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Embassy of Onesimus: The Letter of Paul to Philemon
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.
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.
112 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1997
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June 4, 2018
To be honest I was disappointed and occasionally even frustrated by this book. As a commentary on Paul's letter to Philemon it was lacking in the area of rigorous, and occasionally proper exegesis. Callahan resurrects John Knox's position that Onesimus, far from begin Philemon's slave, was actually Philemon's brother. His arguments in support of this position, while intriguing, are far from convincing. To me the book, though well though out and well presented (easy to read and understand) came off as an attempt to forcibly divorce the book of Philemon from it's historical context, and without a proper context sound exegesis falls pray to well intentioned eisegesis.
Displaying 1 of 1 review