“You owe me one, old friend!”

PhilemonPhilemon

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?

Date and PlaceDate and Place

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

Ancient FriendshipAncient Friendship

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”

Theological ThemesTheological Themes

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• Philemon owes Paul• 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)

OutlineOutline