Bible Defence of Slavery

This 1843 text represents one of the most systematic attempts to use scripture and pseudo-history to defend American slavery. Josiah Priest, a Methodist minister, compiled biblical arguments, spurious genealogical claims, and contemporary testimonials into a volume that argued slavery was not only compatible with Christianity but positively sanctioned by divine authority. The book traces invented origins of the 'Negro race,' claims biblical patriarchs owned enslaved people, and quotes politicians and religious leaders endorsing the institution. It went through multiple editions in the antebellum South, becoming a cornerstone of pro-slavery ideology. Reading this book today offers a disturbing window into how sophisticated minds rationalized monstrous evil, constructing elaborate intellectual frameworks to reconcile slavery with Christian ethics. It remains essential for understanding the ideological machinery of the Old South and the rhetorical strategies employed to defend human bondage.