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Concordia Commentary
Philemon
The brief and practical book of Philemon has long been a favorite of Christians. This commentary expounds Philemon in light of its theological purpose and its setting in the Greco-Roman world. It probes the specific circumstances under which Paul wrote the letter; how Philemon fit in with Paul’s missionary travels; and who Philemon and Onesimus were within the Christian community.
The apostle Paul addresses a crisis: Onesimus has robbed and fled from Philemon, whose house was the place of worship for a Christian church in Colossae. Paul’s letter has both a private and a public cast. He speaks to the relationships within a congregation through all the problems and sorrows—yet also adventures and joys—that attend faithful pastoral ministry. Christ himself serves as the pattern for how Christians relate to one another in forgiving and reconciling love.
Unique features of this commentary include its depth; its detailed consideration of ancient Greek and Latin literature that sheds light on Philemon; and its theology, which emphasizes Jesus Christ, God’s Word and Sacraments, and the doctrine of vocation, whereby each Christian is called to serve God faithfully in his or her particular role in life.
The apostle Paul addresses a crisis: Onesimus has robbed and fled from Philemon, whose house was the place of worship for a Christian church in Colossae. Paul’s letter has both a private and a public cast. He speaks to the relationships within a congregation through all the problems and sorrows—yet also adventures and joys—that attend faithful pastoral ministry. Christ himself serves as the pattern for how Christians relate to one another in forgiving and reconciling love.
Unique features of this commentary include its depth; its detailed consideration of ancient Greek and Latin literature that sheds light on Philemon; and its theology, which emphasizes Jesus Christ, God’s Word and Sacraments, and the doctrine of vocation, whereby each Christian is called to serve God faithfully in his or her particular role in life.
379 pages, Hardcover
First published August 30, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 26, 2024
A great, in-depth commentary on Paul's letter to Philemon. (It certainly has to be in-depth to achieve over 300 pages in commentating on one of the shortest books in the Bible.) Like the rest of the Concordia Commentary series, there is great exegesis and detailed comments on the text of the letter itself, but a large proportion of the book is devoted to describing the state of slavery in the ancient world, especially at the time of Philemon's writing. The main purpose of the letter is for Paul to request an escaped slave's fair treatment from a Christian brother. Therefore, Nordling addresses the difference between the modern conception of slavery against the ancient concept, the legal implications for all this, and the need for Christian love and forgiveness in resolving this issue.
February 18, 2012
Though brief, this book of the bible was very insightful and pleasant.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews