Philemon You owe me one old friend

Philemon “You owe me one, old friend!”

Date and Place Undisputed letter (authentic) Paul in prison with coworkers • In Ephesus? (54– 55 CE) • In Caesarea? (58– 60 CE) • In Rome? (60– 61 CE) To Philemon, Apphia, Archippus, and their house church near Colossae?

Ancient Friendship = reciprocity in all things • Friends share all things in common • Financial give and take between business partners • Friendship between social equals • Patron-client relations: friendship across the social hierarchy Philemon: indebted to Paul for salvation • equal status Onesimus: indebted to Philemon • unequal status

Theological Themes Powers of persuasion • Humor, subtlety, sympathies, promises Paul and slavery • On the one hand, social status is irrelevant; all are equal before God • On the other hand, Paul does not condemn or reject the institution of slavery • Paul calls for good, just treatment of slaves • Paul takes title “slave of Christ” for himself, becoming “all things to all people”

Outline Salutation, blessing (vv. 1– 3) Thanksgiving for Philemon’s hospitality to others (vv. 4– 7) Appeal for Onesimus (vv. 8– 21) • • • Like a son to Paul A brother to Philemon in Christ Onesimus owes Philemon owes Paul therefore asks Philemon to repay his debt to Paul by forgiving Onesimus’s debt to him Prepare for Paul’s visit (vv. 22– 24)