A Companion to Philemon

by Lewis Brogdon, Marion Soards (Foreword)

When is the last time you heard a sermon, Bible study, or even read the Letter to Philemon? For some the answer is "recently" but for too many the answer is "it has been a long time" or worse yet "never." Why is it that Philemon, though included in the Christian canon, is not read and studied as a text with theological depth that is helpful for serious study and preaching? In A Companion to Philemon, Lewis Brogdon insists that a part of the reason is the interpretation that Paul is sending a thieving runaway slave back to his good master. This interpretation is not only problematic, it is also theologically limiting and offers the church very little to reflect on as we face mammoth issues of inclusion and fellowship such as racism, sexism, and classism. A Companion to Philemon challenges the church to reimagine the interpretation of Philemon by focusing on the role exclusion had in the events that led to his departure from Philemon. Using the issue of exclusion, Brogdon takes the interpretation of Philemon in new directions that not only invite the church to read Philemon but also challenge us to examine both our understanding and practice of Christian fellowship today. "Brogdon offers contemporary readers valid reasons to engage the Apostle Paul's correspondence to a friend, fellow Christian, church leader and slave-owner. His interpretation wisely questions the traditional and popular 'slave flight' thesis--exegetically, historically, and culturally--and proposes an alternative paradigm. Even if I may quibble with some of Brogdon's exegetical decisions, I highly recommend this short book on this brief letter to all interested in learning about the complexities of early Christianity, the origins of our hermeneutical decisions, and the challenges of contemporary faith. A Companion to Philemon is a worthwhile read for every person who reads the ancient Pauline letters in light of themes on human dignity."   --Emerson B. Powery, Messiah College, Mechanicsburg, PA "Lewis Brogdon's reading of the Epistle to Philemon as a call for "inclusive koinonia" is highly readable, yet quite radical in its implications for the church. Brogdon shows how--for two millennia--we have read this letter in a way that uncritically rationalizes and sanctifies oppressive norms, institutions, and practices. His counterargument that Paul wrote the letter to subvert Philemon's exclusion of Onesimus and other slaves from Christian fellowship makes better sense of the historical and exegetical evidence, and helps us to see the gospel that has for so long been hiding in plain sight!" --Susan R. Garrett, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary Dr. Lewis Brogdon currently works at Simmons College of Kentucky, a growing HBCU in Louisville, as the new Provost and Dean of the School of Religion. He formerly worked at Claflin University, an HBCU in Orangeburg South Carolina, as an Assistant Professor of Religion and Biblical Studies, and Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary as an Assistant Professor of New Testament and Director of the Black Church Studies. Dr. Brogdon has written numerous books such as No Longer a Slave But a An African American Reading of Paul's Letter to Philemon (2013), Hope on the Understanding the Emergence of Nihilism in Black America (2013), The New Pentecostal Message? An Introduction to the Prosperity Movement (2015), and Dying to The Disturbing Trend of Clergy Suicide (2014), as well as numerous journal articles and book chapters. He is a sought out preacher, public speaker, and panelist that receives invitations to the White House, is a regular guest on Black Politics Today, and presents workshops at major conferences like the Hampton Ministers Conference at Hampton University and the Global

156 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 1, 2019

Reviews

[Matthijs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brogdon bekritiseert de uitleg van Filemon, waarbij Onesimus als weggelopen slaaf wordt gezien. Volgens hem is de prangende vraag bij de exegese van deze kleinste brief van Paulus waarom Onesimus wel tot bekering komt bij Paulus en niet bij Filemon. Volgens Brogdon komt dat omdat Onesimus als slaaf wordt buitengesloten van de gemeenschap. Omdat een slaaf een lage maatschappelijke positie had (dus waardeloos was), was Filemon onverschillig over het uitblijven van de bekering van Onesimus, terwijl hij wel gastvrij naar anderen was. Door middel van deze brief doet Paulus een appèl op Filemon om de gemeenschap ook te openen voor slaven.

[Matt DeVore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brogdon wrestles with some difficult issues in Philemon related to slavery and offers some fresh interpretive options. They key question which is often unasked is, "Why wasn't Onesimus converted by Philemon in the first place?"