STB HISTORICAL BACGROUND Tegi

PHILEMON

1. How would you summarize the instructions Paul is giving to Philemon

concerning the slave Onesimus?

As I learned about Letter of Philemon, I found out that Onesimus was Paul’s servant
while he was in jail, but he was also a slave of Philemon. He ran away from the view of
Philemon for he made something that shouldn’t be done by any slave and if they did, the
consequence was dead but thankfully on his escape Paul met him in Jail. Then, Paul
taught him about Christ and made him as his beloved child (vs. 10,12). After that, Paul
wrote this letter of Philemon to Philemon to take his slave back but not as slave
anymore. Paul wanted that Philemon could take Onesimus as a brotherhood in Christ
that who has set free from slavery (vs. 16). He gave Onesimus back as a to help
Philemon ministry by putting Paul himself as someone who will be responsible for any
thing bad that would be happen on Philemon by Onesimus.

2. What was the Greco-Roman view of slavery in Paul’s day?

In Paul’s day, Greco-Roman view of slave was so distinct from the free person. They
were considered as property of the master which at some point in their lives the master
would let them go. While for those put into slavery due to criminality or prisoners of war
would remain as slave. At that time, the master could trade and sale their slaves. In some
place a master could have one slave while the others could have up to one hundred
slaves. The slaves born and grew as a slave again under their master. When they grew up
they separate from each other, between parents and children. They had no right and
used by master just as something that has no value. However, if they do something
unpleasant (sin) toward their master, the consequence was dead.

3. How does the background of the Greco-Roman view of slavery in Paul’s day give
you insight into the instructions Paul gives to Onesimus?

During the time of Paul’s day, when everyone had same understood of slavery and
slaves, Paul took a chance to change their point of view about the slaves and slavery
through the letter which he wrote to Philemon. Through his letter he wanted them to
know that both slave and the master have the same Lord that they must obey and
ultimately serve as the slave serve their master. He also viewed his instructions to slaves
to have a missionary purpose so that they show all the good faith that they may adorn
the doctrine of God and not urge bondslaves to be subject to their own master.