Philemon's Problem: A Theology of Grace

by James Tunstead Burtchaell

Philemon was a wealthy Christian whose slave Onesimus went off in search of freedom, met and listened to Paul, and joined the church. But instead of being given a new life of his own, Onesimus was sent back by Paul to an aggrieved master with no protection but his mentor-s brief Letter to Philemon. Paul never asked Philemon to free his slave. Instead, he admonished him to take Onesimus back - only now as his brother in Christ. This left both master and bondsman with a how could one man own another and both be brothers in Christ? In this unique work James Tunstead Burtchaell uses the ancient story of Philemon and Onesimus as a compelling entry into modern theological reflection on the unbelievable reach of the grace and forgiveness of the Father whose Son died without disciples, rose to reconcile and transform them, and then scattered them around the world as men and women who were now also able to love those who loved them not - and transform them too. According to Burtchaell, in order for the faith of Philemon and Onesimus to cope with Paul's imperative, they required an inspired imagination to take in the notion that the Father loves sinners (i.e., all of us), and he neither would nor could do otherwise. For Philemon and Onesimus to undertake such a relentless love themselves would require frighteningly new convictions, new commitments, and new celebrations.

350 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1998

Reviews

[Phillip Herndon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author was a professor at University of Notre Dame while I was a student there. His understanding of God is challenging and powerful. He speaks of God's love as unending and shows how love is much more demanding than fear or terror. God's love both accepts us and challenges us - to be all that God made us to be. The writing is very dense and requires attention and an open heart. For a refreshing approach to Christian teaching that doesn't fit into a constricted or hard-hearted approach to the Gospel, this book is it.

[Michael Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

The subtitle to this book (A Theology of Grace) would have been a more appropriate title for it. It is not really about Philemon. The book of Philemon is addressed in the first 35 pages or so, but that is all. He uses Philemon and his relationship with Onesimus as a springboard to discuss grace in the NT and how God's grace through Christ permeates every area of a Christian's life. If you want to read about grace, read it. If you want to study Philemon, don't.