Book of Philemon: Overview and Scholarly Commentary
1 chapters · 5 video commentaries · covered in 5 courses
Philemon is a brief, personal letter from Paul concerning Onesimus, an enslaved person who had apparently run away from his enslaver, Philemon. Paul appeals to Philemon to receive Onesimus back, not as a slave, but as a beloved brother in Christ.
AuthorThe letter is traditionally attributed to Paul, and critical scholarship generally accepts Pauline authorship.
WrittenMid-first century CE, likely 50s or early 60s CE.
GenreLetter
AudiencePhilemon, a wealthy Christian in Colossae, and his household, including Apphia and Archippus.
PurposeTo persuade Philemon to welcome back Onesimus, an enslaved person, with kindness and forgiveness.
Covered inThe Genius of Mark: Jesus the Secret Messiah · The Genius of the Acts of the Apostles · The Mysteries of the Synoptic Gospels: Discovering Matthew, Mark, and Luke · The New Testament: Exploring the Christian Bible · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube
What our scholars get into
Our commentary on Philemon explores how this short letter challenges traditional understandings of New Testament intent and its stance on social issues. Bart Ehrman highlights that Paul, in writing Philemon, likely did not envision it as future sacred scripture, given its personal nature and lack of high doctrine. We also delve into the New Testament's broader perspective on slavery, noting that passages like Philemon do not explicitly condemn the institution, as Bart Ehrman discusses in his YouTube series. Furthermore, we examine the connections between Paul and his companions, including Luke, 'the beloved physician,' who is mentioned in Philemon 24, as discussed in 'The Genius of the Acts of the Apostles' and 'The Mysteries of the Synoptic Gospels.' The commentary also touches on mentions of Mark in the New Testament, as explored in 'The Genius of Mark.'
Introduction drafted from the lecture transcripts by AI, pending the team's edit.
New Testament Authors Did Not Necessarily Intend to Write Sacred Scripture
Many New Testament writers, such as Paul in his letter to Philemon, likely did not envision their writings as future sacred, divine, or eternal scripture. The letter to Philemon, for example, is a short, personal communication addressing a specific situation involving an enslaved person, Onesimus, and lacks high doctrine, moral teachings, or literary flourishes typically associated with sacred texts. This suggests that these writings were initially practical documents, and their inclusion in the New Testament canon was a later development.
Summarized by AI · The New Testament: Exploring the Christian Bible · Lecture 1: The New Testament | History and Faith · watch the clip
Courses that cover Philemon
The Genius of Mark: Jesus the Secret Messiah
The Genius of the Acts of the Apostles
The Mysteries of the Synoptic Gospels: Discovering Matthew, Mark, and Luke
