Paul and Slavery: Assignment #2

Source Credit: Left, Right.

Was Paul advocating for Philemon to release the slave Onesimus entirely? To Paul? Does this fit with Paul’s other teachings regarding slavery?

                The Letter of Paul to Philemon (approx. 60 CE) is written regarding a dispute between slave owner/Christian Philemon and his slave Onesimus. Paul writes from prison and urges forgiveness, and perhaps a change in ownership. Some argue that the letter advises freedom entirely, while some, including myself, read the letter and see Paul’s need for the slave. The full text can be found here. Also cited is Bart Ehrman’s “A Brief Introduction to the New Testament”.

                The images I have included are one of the oldest paintings of Paul to survive intact (left), and what is believed to be his sarcophagus (right). Paul was obviously important to early Christianity, but his popularity hasn’t diminished. The painting is in a Roman catacomb connected to Paul and Thecla, and the sarcophagus was found buried under an altar with Paul’s name written on it. Bone fragments have been found and dated to first or second century, and the Catholic Pope officially declared it to be Paul’s tomb (Reuters). His ability to maintain control over distant churches is remarkable, but his continued power and influence in the Christian church is partially what convinced me that he would have the audacity, means and need to take Onesimus off Philemon’s hands.

                Paul is clearly trying to appeal to Philemon in the basis that he is an “old man” (ln. 9) who is in a bad way. This is clearly placed just after telling Philemon he wouldn’t “command” (ln. 8) him. He is clear about who is in control of the situation, at one point even stating that Onesimus’ service would be a substitute for Philemon’s (ln. 13). Even though he is clearly in control, flattery is present throughout the letter. Philemon, as Bart Ehrman (246) reminds us, owed Paul a debt (ln. 19). However Paul is so generous that not only is he not calling in said debt, but offering to cover whatever financial hardship Onesimus has caused his master. He ends the body of the letter with the line “Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than you say” (ln. 21). This last little jab leaves Philemon no ability to do anything less than send the slave back to Paul. The line seems to suggest that Paul is writing to Philemon only because he knows Philemon will do as Paul suggests.

                Paul establishes that he has a relationship with the slave, and that he has a use for him.

In trying to decide if Paul is asking for the slave to be given to him, I think that his wordplay regarding the slave’s name is significant. For ancient audiences, the wordplay must have seemed a bit heavy handed. For a slave that has runaway either due to a grievance with his master, repeating his usefulness is either a tactic to urge Philemon to relent or to show how much Paul values the slave’s aid. I argue that it is the latter, that Paul establishes his need (his imprisonment), speaks to his friendship with the slave, then comments on how useful he is before returning him to Philemon all in order to gain the slave for himself. Were Paul simply trying to mediate for the slave, far less emphasis would have been placed on Paul’s needs and current condition.

                 The conversion of Onesimus is also very interesting. In converting the slave, Paul seems to suggest that the relationship between master and slave should alter, even if only slightly. Christianity is open to all classes, and regardless of status they are now more than slave/master but brothers (ln. 16). If Paul was simply asked to intervene, to remind Philemon to act like a proper man of the house, I doubt flattery would have been employed. The concept of both Greek and Roman self-control were well known, and undoubtedly Paul had more important matters at hand while imprisoned than repairing master/slave relationships. However now that Onesimus is a Christian, he becomes Paul’s responsibility as a follower. Now Paul has a stake in saving and recovering Onesimus to do God’s (and Paul’s) will.

                Beyond that, the other undisputed epistles do not put such great emphasis on freedom from slavery. Because Paul was so focused on the fast approaching apocalypse, he had little concern for a person’s status. Paul would see it as a distraction to God’s work to concern one’s self with material and social concerns. That is why I feel I can confidently argue that Paul is not interceding to ask Philemon to grant Onesimus freed status. As in Galatians, he addresses all groups, but doesn’t campaign to free the slaves, simply maintain holy lives until judgment. Paul demanding Philemon to free Onesimus would be out of character for what words survive from Paul, but saving his community, no matter their class differences, is familiar.