Give selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more missions coverage from Jesus Give, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .