Philemon

You can sponsor this page of The Text This Week

• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • Greek Interlinear Bible, ScrTR, ScrTR t, Strong, Parsing, CGTS, CGES id, AV.
  • CEV  search at American Bible Society.
  • NIV, NASB, KJV, ASV, AMP, Darby, YLT, etc at The Bible Gateway.
  • The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary (Matthew Henry, Wesley's Notes, Geneva Notes, etc) & sermons.
• Introductions, Overviews, General Resources:
  • Philemon, Wikipedia.
  • Philemon, Pauline Literature, L. Gregory Bloomquist, 2003.
  • Philemon, the Catholic Encyclopedia.
  • Introduction to the Book of Philemon, New American Bible.
  • The Book of Philemon in the World Wide Study Bible.
  • Philemon: Introduction and Outline by Professor Barry D. Smith, Atlantic Baptist University, in Religious Studies 1023: The New Testament and Its Context.
  • Bible Basics (Philemon) by NetMinistries. (Very basic - includes .wav files with pronunciation of Biblical words)
  • Walking Through the Bible: Titus/Philemon.
  • Biblenotes summary: Philemon.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • "Equality," Comparative World Scriptures from United Communities of Spirit.
  • Book V, Chapter 21, Against Marcion, Tertullian (c. 212). Tertullian's description of (and arguments against) Marcion's Bible. (Book of Philemon)
  • Book III, Chapter 4, Book VII, Chapter 21, Ecclesiastical History, Eusebius of Caesarea (c 320).
  • Calvin's Commentary on Philemon.
  • Philemon, Geneva Study Bible, 1599.
  • Philemon, Matthew Henry Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible, 1706.
  • Philemon, John Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament.
  • Philemon, Wesley's Notes, c 1760.
  • Philemon, Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, 1871.
  • Philemon, People's New Testament, 1891.
  • Philemon, Scofield Reference Notes, 1917.
  • Philemon, John Gill's Exposition of the Bible.
  • Philemon, Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament.
  • Paul's Letter to Philemon, verse by verse commentary, Robert Nguyen Cramer, BibleTexts.com.
  • Philemon, Expository Notes, Dr. Thomas L. Constable, Dallas Theological Seminary, 2005 edition.
  • Free Bible Commentary, Colossians, Ephesians, Philippians and Philemon, Dr. Bob Utley, Professor of Hermeneutics, East Texas Baptist University.
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies and Exegesis:
  • Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • "First Thoughts on Year C Epistle Passages in the Lectionary," Pentecost 15, William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "Love means sometimes going out on a limb and advocating for people who are powerless in systems which inherently resist and resent their values being subverted."
  • "Reading through Philemon for an Answer to Immigration Issues in the US," Peter Cammarano, Padre Complex.
  • Kairos CoMotion Lectionary Discussion, Philemon 1:1-21, Wesley White. "A place of conversation regarding Progressive Christianity."
    • "Ahh, the temptation to command another. And, oh how difficult to appeal through love."
  • "Thanksgiving and Intercession," "A Very Dear Brother," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed textual notes.
  • "Now, A Brother," Expository Essay, Dr. William R. Long. Part 2.
    • "In doing this the text is unclear whether Paul is urging Philemon to grant Onesimus his freedom or simply to accept him back without punishment."
  • "Paul, Philemon, Onesimus and the New Creation in Christ Jesus," James T. Dennison, Jr., in Kerux: The Online Journal of Biblical Theology (Reformed).
• Articles:
  • The Epistle to Philemon, W.C. Van Manen, 1900.
  • "The Chiastic Structure and Meaning of Paul's Letter to Philemon," John Paul Heil, Biblica, 2001.
• ATLASerials is now available on multiple platforms.  Direct links are currently available for ATLASerials via EBSCOhost and ATLA platforms when you are subscribed and logged in to ATLAS on one of these platforms. If you are unsure about which link to choose, please contact support@atla.com.
  • Bieberstein, Sabine, "Disrupting the Normal Reality of Slavery: A Feminist Reading of the Letter to Philemon," Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 2000.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • deVos, Craig S., "Once a Slave, Always a Slave? Slavery, Manumission and Relational Patterns in Paul's Letter to Philemon," Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 2001.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Dunham, Robert E., "Between Text & Sermon: Philemon 1:1-25," Interpretation, 1998.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Frilingos, Chris, "'For My Child, Onesimus': Paul and Domestic Power in Philemon," Journal of Biblical Literature, 2000.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Kea, Perry V., "Paul's Letter to Philemon: A Short Analysis of its Values," Perspectives in Religious Studies, 1996.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Koch, Eldon W., "A Cameo of Koinonia: The Letter to Philemon," Interpretation, 1963.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Lyons, Kirk D., Sr., "Paul's Confrontation with Class: The Letter to Philemon as Counter- Hegemonic Discourse," Cross Currents, 2005.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Pentecost, J. Dwight, "For Love's Sake: Part III: An Exposition of Philemon 8-11," Bibliotheca Sacra, 1972.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Pentecost, J. Dwight, "Grace for the Sinner: Part II: An Exposition of Philemon 4-7," Bibliotheca Sacra, 1972.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Pentecost, J. Dwight, "Paul the Prisoner: Part I: An Exposition of Philemon," Bibliotheca Sacra, 1972.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Pentecost, J. Dwight, "Studies in Philemon: Part IV: Charge That to My Account," Bibliotheca Sacra, 1973.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Pentecost, J. Dwight, "Studies in Philemon: Part V: Charge That to My Account," Bibliotheca Sacra, 1973.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Pentecost, J. Dwight, "Studies in Philemon: Part VI: Able to Keep You," Bibliotheca Sacra, 1973.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Soards, Marion L., "Some Neglected Theological Dimensions of Paul's Letter to Philemon," Perspectives in Religious Studies, 1990.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Still, Todd D., "Philemon among the Letters of Paul: Theological and Canonical Considerations," Restoration Quarterly, 2005.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Wollenberg, Bruce, "Summoned," The Christian Century, 2004.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
• Reviews:
  • Arzt-Grabner, Peter, Philemon: Papyrologische Koimmentare zum Neuen Testament: Band 1. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2003
    • Review by Thomas J. Kraus in SBL's Review of Biblical Literature.
    • Review by Peggy A Vining in The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 2004. (Review is in English.)
  • Harrill, J. Albert, Slaves in the New Testament: Literary, Social, and Moral Dimensions. Fortress, 2006. Reviews by Joseph Verheyden, Marcus Sigismund, John Pilch and Bruce Malina, Review of Biblical Literature, 2006.
  • Keegan, Terrence J., First and Second Timothy, Titus, Philemon. (New Collegeville Bible Commentary) Liturgical Press, 2005. Review by I. Howard Marshall, Review of Biblical Literature, 2007.
  • Thompson, Marianne Meye, Colossians and Philemon, Eerdmans, 2005. Review by Verlyn Verbrugge, Review of Biblical Literature, 2006.
  • Thurston, Bonnie B. and Judith Ryan, Philippians & Philemon. Liturgical Press (Sacra Pagina), 2005. Reviews by Tobias Nicklas and Jeremy Punt, Review of Biblical Literature.
• Sermons:
  • "Philemon Then and Now," NT Wright. A sermon at the Eucharist on the 13th Sunday after Trinity 2001. Westminster Abbey.
  • "There's No Saying 'No'," John Jewell, 2001.
• With Children:
  • "Paul Writes to Philemon," children's study, puzzles, coloring sheet, etc. Higher Praise Christian Center.
• Graphics and Bulletin Materials:
  • Clip Art, Philemon 1:15, Fr. Richard Lonsdale, Resources for Catholic Educators.
• Resources for Paul and the Pauline Epistles.