Embassy of Onesimus : The Letter of Paul to Philemon - Allen Dwight Callahan

Embassy of Onesimus

The Letter of Paul to Philemon

By: Allen Dwight Callahan

Paperback | 1 April 1997 | Edition Number 1

At a Glance

Paperback


RRP $49.99

$46.25

Aims to ship in 5 to 10 business days

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.
Industry Reviews
"Without a doubt, Callahan has presented an ingenious and provocative thesis" Trinity Journal--Sanford Lakoff

More in Biblical Studies & Exegesis

Metaphysical Hermeneutics - Jean Grondin

RRP $170.00

$125.75

26%
OFF
Luke's Characters in Their Jewish World : Being Theophilus - Jenny Read-Heimerdinger
Locating the Kingdom of God : Performing Sacred Boundaries - Karen J. Wenell
ESV Study Bible, Personal Size - Crossway Bibles

RRP $89.99

$41.50

54%
OFF
1 Corinthians : Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament - David E. Garland
The Gospel of Mark : Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture - Mary Healy
A Guide to the Zohar : The Zohar: Pritzker Edition - Arthur Green
The Gospel of Matthew : Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture - Edward Sri
Luke : Lab Comm - Livingstone

Paperback

RRP $44.99

$23.90

47%
OFF
The Zohar : Pritzker Edition, Volume Nine - Daniel C. Matt

RRP $158.50

$127.75

19%
OFF
Daniel : The Triumph of God's Kingdom (ESV Edition) - Rodney D. Stortz
1-2 Thessalonians : The Hope of Salvation (Redesign) - James H. Grant Jr.
1-2 Peter and Jude : Preaching the Word - David R Helm

RRP $68.99

$35.50

49%
OFF
1 Corinthians : The Word of the Cross - Stephen T. Um

RRP $71.99

$37.25

48%
OFF
James : Faith That Works (ESV Edition) - R. Kent Hughes

RRP $71.99

$37.25

48%
OFF
Psalms, Volume 2 : The Crossway Classic Commentaries - Charles H. Spurgeon
1 and 2 Thessalonians : Volume 22 - John Calvin

RRP $32.99

$23.75

28%
OFF