Fertility, Slavery, and Biblical Interpretation: John Chrysostom on the Story of Sarah and Hagar

Abstract

Fertility is a complex and contentious topic in biblical theology, touching upon social, cultural, and gender identity issues in the ancient world. It intersects with factors like gender, age, disability, and socio-economic status, notably in the context of slavery. Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar’s story, particularly Genesis 16, highlights the link between slavery and fertility. This study examines John Chrysostom’s interpretation of their narrative (ca. 349–407 CE) to explore these intersections. Chrysostom views fertility and infertility as social, moral, and theological concepts linked to divine intervention. He portrays Abraham as the ideal husband, Sarah as the ideal wife, and Hagar as a deviant slave woman. Theologically, he transforms slavery from a social status to an ontological state and criticizes Jewish identity. Chrysostom’s interpretation supports late antique slaveholding values, making infertility discourse a complex tool with intersectional dynamics in his biblical reception framework.