A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to Philemon
Overview
This set of detailed commentaries provides valuable exegetical, historical, cultural, and linguistic information on the original text. Over the years this series has been instrumental in shedding light on the Scriptures so that translators all over the world could complete the important task of putting God’s Word into the many languages spoken in the world today. Over the years church leaders and Bible readers have found the UBS Handbooks to be useful for their own study, since many of the issues Bible translators must address when trying to communicate the Bible’s message to modern readers are the ones Bible students must address when approaching the Bible text as a part of their own private study and devotions.
Top Highlights
“As Moule says, ‘this is notoriously the most ‘obscure verse in this letter.” (Page 118)
“But, Paul adds, I know that you will do even more. It would seem that Paul is thinking of the possibility that Philemon will set Onesimus free so that Onesimus can return to Paul and help him (verse 13).” (Page 131)
“kindly deeds of charity, which spring from your faith” (Page 118)
“In this verse there is an allusion to the name Onesimus, which means ‘profitable, beneficial.’ (The noun onēsis ‘profit’ comes from the verb oninēmi ‘to profit, benefit,’ which appears in verse 20.) The adjective ‘useless’ (RSV) occurs only here in the NT; ‘useful’ appears also in 2 Tim 2:21, 4:11. Paul is referring to the change in Onesimus from what he was formerly. Though not conclusive, verse 18 implies that Onesimus has stolen some valuables when he ran away from Philemon; and a slave who ran away was, by definition, quite useless.” (Pages 124–125)
“It seems quite clear that the way in which Paul phrases the matter [particularly in the use of the cautions ‘perhaps,’ the use of the passive form of the verb ‘to be separated,’ and the avoidance of the verb ‘he ran away (from you)’] implies that in all this God was at work to bring about the intended result which Paul so ardently hopes to achieve.” (Page 127)
- Title: A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to Philemon
- Authors: Robert G. Bratcher, Eugene Nida
- Series: United Bible Societies’ Handbooks
- Publisher: United Bible Societies
- Print Publication Date: 1977
- Logos Release Date: 2003
- Era: era:contemporary
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Bible. N.T. Philemon › Commentaries; Bible. N.T. Philemon › Translating
- Resource ID: LLS:29.62.2
- Resource Type: Bible Commentary
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-25T18:57:25Z