Servant, manager or slave? Reading the parable of the rich man and his steward (Luke 16:1-8a) through the lens of ancient slavery

Abstract

The Parable of the Rich Man and His Steward (Lk. 16:1-8a) is one of the more difficult parables of the New Testament; even a cursory survey of its various designations (whether Unjust Steward, Dishonest Manager, Shrewd Manager, Foolish Master or Dishonoured Master) indicates the conflicting ways in which the parable has been read. The character of the rich man has recently come under increased scrutiny, and with considerable profit, but the status of his steward has not received similar attention, with few exceptions. It is the contention of this paper that the status of the parable's oikonomos, whether slave, freed or free, matters, and indeed demands that the parable be set within the context of ancient slavery. Such a context presents a point of entry into the social-historical and cultural dimensions of the text and suggests a way through the current hermeneutical morass.