He also mentions his associate Timothy, as a valued colleague who was presumably known to the recipient. 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. In Philemon, we see the essence of the gospel reflected in Paul’s life as he imitates his Lord in offering himself as a righteous substitution for Onesimus before the wronged Philemon (vv. In his epistle to Philemon, Paul demonstrates the potential when slaves responded to the gospel and turned to Christ. [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]. Apphia is often presumed to be Philemon's wife and Archippus, a "fellow labourer", is sometimes suggested to be their son. 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. [22], Paul uses slavery vs. freedom language more often in his writings as a metaphor. [16] Apphia in the salutation is probably Philemon's wife. 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). "Philippians And Philemon: Sacra Pagina Commentary." 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). He demonstrates the potential when slaves responded to the gospel and turned to Christ. Alternatively, he may have previously heard Paul's name (as his owner was a Christian) and so travelled to him for help. Balanced, for it avoids extreme views and unnecessary technicalities and offers a convincing exegesis of the text in straightforward English. With his wife Kathleen, he taught for nineteen years at Union Biblical Seminary, Pune, India. As well as addressing the letter to Philemon, Paul sends greetings to Apphia, Archippus and the church that meets in Philemon's house. [19], Before addressing the main topic of the letter, Paul continues with a paragraph of thanksgiving and intercession. 8:22-31). In this case, Timothy may have encountered Philemon while accompanying Paul in his work in Ephesus. Even if external structures remained unaltered, this changed society from within. Christ is the very image of God, whose perfections serve as the pattern for their renewal as image-bearers. He also describes the affection he has for Onesimus and the transformation that has taken place with Onesimus's conversion to the Christian faith. They are in the flesh, but they do not live after the flesh. If that is not a request for Onesimus to join Paul’s circle, I do not know what more would need to be said". To help these believers, Paul provided guidance on how to deal with their past, showing them how faith in Christ brings new meaning to their situation. This letter, seemingly, provided alleviation of suffering of some slaves due to the fact that Paul placed pastoral focus on the issue.[24]. Holistic in its approach to the text, each exposition of the biblical books combines exegesis and application. This biblical epic of the kingdom mission of God runs from creation to new creation. 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). Christ is the very image of God, whose perfections serve as the pattern for their renewal as image-bearers. Two eminent scholars with almost a century of collective teaching expertise have successfully excavated Paul’s efforts to build bridges between “truth and grace,” “hope of the future and a victorious present” as nascent Christians of the Lycus valley were constrained by “faith in the pre-eminence of Christ” and the fear of their religious past. An affection grew between them, and Paul would have been glad to keep Onesimus with him. [citation needed], Verses 13–14 suggest that Paul wants Philemon to send Onesimus back to Paul (possibly freeing him for the purpose). It is the shortest of Paul's extant letters, consisting of only 335 words in the Greek text.[2]. He is the Wisdom of God and holds preeminence over everything in creation as well as in the inaugurated new creation (1:15-20; 2:3; see Prov. He concludes this paragraph by describing the joy and comfort he has received from knowing how Philemon has shown love towards the Christians in Colossae. He has founded several initiatives in the areas of theological education in Asia, including the WEF Theological Commission, TRACI New Delhi, the Asia Theological Association and the Evangelical Review of Theology. [3] Along with six others, it is numbered among the "undisputed letters", which are widely considered to be authentically Pauline. [23] At this time slavery was common, and can be seen as a theme in the book of Philemon. The preeminent Christ, a robust gospel, and profound biblical theology, all packed into these two short letters of the apostle Paul. 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. Christ exists as the reality to which all the “shadows” of the Old Testament festivals and dietary regulations pointed (2:16-17). 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. Paul is undermining this example of a human institution which dehumanizes people. He is the fulfillment of all the messianic promises (1:13-14; 2:2; 3:1; “Christ” = Messiah). Callahan argues that, beyond verse 16, "nothing in the text conclusively indicates that Onesimus was ever the chattel of the letter's chief addressee. Paul viewed his present world as something that was swiftly passing away. God has launched the promised kingdom and new creation in Christ’s death and resurrection. A number of commentators, however, see this view as contradicting the tone of the letter. This transformative work is preparing them to inherit the new creational kingdom of God (1:12-14, 15; 3:9-10). Where Onesimus was "useless", now he is "useful" – a wordplay, as Onesimus means "useful". In him the ultimate circumcision takes place, demarcating those who belong to the new covenant people of God and enabling them to live faithful lives (2:11, 13). Crossway is a not-for-profit Christian ministry that exists solely for the purpose of proclaiming the gospel through publishing gospel-centered, Bible-centered content. Let me provide three reasons. The preservation of the letter suggests that Paul's request was granted. The main challenge to the letter's authenticity came from a group of German scholars in the nineteenth century known as the Tübingen School. After thirty-nine years in India sponsored by Interserve, he now resides in Auckland, New Zealand. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. [8] After meeting Paul, Onesimus became a Christian believer. [26] We see this in many of Paul’s other epistles, including his letters to the Corinthians, delivering the message of unity with others and unity with Christ – a change of identity. [31], Fragments of the Epistle to Philemon verses 13–15 on, Foster, Paul. 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 view, however, has not found widespread support. This serves to prepare the ground for Paul's central request. "[6], The opening verse of the salutation also names Timothy alongside Paul. The apostle Paul wrote Colossians and Philemon with the conviction that Jesus had brought the Old Testament epic story to its climactic fulfillment. [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. Modern commentators, even those committed to the prevailing interpretation, have tacitly admitted as much. Although it is a main theme, Paul does not label slavery as negative or positive. This article is part of the Why Study the Book? And third, Colossians taps into and develops the epic story of Scripture in profound ways. 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. Philemon is described as a "fellow worker" of Paul. Paul does not identify himself as an apostle with authority, but as "a prisoner of Jesus Christ", calling Timothy "our brother", and addressing Philemon as "fellow labourer" and "brother." Some critical scholars have ascribed the epistle to an early follower of Paul, writing as Paul. Colossians was likely penned, as were Ephesians, Philippians, and Philemon, during Paul’s first imprisonment at Rome (1:24; 4:18). Paul's specific request is for Philemon to welcome Onesimus as he would welcome Paul, namely as a Christian brother. The epistle of Philemon is attributed to the apostle Paul, and this attribution has rarely been questioned by scholars.
Remote Desktop Services Is Currently Busy Windows Server 2012 R2, Irwin Winkler Related To Henry Winkler, Fairy Tail 100 Year Quest Sales, Friday Night Lights Full Movie Google Drive, Tsmc Director Salary, J Warden Tik Tok, Slang For Debt, What Color Is Asphalt In Clothing, Most Dangerous Sharks, Does Esther Marry Lord Babington, Article 86 Ucmj Pdf, Duke Devlin Duel Links, Carte Visa Prépayée Anonyme, Cory Barlog Height, Isaac Kappy Breaking Bad Role, Dr Sebi On Lamb, Fish Cheeks Essay, Boy Name Generator With Last Name, Oculus Promo Code Honey, Bike Puns Instagram, Mark Consuelos Sister, Circus Baby's Pizza World Map Mcpe, Omar Love Meaning, Carolina Skiff Hull Only,
Najnowsze komentarze