Slavery in ancient Rome was a common practice. Various literary sources, legal documents, inscriptions and artistic representations show just how common Roman slavery was. Yet we don’t have exact numbers. In the early first century, slaves were estimated to make up somewhere between 25 to 40% of the population of the city of Rome.1Roman Slavery. United Nations of Roma Victrix (UNRV). https://www.unrv.com/slavery.php Slavery in the first century was quite different from early American slavery. Slavery in New Testament times was not based on race as it was when Africans were seized and sold into slavery by both African and European traders. Africans were enslaved because they were thought to be sub-human. But in the first century, a majority of slaves in the Roman Empire were the spoils of war and all kinds of people, conquered by the Roman military, became slaves. In many cases individuals sold themselves into slavery because of debt – these were called “bond servants.” In either case, a slave was considered to be res mortals – a “living thing.” They were their master’s property
The slave population of the city of Rome was at least equal to that of freedmen (non-citizens), and has been estimated at anywhere from 25 to 40%. One such estimate suggests that the slave population in Rome circa 1 AD, may have been as much as 300,000 to 350,000 of the 900,000 total inhabitants. In outlying provinces, the numbers are certainly far less substantial, dropping to between an estimated 2 and 10% of the total.2Roman Slavery. United Nations of Roma Victrix (UNRV). https://www.unrv.com/slavery.php
It is estimated that, across the entire empire, perhaps one household in seven owned slaves, but rates of ownership were much higher in Italy and Sicily. In those regions, rates were, perhaps, as much as 30% of the population were slaves during the early Empire.3Slavery in the Early Roman Empire. https://carolashby.com/slavery/
The Trustees of the British Museum estimate that between 10% and 20% of the Roman empire’s population were enslaved. The estimated population of the empire in the first century was 50 million. This would mean that between five and ten million people were slaves. This number would have been unequally distributed across the empire, with a higher concentration of enslaved people in urban areas and in Italy.4Slavery in ancient Rome. https://www.britishmuseum.org/exhibitions/nero-man-behind-myth/slavery-ancient-rome Another group of scholars, estimate that at the height of the Roman Empire in the mid second century AD, the total slave population was approximately 16% of the population as a whole. 5Roman Slavery. United Nations of Roma Victrix (UNRV). https://www.unrv.com/slavery.php
The people of the Empire were divided into three main categories: Roman citizen (civis), free noncitizen (peregrinus), or slave (servus, mancipium, res mortales). Which you would be was determined by the status of your parents, unless the state decided to grant you citizenship. Citizens had many well-defined rights not granted to peregrines. Slaves had no rights at all.6Slavery in the Early Roman Empire. https://carolashby.com/slavery/
The Bible never explicitly condemns slavery. But it does regulate it. And eventually, it would be Biblical Christianity which would have the greatest impact on eradicating it from the earth. But it would be a slow process. As Tremper Longman writes: “Neither Paul nor the other authors of the NT ever call for the abolition of slavery. For a new religion to do so openly would have been suicidal in the ancient world. Instead, he makes repeated appeals for Christian love. Philemon is not to act out of obligation to the apostle; he is to be motivated by the love of Christ within himself. Out of that, Paul suggests, should come more than mere reconciliation, “knowing that you will do even more than I ask” (v.21). Freedom of slaves, like all freedom, must come from the heart of Christ-inspired people. Under this compulsion, slavery must ultimately wilt and die.”7Philemon. The Expositor’s Bible Commentary Series. Ephesians – Philemon By: Tremper Longman III, David E. Garland, William W. Klein, Todd D. Still, Robert L. Thomas, Andreas J. Kostenberger, Arthur A. Rupprecht. Page 634.
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