The Letter to Philemon (The New International Commentary on the New Testament | NICNT)
Overview
Paul’s letter to Philemon carries a strong message of breaking down social barriers and establishing new realities of conduct and fellowship. It is also a disturbing text that has been used to justify slavery. Though brief, Philemon requires close scrutiny.
In this commentary Scot McKnight offers careful textual analysis of Philemon and brings the practice of modern slavery into conversation with the ancient text. Too often, McKnight says, studies of this short letter gloss over the issue of slavery—an issue that must be recognized and dealt with if Christians are to read Philemon faithfully. Pastors and scholars will find in this volume the insight they need to preach and teach this controversial book in meaningful new ways.
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Key Features
- Carefully analyzes the text of Philemon
- Addresses the issue of slavery
- Scrutinizes the moral implications found in Philemon
Contents
Introduction
- Slavery in the Roman Empire
- Status and Slaves
- On Defining “Slavery”
- Family Life for the Slave
- The Pragmatics of Masters and Slaves
- Slavery, No Matter the Explanation
- The Options for the Slave
- The Runaway
- Manumission
- Christians and Slaves
- Philemon in the Crucible of New World Slavery and Slavery Today
- Authorship and Date
- The Social Realities of Philemon: Runaway or Slave in Search of a Mediator?
- The Events at Work in the Letter to Philemon
- Structure, Rhetoric and Clarity of Philemon
Text and Commentary
- Introduction (vv. 1–3)
- Authors (v. 1a)
- Addressees (vv. 1b–2)
- Salutation (v. 3)
- Thanksgiving (vv. 4–7)
- Paul’s Appeal for Onesimus (vv. 8–22)
- First Appeal in the Sketch of the Scene (vv. 8–11)
- Second Appeal in the Presentation of Onesimus (vv. 12–16)
- Third Appeal in their Partnership (vv. 17–21)
- Final Appeal in a Presence (v. 22)
- Conclusion (vv. 23–25)
- Title: The Letter to Philemon
- Author: Scot McKnight
- Series: New International Commentary on the Old and New Testament
- Publisher: Eerdmans
- Print Publication Date: 2017
- Logos Release Date: 2017
- Pages: 159
- Era: era:contemporary
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: Bible. N.T. Philemon › Commentaries
- ISBN: 9780802873828
- Resource ID: LLS:NICNT78PHM
- Resource Type: Bible Commentary
- Metadata Last Updated: 2021-02-16T22:50:48Z
Scot McKnight is a theologian who has focused most of his writings on the New Testament and the historical Jesus. He is currently a professor of New Testament at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Lombard, IL. He earned a B.A. degree from Grand Rapids Baptist College (now Cornerstone University), an M.A. degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and a Ph.D. from the University of Nottingham.
McKnight is a member of the Society Biblical Literature and the Society for New Testament Studies. He has written and edited many award-winning books. He has over 25 books to his name, including Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, the volumes on Galatians and 1 Peter in the NIV Application Commentary, and A New Vision for Israel: The Teaching of Jesus in National Context.
