Perhaps you were captured in war and sold. Maybe you were sold or sold yourself to satisfy a debt. Slavery was a common thing in Greek and Roman culture. How someone might become a slave or be freed from slavery varied. Understanding it casts a light on the biblical usage that brings the imagery to life.
For instance, if one of the Pagans of Greece sold themselves for some debt, then they managed to get the money together to purchase their freedom, they would not always give it to their owner, as you would expect. They would give it to the temple. Then, the owner would go to the temple and act like he was selling the slave to the god of the temple. The slave was considered owned by the god, though he was bound to no one if all of the conditions of his release were met.
Several examples of this exchange are still visible on the walls of the temple of Apollo at Delphi, in Greece. Look at this one.
“Date. Apollo the Pythian bought from Sosibius of Amphissa, for freedom, a female slave, whose name is Nicaea, by race a Roman, with a price of three minae of silver and a half-mina. Former seller according to the law: Eumnastus of Amphissa. The price he had received. The purchase, however Nicaea hath committed unto Apollo for freedom.” (pp 321-323 of Light from the Ancient East, by Adolf Deissmann, translated by Lionell R. M. Strachan)
Knowing this, consider that you, as an accountable person, have sold yourself into slavery to sin (John 8:31-34; Rom 6:16). It is impossible for you to gain the means to redeem yourself from this master. Look at what Peter wrote to Christians:
“… you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” (1 Pet 1:18, 19, Unless otherwise stated: Scripture is taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Used by permission. All rights reserved)
Because the Pagan gods were fake, a person had to pay for another person. The one who was freed only belonged to that god through words. The true God gave His life so that we would not have to pay for our sins with ours. And since He is real, He does own all who are redeemed by Him – Christians.
Have you been redeemed?
Van
