Embassy of Onesimus: The Letter of Paul to Philemon (NT in Context Commentaries) - Softcover

Callahan, Allen Dwight

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1563381478 ISBN 13: 9781563381478

Publisher: Trinity Press International, 1997

Synopsis

Virtually all modern commentaries on Philemon agree with the interpretation from late antiquity that the letter treats the case of Onesimus, a pilfering runaway slave, who Paul is attempting to rehabilitate in the eyes of Philemon, his rightfully angry master.In this commentary, however, Allen Callahan tells another story. His reading of the rhetorical situation and reconstruction of the historical context provides a new narrative for the letter. He interpretation for which he argues is that of several nineteenth-century American abolitionist interpreters. Here, then, is not the story of a runaway slave but a story of the estrangement of two Christina brothers, Onesimus and Philemon.Professor Callahan proposes that his alternative reading of the letter “offers a paradigm for Christian reconciliation that necessarily includes diplomacy, persuasion, forbearance, and reparations for injured parties. In other words, the letter speaks of the challenging implications of Christian love and the imperative of Christian justice. If there is an interpretation of great moment to be offered for this otherwise unremarkable piece of correspondence, then the treatment of these themes holds the promise of such an interpretation.”Allen Dwight Callahan teaches New Testament at Harvard Divinity School.

About this title

About the Author:

Allen Dwight Callahan teaches New Testament at Harvard Divinity School.

Review:

"In this series designed for a wide audience, Callahan offers an intriguing alternative reading of Paul's letter to Philemon. He suggests that Onesimus was not a runaway slave, as most commentators suggest, but Philemon's estranged brother. Paul wrote in an effort to reconcile Onesimus with his alienated brother and to enlist both in the ministry of the gospel. Callahan argues his case in considerable detail and also, from his own African American background, challenges the stereotyping that may bias interpreters to see in the traditional reading Paul's tacit consent to slavery." —The Bible Today (The Bible Today)

"Without a doubt, Callahan has presented an ingenious and provocative thesis" —Trinity Journal (Jeffrey A.D.Weima)

"Without a doubt, Callahan has presented an ingenious and provocative thesis" —Trinity Journal (Sanford Lakoff)

About this edition

• Publisher: Trinity Press International
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 1563381478
• ISBN 13: 9781563381478
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 112