The Letter to Philemon: A New Translation with Introduction and CommentaryThe apostle Paul's letter to his friend and fellow Christian Philemon, which focuses on the question of slavery, has long inspired debate. Onesimus, one of Philemon's slaves and a Christian himself, has left his master's house and sought refuge with Paul. In a letter to Philemon, Paul assures his friend that he is sending Onesimus back into captivity, but pleads for mercy on the slave's behalf, asking Philemon to treat him as a beloved brother and as he would treat the apostle.Examining Paul's letter within the context of the social, political, and economic realities of the times, Fitzmyer sheds light on the question of whether Paul was suggesting that Onesimus be granted freedom from slavery or whether he was simply advocating a lenient treatment of this particular slave. His insights not only clarify Paul's position but show why the letter is relevant in the Church today. |
Contents
Title Text Authorship Date and Place of Composition | 7 |
Slavery in Antiquity | 25 |
Significance of the Letter | 34 |
Copyright | |
3 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
addressees adelphos agapē Ambrosiaster ancient Apostle Apphia Archippus beloved brother Bible Commentary Biblical Brief an Philemon Cambridge Christ Jesus Christian church Colossae Colossians & Philemon Colossians and Philemon cosender Eerdmans Epaphras Ephesians Ephesus Epistle of Paul Epistle to Philemon epistolas expresses ExpTim faith and love Filemon Fitzmyer freedman Gnilka God's dedicated Grand Rapids greetings hōs IBNTG Ignatius imprisonment interpretation Jerome John Chrysostom Knox koinonia Kolosser lemon Letter to Philemon Lightfoot Lohmeyer Lohse London Lord Jesus Luke master meaning mentioned Neuen Testament NOTE Onesi Onesimus Onesimus back Paul the Apostle Paul to Philemon Paul writes Paul's Letter Pauline Paulus Phil Philemon's faith Philemon's house Philemonbrief Philemonem Philippians phrase Pliny prayer prisoner repr Roman Rome runaway slave Sabinianus sense slave Slavery Stuhlmacher TDNT tēs Testament thanksgiving Theodore of Mopsuestia Theology Thess Timothy Titus TLNT Tychicus verb verse vols York