Can We Learn From Theologians Who Had Slaves? episode artwork

EPISODE · Aug 27, 2026 · 32 MIN

Can We Learn From Theologians Who Had Slaves?

from Knowing Faith · host Jen Wilkin, JT English, Kyle Worley

Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley discuss how we can approach theologians who had slaves in a way that is helpful and honest. Questions Covered in This Episode: Can we learn from theologians who had slaves? What's the why/who behind this question? How do we approach learning from theologians who had slaves? The Bible doesn’t condemn the institution of slavery - does it?  How do we make sense of passages like Ephesians 5 or the Letter to Philemon? Can we learn from theologians who endorsed slavery? What makes this conversation so difficult? Is part of it because we are in the Global West? How did slavery function in the Bible? What should we expect from our theological influences? How do we approach them in a way that is helpful and honest? How does Hebrews 11-12 reflect this? How does cancel culture interact with this? Helpful Definitions: Ex opere operato: By the thing acted, operation happens.  Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Ephesians 5, Philemon, Hebrews 11-12 Deep Discipleship Program “City of God” by Saint Augustine “Confessions” by Saint Augustine “Suma Theologica” by Thomas Aquinas “Religious Affections” by Jonathan Edwards “Institutes of the Christian Religion” by John Calvin “Augustine of Hippo: A Biography” by Peter Brown “Jonathan Edwards: A Life” by George M. Marsden Follow Us:Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | WebsiteSupport Training the Church and Become a Patron:patreon.com/trainingthechurchYou can now receive your first seminary class for FREE from Midwestern Seminary after completing Lifeway’s Deep Discipleship curriculum, featuring JT, Jen and Kyle. Learn more at mbts.edu/deepdiscipleship.To learn more about our sponsors please visit our sponsor page.Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley discuss how we can approach theologians who had slaves in a way that is helpful and honest.

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Can We Learn From Theologians Who Had Slaves?

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