The Letter to Philemon (The Eerdmans Critical Commentary

by Markus Barth, Helmut Blanke

Although sometimes regarded as trivial because of its brevity or its treatment of issues distant from the modern world, the letter to Philemon remains valuable both for its insight into the social setting of the New Testament and for its reiteration of a central component of the gospel — brotherly love.

This superb commentary by Markus Barth and Helmut Blanke is unique for its exhaustive study of the ancient world at the time Philemon was written. The volume examines the institution of slavery in Paul's day, drawing from secular Greco-Roman sources and from other Christian writers of the time. The references to slavery found in Ephesians, Colossians, and 1 Timothy are also compared and contrasted with Paul's statements in Philemon. In addition, the verse-by- verse commentary focuses on important themes in Pauline theology, including love, faith and faithfulness, church unity, providence, free will, and human responsibility. Finally, Barth makes his exposition even more useful by surveying the history of the interpretation of Philemon, from the patristic age to modern liberation theologians.

The product of Markus Barth's lifelong research, this volume was completed by Helmut Blanke.

Genres: Christian, Reference

579 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2000

Reviews

[Michael Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

You won't find a more comprehensive commentary on Philemon. The authors go into (sometimes) excruciating detail and depth, making it difficult to keep up with their arguments sometimes. They tend to belittle any interpretation that does not line up wit theirs. Not as strong on lexical issues as other critical commentaries.

[John Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mammoth book. There is so much material it may be difficult to use for sermon preparation or group Bible study prep. Intended for the scholar. The excursuses are excellent. The authors give alternative interpretations and a critique and then give a defense for their conclusions. A history of thoughts and interpretations are discussed.

[Mark Nichols · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very technical commentary - 499 pages addressing 25 verses - and so tremendously chewy and comprehensive. Very much a 'one-stop-shop' as far as Philemon is concerned, though probably too technical for anyone other than someone seeking to prepare a thorough study of the epistle!