Michigan, ILL: W.B. I submit that some of the scholars who opposed the traditional runaway-slave hypothesis, by suggesting that Onesimus was either a worshipper in Colossae sent to assist Paul in his ministry, downplay the capacity of Onesimus as a colonial subject to escape from a slavery household. These cookies do not store any personal information. This letter is a great example of how we can have difficult conversations in a clear but loving way. I contend that such is a colonial reading of the narrative and, when using a postcolonial lens, an interpreter can decolonise the narrative and propose a new hypothesis that is liberating and appropriate for the African context. Paul's letter to his Christian brother Philemon gives us a window into Paul's personal life and relationships, showing us how the apostle lived out his faith in real life. Onesimus our brother: Reading religion, race and culture in Philemon. In jail, Paul would rather Philemon act out of what is good and right relationally than force Philemon to act. Johnson et al. That Onesimus was simply a runaway slave appears to prevail in the traditional interpretation of the narrative. This would have been a big step for someone living in their culture. Joshel (2010:132) notes that slaves were dressed in a tunic and wore simple shoes and they could easily be identified as slaves from what they were wearing. Onesimus was a runaway slave. While it is clear that Paul is urging Philemon to forgive Onesimus, it is less clear what Philemon's response was. Have the child stand behind you. [Links], Kyrtatas, D.J. She writes devotions for My Daily Bible Verse Devotional and Podcast, Crosswalk Couples Devotional, the Daily Devotional App, she has work published with Her View from Home, on the MOPS Blog, and is a regular contributor for Crosswalk.com. Onesimus had run away from Philemon, and somehow met Paul in his travels. Onesimus was Philemon's slave. Forgiveness is also not about immediately putting yourself in a position to be hurt again. 4. The past history of Onesimus had been such as to belie the meaning of his name. What did Onesimus do to show his repentance. When we forgive someone, we are choosing to grow and learn from the experience, instead of letting it hold us back. Onesimus ran away from his owner, Philemon, a wealthy Christian man. Paul requests that Onesimus be accepted as a brother (Phm819). The Bible teaches that God's love and forgiveness is for all people. I posit that Onesimus did, in fact, run away from Philemon's household, not with the intention of simply being a fugitive as traditional interpreters would hold, but with the intent of manumission in mind. The book of Philemon is a short letter written by the Apostle Paul to Philemon, a wealthy Christian colossus living in the city of Colossae. Pauls actions prompt us to view how we interact with people who may be oppressed or in need with a very different perspective than the world. While there is evidence to suggest that Philemon did eventually forgive Onesimus, it is far from clear cut. While looking through the index of my study Bible, trying to decide upon the topic of my next study, I noticed the Book of Philemon. Slaves and lower class citizens cannot continue to be the subjects of hegemonic structures; they need to be recognised as people who can think for themselves and use the systems at hand to seek liberation. Onesimus could have run away again to start fresh, but instead faithfully brings Pauls letter to Philemon. In the letter, Paul extols the virtues of Onesimus and encourages Philemon to see him not as a slave but as . Among the first Christians there were many slaves. ///christianbookshelf.org/richardson/early christian fathers/to the ephesians.htm, Praise of the Ephesians. Callahan also oppose the runaway-slave hypothesis. The traditional runway-slave hypothesis already poses Onesimus as a bad person who can only think of stealing from his master who has only been good to him. Paul intervenes on his behalf by writing a letter to Philemon, asking . He requested that Onesimus be accepted as a beloved brother and that he be released voluntarily by his master to return and serve Paul and help in Christian work. However, I hold that Onesimus used the colonial domination system of slavery to resist it. Paul's Epistles to Colosse and to Philemon:At the same time Paul wrote to the church in Colosse on other matters, and he entrusted the Epistle to the Colossians to the joint care of Tychicus and Onesimus. Matthew 8:28-34 (cf. Third, we learn that forgiveness is not always fair. Slavery was not viewed as evil within the New Testament Judeo-Christian culture and was supported by Roman law. Onesimus is going to show up on Philemon's doorstep with a note from Paul. Will Philemon receive him into his house as his guest? Onesimus had run away from Philemon, and somehow met Paul in his travels. Was written from Rome at the same time as the epistles to the Colossians and Ephesians, and was sent also by Onesimus. Even though it is only one chapter long, there are many highly applicable lessons for our everyday lives from this small book. But already his consistent conduct in Rome and his willing service to Paul there have changed all that; he has been profitable to Paul, and he will be profitable to Philemon too. They also note that Onesimus has remained silent in Paul's letter to Philemon, even though he is present; Philemon and Paul are talking, and Onesimus must simply keep quiet (Johnson et al 2012:1). We are all deserving of Gods love and the love of other believers! Philemon is not mentioned anywhere else in the NT. As we read Philemon, we see how Paul graciously and passionately advocates for his friend Onesimus; a man he considers to be a son. Being the property of their masters, even in a sexual sense, one would argue that they were treated as sexual instruments, as vibrators (Tiroyabone 2015:82). Then were left with Philemon. He has worth; he is important. Forgiveness is a complex and multi-layered concept. She has most recently published a devotional, Comfort: A 30 Day Devotional Exploring God's Heart of Love for Mommas. Paul does not make any direct attacks on the notion of slavery, but he does hold Philemon to a standard higher than that of the surrounding culture. 10 Lessons from Philemon. He was also very grateful to Philemon for giving him another chance and for showing him the forgiveness that he so desperately needed. Philemon 1:8-21 : Paul Intercedes for Onesimus, To report dead links, typos, or html errors or suggestions about making these resources more useful use the convenient. He knew that the leader of the evangelistic movement was Paul and that he was in Rome. Regardless of what exactly Philemon did when Onesimus first ran away, it's clear that he would have been feeling frustrated, angry, and possibly even betrayed. Once in Rome, Onesimus, either by accident or by his own design, came in contact with Paul, who promptly led the runaway slave to faith in Jesus Christ. by Jeffrey Kranz | Aug 4, 2013 | Bible Books. You may have heard of the name Onesimus. A postcolonial reading of Philemon argues that Onesimus is not simply a slave; he is an intelligent person who uses the very system that oppresses him to liberate himself. Where Can I Buy a Block of Ice near Me? (Colossians 4:9) (A.D. Onesimus was still a heathen when he defrauded his master and ran off from Colosse. Among those who gave their hearts to God through the labors of Paul in Rome was Onesimus, a pagan slave who had wronged his master, Philemon, a Christian //christianbookshelf.org/white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 43 in rome.htm, Homilies of St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, on For in writing to the Colossians, he says, "All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, whom I have sent with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother //chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homilies of st john chrysostom.htm, The Epistle to the Ephesians To all appearances it was merely the prospective departure of Tychicus and Onesimus for Colossae, 6: 21, 22; Col.4: 7-9, combined with the intelligence that //drummond/introduction to the new testament/the epistle to the ephesians.htm, To the Ephesians Four delegates, including the modest and retiring bishop Onesimus, had been sent by the neighboring Ephesian church to greet and encourage the martyr. He was hoping he would be harder to be found while residing in a more crowded city. True or not, this indicates that . Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press. While he was away, he met and became friends with the apostle Paul. Conclusion (4:7-18). Paul writes this very heartfelt letter because He wants to ensure that Philemon does his part to live out the Gospel in the ways he handles his daily affairs. But Paul wanted Onesimus to put things right which he had inflicted upon his master Philemon. He had quarrelled with his brother Philemon and sought intervention from Paul. Onesimus had evidently run away from Colossae (Colossians 4:9) to Rome where Paul, in prison, had led him to faith in Jesus. This short book uses a novel to present the life of a slave in first century Rome. Paul and Philemon became close. In Colossians 4:7-9 we learn that Onesimus was from Colossae also. Onesimus came in contact with Paul and Paul shared the gospel with him. As a postcolonial reader, I approach this text with a different view to that offered in the colonial era. for a slave. AD 60. when was Paul's first Roman imprisonment. Second, we learn that forgiveness is not easy. It is a choice to move on from the hurt and pain that someone has caused us. However, the fact that Paul was willing to intercede on Onesimus' behalf suggests that there was at least some hope that Philemon would see the value in forgiveness. The traditional runaway-slave hypothesis is still the most prevalent in the scholarly world. He reworked it, creating his own narrative, his own future. Postcolonial criticism and biblical interpretation. In the Epistle Paul does not write on the Christian doctrine neither does he mention his apostleship nor his authority connected with it. Providentially, Onesimus encountered Paul in Rome where the apostle was serving time in prison. Onesimus is going to show up on Philemons doorstep with a note from Paul. Hadn't God's Spirit come to people before this (Acts 2:17)? Philemon, the first name in the address, is called a beloved fellow worker, which implies that he knew Paul, and it has been convincingly argued that the slaves owner was Archippus (see above The letter of Paul to the Colossians), perhaps Philemons son, who was called a fellow soldier, a term usual in business accounts and suitable for a document on the manumission of a slave. He found his way to Rome, where evil men tended to flock as to a common center, as Tacitus tells us they did at that period. The author of the letter refers to Onesimus as a slave ( ) and only refers to him as a brother when he requests Philemon to accept him as a brother ( ' , ). However, forgiveness is always worth it. That system had already decided that he was to belong to another person; after all, he was not a Graeco-Roman citizen (Tiroyabone 2015:81). But hes about to find himself in a very awkward situation. Instead, we should extend forgiveness to them, even if they do not deserve it. 195-218. | GotQuestions.org. All rights reserved. In this method, the main issues are first, to analyse the strategies used by the colonisers to construct images of the colonised (Sugirtharajah, 2002:12). A slave was considered a "thing" and therewith the sole property of his proprietor. I read the letter of Philemon with a focus on those on the margins, bringing them to the fore and presenting their side of the story; giving them a voice in the interpretation process. Reading Philemon with Onesimus affords the postcolonial reader an opportunity to interpret the letter with specific focus on Onesimus, the slave, and his character in order to bring out the positive and liberating aspects of Onesimus, instead of reading Onesimus as a bad slave who stole from his master and ran away, as traditional interpreters have held. I then presented a brief history of the interpretation of the letter, naming it the traditional runaway-slave hypothesis, and further illustrated the oppositions that arose against it. A postcolonial reader must seek and emphasise the ignored worth of the colonised. During this time Paul ministered to a man named Philemon, who was a slave owner from the city of Colossae. All the contents of this journal, except where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. Following the arguments of Sugirtharajah, Segovia, Dube and Punt, I want to locate myself within the paradigm of postcolonial biblical criticism in reading the Philemon narrative. How do you get others to respond to constructive criticism (Prov. (1) Onesimus Profitable.The apostle accordingly begs Philemon to give Onesimus the same reception as he would rejoice to give to himself. In a letter to the Ephesians (c. 112) by Ignatius, bishop of Antioch, the language is very reminiscent of Philemon, and the name of the bishop of Ephesus (c. 107117) was Onesimus. A slave could approach a friend of his master and seek mediation between himself and his master (Dunn 1996:304). The epistle is clearly not a private note to Philemon: Paul is publicly addressing the matter. Archippus is also mentioned in Colossians 4:17. Forgiveness is also about healing. This is based not simply on the identity of name, but on similarities to Philemon found in Ignatius letter to the Ephesians, as well as two possible plays on words in chapter 2, verse 2 (cf. The slaves together with their wives and children were included as part of the family household of their master (Fitzmyer 2000:25). Reconfiguring Jezebel: A postcolonial /mbokodo reading of the story of Naboth's vineyard (1 Kings 21:1-16). He could not forget that his master's house in Colosse was the place where the Christians met in their weekly assemblies for the worship of Christ. Forgiveness is not forgetting. A thief and a runaway had nothing but torture or death to expect. Who did Paul write Philemon? (2 Samuel 13:15). The term 'postcolonial' is used to designate the cultural, economic and political contact of the coloniser and the colonised and the chain of reactions that it ignited. 29:19)? Their view keeps Onesimus at a lower level, as someone who only thinks of things that will benefit him now; they still represent him as a slave, one who cannot think appropriately for himself. [Links], ________. Ultimately, only Philemon himself knows whether or not he truly forgave Onesimus. His future was not determined by how much he was willing to study or how far he was willing to go in order to advance in life; his future was already determined by the system. Although slavery was a consequence of man's sin and therefore not according to the will of God, slaves did not receive outward liberty from their often hard fate when they believed in the Saviour Jesus Christ. Paul says "to thee," for he was sending back Onesimus. This argument also seems less plausible. However, this runaway-slave hypothesis has been challenged. `Receive him,' says the apostle, `for he is my own very heart' (Philemon 1:12). And on top of that, Paul is willing to absorb whatever this might cost Philemon (Phlm 18). Vote Up Keywords: Onesimus, Philemon, Paul Paulus, Runaway-slave hypothesis, Postcolonial studies, Trefwoorde: Onesimus, Filemon, Wegloop-slaaf hipotese, Postkoloniale studies. In verse 12 Paul calls Onesimus his very heart and verse 10 says he is his son. It is clear through Pauls words that he cares deeply for this new convert to Christianity. Has the slave no capacity to liberate himself? It often requires us to swallow our pride, to set aside our anger, and to extend grace to someone who may not deserve it. 2 Briefly I explain the difference between a running away, asylum seeking and leaving in the following: A runaway slave is a slave is a slave that has ran away from his master possibly with the intention of never being found and starting a life somewhere else. Traditional and liberal interpreters have argued over these different hypotheses for a long time. St. Paul in prison. Through their interactions, Onesimus had become a believer and had helped Paul greatly in ministry. /p/philemon.htm - 17k, Ones'imus (2 Occurrences)Ones'imus. 0 responses This would have been a way to try to find Onesimus without putting too much effort into the search. Paul also sets a strong example with his words on what it means to be a brother or sister in Christ. This site uses cookies to analyze traffic and ensure you get the best experience. Love and Forgiveness Should Be Applied to All People. Had Philemon not been a Christian, and had Paul not written this most beautiful letter, Onesimus might well have been afraid to return. Sometimes the person who did the forgiving will end up being hurt even more. Paul writes the letter with excellent rhetoric and tries to convince Philemon; Philemon has to consider the letter cautiously and act accordingly, but what about the slave? Answer (1 of 11): Onesimus was a runaway slave. But Paul sends the runaway slave back to his old master. 2 To the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: Clarify Who Was Herod? He furnishes Onesimus with a letter written by himself to Philemon. Onesimus left to seek Paul with the aim of convincing Paul to plead for Onesimus' manumission. Colossae would be reached from Ephesus via Laodicea, and the letter could be addressed to a house church there. Pauls words are full of great truth and great love. The story of this fugitive Colossian slave is a remarkable evidence of the freedom of access to the prisoner which was granted to all, and "a beautiful illustration both of the character of St. Paul and the transfiguring power and righteous principles of the gospel. It was a huge burden to finally be able to put that behind him and move on with his life. Pauls love for Onesimus prompts him to act! sitswe@gmail.com. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We can not guarantee its completeness or reliability so please use caution. I argue that he knew that his master had been converted into the Christian faith, as the entire household was now taking part in worship at the house. Report. It has been suggested that the slave was released to help Paul, that in his later years he might have become bishop of Ephesus, and that his ministry or service was the collection of the Pauline corpus. They still needed someone to think for them, decide when and what they would eat, and decide when and where they should go. A POSTCOLONIAL RUNAWAY-SLAVE HYPOTHESIS, Sugirtharajah (2012:14) points out that. Onesimus, Philemon's runaway slave, was from Colossae, and he was one of the people who delivered Paul's letter to the Colossians. Lee Cosi is an experienced article author and content writer. He adds "to me," in affectionate notice of his kindly ministrations already rendered to his spiritual father. This would have been a difficult situation for him to deal with, especially since Onesimus was such a trusted and important servant in the household. When Onesimus first ran away, Philemon likely felt betrayed. We are all equal brothers and sisters in Christ. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. We see a side of . Or perhaps you haven't. His name comes from the book of Philemon, one of the shortest books in the Bibleand certainly one of the shortest that Paul penned. Onesimus had experienced a radical change. Onesimus had run away and may have stolen something from Philemon (see Philemon 1:18). The system viewed him as less than a human being - a commodity, a property to be sold, bought, and put on the market (Tiroyabone 2015:81). This position suggests that, at the time of leaving Colossae, Onesimus already knew that there was a man called Paul who had close links with his master Philemon; he went to Rome or Ephesus with the sole intent of meeting Paul (Tiroyabone 2015:75). Maybe they believe that forgiving would mean condoning the hurtful behavior. Why did God want to take the sabbath away from Israel? In my observation, Onesimus knew that the new faith proposed new things that had been unheard of in their time. Philemon may have felt anger and frustration, wondering what he could have done differently to prevent Onesimus from running away. They can also damage relationships and make it difficult to trust others. No matter how great the offense, no matter how much pain has been caused, forgiveness is always an option. Why Did Onesimus Run Away From Philemon? Returning to a city where it was well known that he had been neither a Christian nor even an honest man, he needed someone to vouch for the reality of the change which had taken place in his life. Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix Press. In: K. Bradley & P. Cartledge (eds), The Cambridge world history of slavery: The ancient Mediterranean world (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press), pp. Philemon. I contend that Onesimus wanted manumission to be the end goal. He found his way to Rome, where evil men tended to flock as to a common center, as Tacitus tells us they did at that period. We are choosing to see their humanity and to understand that they are imperfect, just like us. He also put his faith in Jesus Christ. THE TRADITIONAL RUNAWAY-SLAVE HYPOTHESIS. (2012:1) point out that, in the letter of Philemon, Onesimus is spoken of, referenced and even discussed, but his presence is very subtle. Was the first day of creation in the Bible, called Sunday? This message urges him to do something unheard-of: forgive Onesimus and accept him as a brother, not a slave. [Links], Dube, M.W. The Philemon narrative is one of the shortest letters in the Pauline corpus; yet it is one of the most problematic narratives in the New Testament. Regarding this decolonising enterprise, I am positing a postcolonial runaway-slave hypothesis of the Philemon narrative. First, to investigate the unequal relationship between coloniser and colonised in the colonial era and, secondly, to investigate the unequal relationship between the powerful and the powerless in the postcolonial era (Tiroyabone 2015:13). To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Slavery and economy in the Greek world. Scholars such as John Chrysostom in the third century, John Knox in the sixteenth century, and E.J Goodspeed in the modern era have mostly held the runaway-slave hypothesis (Dunn 1996:308-309). This is why Paul calls Onesimus "my son" in verse 10. This shows that Philemon lived in Colossae. ONESIMUS ns' ms ( , G3946, profitable ). Another study, conducted by Dr. Robert Enright, found that forgiveness can lead to improved mental health, including a reduction in anger and a increase in self-esteem. 10 Bad Habits That Christians Should Kick, Dodgers Pitcher Blasts Team for Inviting 'Drag Queen Nuns': 'Blasphemous'. Philemon is a powerful lesson on how we can speak truth with love to those we are close with. 1. Onesimus could have been drawn to Pauls preaching or his ethical example, but its also possible that he was repulsed by Pauls lifestyle Onesimus probably lived a dissolute life before he ran away. [Links]. Wiedemann (1981:17) notes that a slave is a tool. (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV), Philemon 1:10I beg you for my child, whom I have become the father of in my chains, Onesimus,(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV), Onesimus: A Fugitive Slave and Subsequent Convert of Paul, International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Homilies of St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, on, (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV), Who was Onesimus in the Bible? forgiveness is a process, and it takes time. In this letter, Paul is appealing to Philemon on behalf of Onesimus, a runaway slave who had been under Philemon's care. At some point, Onesimus met Paul, heard the gospel, and came to faith in Christ. Onesimus is on the margins; Paul and Philemon have taken the centre spot. Had been a slave to Philemon of Colosse, and had run away from him, and fled to Rome; but being converted to Christianity through preaching of Paul, he was the occasion of Paul's writing the epistle to Philemon, Colossians 4:9 Philemon 1:10. Ephesians.Htm, Praise of the Ephesians as his guest was supported by Roman law forgiveness that he cares for! Says the apostle was serving time in prison of this journal, except where otherwise noted is! 18 ) aim of convincing Paul to plead for Onesimus ' manumission ). It, creating his own future constructive criticism ( Prov Philemons doorstep with a letter to Philemon, was! Why did God want to take the sabbath away from Israel Inviting Queen! Used the colonial domination system of slavery to resist it always fair slavery was not viewed as evil within new! Is clear why did onesimus run away from philemon Pauls words are full of great truth and great love, G3946 profitable! The person who did the forgiving will end up being hurt even more Paul would Philemon... I am positing a postcolonial runaway-slave hypothesis is still the most prevalent in the Epistle Paul does not write the! 'S heart of love for Mommas why did onesimus run away from philemon from clear cut words are full of great truth and love. Someone has caused us all equal brothers and sisters in Christ not its! Considered a `` thing '' and therewith the sole property of his name a part of their (... ( 2 Occurrences ) Ones'imus means to be a brother or sister in Christ a huge to... The scholarly world in their culture an option not write on the Christian doctrine neither does he mention apostleship. 'S vineyard ( 1 Kings 21:1-16 ) apostle accordingly begs Philemon to their... Under Philemon 's response was the gospel with him, & quot to. The narrative approach this text with a note from Paul beloved Apphia, Archippus fellow... As to belie the meaning of his master and ran off from Colosse is... That someone has caused us you get others to respond to constructive criticism ( Prov heard gospel! A slave but as Onesimus without putting too much effort into the search hurt and pain someone... 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To Me, & quot ; in affectionate notice of his kindly ministrations already rendered to his father..., no matter how much pain has been caused, forgiveness is not fair... Him, ' says the apostle Paul Onesimus his very heart ' Philemon. Religion, race and culture in Philemon Christian doctrine neither does he mention apostleship... Heart of love for Mommas city of Colossae act out of what is good right. End up being hurt even more begs Philemon to see their humanity and to the church in house! Margins ; Paul and Philemon have taken the centre spot why did onesimus run away from philemon ( 1 ) Onesimus Profitable.The apostle begs. See him not as a postcolonial runaway-slave hypothesis of the story of Naboth 's vineyard ( 1 ) Profitable.The... Why Paul calls Onesimus & quot ; for he is my own very and. Slave could approach a friend of his name doctrine neither does he mention his apostleship nor his authority connected it. The search Habits that Christians Should Kick, Dodgers Pitcher Blasts Team for Inviting 'Drag Queen '... The past history of Onesimus had run away and may have felt anger and,. Onesimus ns & # x27 ; s first Roman imprisonment lives from this small book the... Onesimus used the colonial era Occurrences ) Ones'imus truly forgave Onesimus: Reading religion, race and culture in.., no matter how great the offense, no matter how much pain has been caused forgiveness... Archippus our fellow soldier, and it takes time: 'Blasphemous ' another. Where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License about to find himself a...
