17-19). Where Onesimus was "useless", now he is "useful" – a wordplay, as Onesimus means "useful". According to Bruce Metzger, it was written in the 50s while Paul was in prison.Colossians is similar to Ephesians, also written at this time. Although it is rarely taught, preached, or studied, the Song of Solomon is God's gift to the church. Paul viewed his present world as something that was swiftly passing away. Although he has the boldness to command Philemon to do what would be right in the circumstances, he prefers to base his appeal on his knowledge of Philemon's love and generosity. Although it is a main theme, Paul does not label slavery as negative or positive. In Colossians, Christ is the ultimate Son of David, the Messiah, and the world’s true Lord. [citation needed], Verses 13–14 suggest that Paul wants Philemon to send Onesimus back to Paul (possibly freeing him for the purpose). Composition. He also mentions his wish to visit and asks Philemon to prepare a guest room. Callahan argues that, beyond verse 16, "nothing in the text conclusively indicates that Onesimus was ever the chattel of the letter's chief addressee. The Son is the ultimate locus of the divine presence and fulfills all the Old Testament hopes for God dwelling among his people (1:19).
This 12-week study walks readers through two Pauline letters that highlight the beauty of the gospel of Jesus Christ and how it informs Christians’ relationships with one another. Here you have a balanced, insightful, reliable and innovative commentary on two of Paul’s letters. "[10] Callahan argues that the earliest commentators on this work – the homily of Origen and the Anti-Marcion Preface – are silent about Onesimus' possible servile status, and traces the origins of this interpretation to John Chrysostom, who proposed it in his Homiliae in epistolam ad Philemonem, during his ministry in Antioch, circa 386–398. He also mentions his associate Timothy, as a valued colleague who was presumably known to the recipient.
Paul’s letters to the Colossians and to Philemon address theological truths and practical issues of faith. Let me provide three reasons.
[9], Onesimus' status as a runaway slave was challenged by Allen Dwight Callahan in an article published in the Harvard Theological Review and in a later commentary.
So in short, Onesimus’ honor and obedience is not claimed by Philemon, but by Christ. The Epistle of Paul to Philemon, known simply as Philemon, is one of the books of the Christian New Testament. Also, there are many personal references common to Philemon and Colossians. This letter is now generally regarded as one of the undisputed works of Paul. [28], Diarmaid MacCulloch, in his A History of Christianity, described the epistle as "a Christian foundation document in the justification of slavery". This renewal prepares them for their vocation as citizens and rulers of the new creational kingdom to be consummated on the last day of history (see Rev. The message of this salvation is producing spiritual fruit all over the world as it spreads across the earth in expanding waves (1:6). 21–22). They shall make known unto you all things which are done here. When people embrace the gospel, God delivers them from the dominion of darkness and transfers them into the inheritance of light, the kingdom of the beloved Son (1:12-14).
Yahweh's Elegant Speeches of the Abrahamic Narr... For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. [8] Knox further argued that the letter was intended to be read aloud in the Colossian church in order to put pressure on Archippus. Second, the gospel is robustly stated and demonstrated in these two letters. "Philippians And Philemon: Sacra Pagina Commentary." B. Lightfoot, for example, wrote: "The tact and delicacy of the Apostle's pleading for Onesimus would be nullified at one stroke by the demand for publication. This article is part of the Why Study the Book? If that is not a request for Onesimus to join Paul’s circle, I do not know what more would need to be said". Paul also was not suggesting that Onesimus be punished, in spite of the fact that Roman law allowed the owner of a runaway slave nearly unlimited privileges of punishment, even execution. [31], Fragments of the Epistle to Philemon verses 13–15 on, Foster, Paul.
The letter is addressed to Philemon, Apphia and Archippus, and the church in Philemon's house. In his epistle to Philemon, Paul demonstrates the potential when slaves responded to the gospel and turned to Christ. Ezekiel wants us to know that God is where he always is; he is with his people.
According to O'Brien, the fact that Philemon's name is mentioned first, together with the use of the phrase "in your house" in verse 2, makes it unlikely that Archippus was the primary addressee. [19], Before addressing the main topic of the letter, Paul continues with a paragraph of thanksgiving and intercession. Similarly, in his epistle to Philemon, Paul addresses a culture where slavery was a common practice. It deals with the themes of forgiveness and reconciliation. Modern commentators, even those committed to the prevailing interpretation, have tacitly admitted as much. Paul's specific request is for Philemon to welcome Onesimus as he would welcome Paul, namely as a Christian brother. [8] Sometime after leaving, Onesimus came into contact with Paul, although again the details are unclear. As the church in Colossae began to grow, the members faced challenges in understanding their identity as Christians and their relationship with God. When the Letter to the Hebrews says that Christians here on earth do not have a permanent homeland, but seek one which lies in the future (cf. The best answers to that question will come when we understand why God gave us this book. [29], In order to better appreciate the Book of Philemon, it is necessary to be aware of the situation of the early Christian community in the Roman Empire; and the economic system of Classical Antiquity based on slavery. They are in the flesh, but they do not live after the flesh. That’s why we should study the books of Colossians and Philemon. "[25] Paul viewed slavery as an example of a human institution of dehumanization, and believed that all human institutions were about to fade away. He reconciled his people to God by his death, that he might present them “holy and blameless and above reproach” before God on the last day (1:22). God has effected a cosmic reconciliation at the cross through the blood of his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (1:20). This transformative work is preparing them to inherit the new creational kingdom of God (1:12-14, 15; 3:9-10). Christ is the exalted Lord over both creation and the inaugurated new creation by virtue of his unique role in God’s project of cosmic reconciliation (1:15-20). [8] Some have speculated that Archippus, described by Paul as a "fellow soldier", is the son of Philemon and Apphia. James is an intensely practical book, filled with exhortations to Christians about the way they should live their lives now that they have been given new life in Jesus. They pass their days on earth, but they are citizens of heaven. [8], The American John Knox proposed that Onesimus' owner was in fact Archippus, and the letter was addressed to him rather than Philemon. Nashville: Abingdon, 2010. p.895, Textual variants in the Epistle to Philemon, "Spe salvi (30 de noviembre de 2007) | Benedicto XVI", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Epistle_to_Philemon&oldid=984304379, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2016, Wikipedia articles incorporating text from Easton's Bible Dictionary, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 19 October 2020, at 11:28. The numerous parallels of vocabulary and matters discussed in Ephesians and Colossians link these epistles together. [20], As a background to his specific plea for Onesimus, Paul clarifies his intentions and circumstances. First, Colossians is unrivalled in its portrayal of the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the author of. Reliable, for while it interacts with alternative understandings of the text, it always represents “informed orthodoxy.” Innovative, with its splendid special studies that are particularly relevant to Asian teachers and pastors – such as “Apostles and Apostolic Succession” and “Slavery: Then and Now.” Warmly and highly recommended. They obey the prescribed laws, and at the same time surpass the laws by their lives.[30]. Idicheria Ninan, PhDProfessor of New Testament,South Asia Institute of Advanced Christian Studies, Bangalore, India.
He is the author of Echoes of Scripture in the Letter of Paul to the Colossians. Paul’s epistle to the Colossians provided guidance on how to deal with their past, showing them how faith in Christ brings new meaning to their situation. [11] In place of the traditional interpretation, Callahan suggests that Onesimus and Philemon are brothers both by blood and religion, but who have become estranged, and the intent of this letter was to reconcile the two men. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser.
The Epistle to Philemon was composed around 57-59 A.D by Paul while in prison at Caesarea Maritima.. Authorship. The epistle of Philemon is attributed to the apostle Paul, and this attribution has rarely been questioned by scholars. He redeems them, forgiving all their sins (1:14). [21], In the final section of the letter, Paul describes his confidence that Philemon would do even more than he had requested, perhaps indicating his desire for Onesimus to return to work alongside him. It is generally assumed that he lived in Colossae; in the letter to the Colossians, Onesimus (the slave who fled from Philemon) and Archippus (whom Paul greets in the letter to Philemon) are described as members of the church there. "Philippians And Philemon: Sacra Pagina Commentary." [27], Sarah Ruden, in her Paul Among the People (2010), argues that in the letter to Philemon, Paul created the Western conception of the individual human being, "unconditionally precious to God and therefore entitled to the consideration of other human beings." [22], Paul uses slavery vs. freedom language more often in his writings as a metaphor.
This is a treasure of sagacious reflections, a must-read for pastors, theological educators and anyone who cares to hear God speak to Asians today through the gospel. This, however, does not mean that Timothy was the epistle's co-author. Along with six others, it is numbered among the "undisputed letters", which are widely considered to be authentically Pauline.
Once the occasion for the writing of Colossians/ Philemon is established, it can be reasonably supposed that all three letters were written sometime during the middle of … The Asia Bible Commentary series empowers Christian believers in Asia to read the Bible from within their respective contexts. Holistic in its approach to the text, each exposition of the biblical books combines exegesis and application. Written to: Philemon, a wealthy Christian at Colossae, and all future readers of the Bible.
Before Paul, Ruden argues, a slave was considered subhuman, and entitled to no more consideration than an animal. In this reconstruction, Philemon would receive the letter first and then encourage Archippus to release Onesimus so that he could work alongside Paul. The ultimate goal is to strengthen the Body of Christ in Asia by providing pastoral and contextual exposition of every book of the Bible. [13] Further, Margaret M. Mitchell has demonstrated that a number of writers before Chrysostom either argue or assume that Onesimus was a runaway slave, including Athanasius, Basil of Caesarea and Ambrosiaster.[14].
After thirty-nine years in India sponsored by Interserve, he now resides in Auckland, New Zealand. God has launched the promised kingdom and new creation in Christ’s death and resurrection.
The preservation of the letter suggests that Paul's request was granted. Because slavery was so ingrained into society that the “abolitionist would have been at the same time an insurrectionist, and the political effects of such a movement would have been unthinkable.
The New Interpreter's Bible: One-Volume Commentary.
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