My MAIN criticism is that Paul is being inconsistent with himself and in particular the values of the early church. In Acts, you see the beginnings of a totally egalitarian resistance movement. Property no longer belongs to the self, people of all kinds, sinners, poor, rich, sick, even Gentiles are all made equal. In Paul's own ministry, from his genuine epistles, is for the most part a pretty egalitarian dude. As you may have seen in my discussion with jaywill, Paul even talks about the issue of slaver to Philemon in a lot of eloquence, humility, and authority. What does he tell Philemon...he tells him that the Christian thing to do is to FREE his slave.
So, its not JUST that Paul in Ephesians fails to condemn slavery. Its that he fails to do so given the fact that he had in the past, in a most superior manner, consistent with the behavior of the early church. That, I think is one of the things that tips the scale to the side of this letter not being legitimate.
Your criticism of Paul for not being outspoken against slavery is merely a Poiticlly Correctness germane to our own present times in America.
The whole of the Middle Ages would have never passed for the Serfs who toiled in an Economic System of Distribution which was appropriate to their times as the only system possible.
We are spoiled today, and seeped in the American Slavery which was not necessary or even practical. We fought a War when we had only pass a Minimum Wage Law that included slaves.
Today, America pays grown men $6.00/hour which is really slavery, one subtly providing the bed and board available for a person with $280 week income from the only Job possible.
A great economist said the real minimum wage is zero, unemployment and no access to the market place which is the source of survival.
There have been times, and even now in India, or China, etc where one is a happy slave whose master has a fair and gainfuk use for him, while he, himslef is worthless in that regard otherwise.
I am certain Paul this as he grew older,...