Table of Contents

1. Introduction 1

2. The Bible and the Abolitionist Debate 13

3. The Bible and Slavery 36

4. The Problem of Prostitution 58

5. The Bible and Prostitution 81

6. The Bible and Contemporary Slavery 104

About the Author

Marion L. S. Carson is a freelance theologian and writer who lives in Glasgow, Scotland. She is secretary of the European Baptist Federation's Anti-Trafficking Network.

Reviews

"If you are a Christian and engaged in the issues of human trafficking and prostitution, this is a book you will want to read. Marion Carson, thorough in her theological reflection, exposes attitudes that contribute to the suffering of those enslaved and leads us to see clearly, through the lens of the Bible, the evils of injustice and exploitation. A powerful read that leaves me with much to ponder and do."
*Nancy Murphy, Executive Director, Therapist, Educator, Northwest Family Life Learning & Counseling Center*

This is a thoughtful, thorough and engaging book clearly outlining the challenges of Modern Slavery, and providing rich resources for reflection and practical response. Carson is especially helpful in examining the biblical material, the issue of prostitution and a Christian response to the sex trade. Valuable at every level, from concerned bystanders to active practitioners.
*Alastair Redfern*

"Marion Carson combines the skills of a trained biblical scholar with the passion of a social activist engaged in resistance to the injustices of contemporary forms of slavery. She is thus uniquely qualified to write on this crucial yet frequently misunderstood or evaded topic. She does so with skill, honesty, and courage, placing us in her debt and confronting us with the urgent ethical and theological challenges so well articulated in this superb study."
*David Smith, Honorary Lecturer, University of Aberdeen*

"This is an excellent book. With clarity Marion Carson successfully integrates a number of foci into a coherent argument. She offers a detailed study of the Scriptures, identifies important issues of biblical hermeneutics, discusses with nuance and cultural sensitivity the practice of prostitution, and uses all of this to expose the current issue of sex trafficking with the purpose of motivating ethical Christian response. Informative, sensitive, and relevant."
*Stuart Blythe, Rector, International Baptist Theological Study Centre Amsterdam*

"Human Trafficking, the Bible and the Church" grapples with what is, at one and the same time, a huge global crisis as well as a giant theological issue demanding every thinking Christian’s attention.
*Steve Chalke*

“This is an important book on a vital subject by a credible author. Marion L.S. Carson brings her long experience in anti-trafficking work together with her expertise in biblical studies to provide a much-needed, nuanced, biblical foundation for the church’s work with and on behalf of the world’s enslaved and trafficked people.”
*Krish Kandiah*