Paul's letter to Philemon is one of the writings that seem likely as a common Hellenistic letter of the time. In the letter to Philemon, we find basic concepts of the author’s theology on the issues of the slavery and human relationships. What made Philemon a special letter is an appealing, refined and sophisticated (rhetorical) style. Another feature of Philemon is its originality and more remarkable is Paul's appeal to Philemon on behalf of Onesimus. Paul writes as a 'prisoner of Christ' but shows few details regarding the situation of his imprisonment. Paul distinguishes Philemon's love and faith because he sees them as indissoluble. Thus, Philemon is a revealing text because it is the one New Testament letter that deals with a case of slavery.

The epistles of the New Testament provide insight into the realities of the life of the early church, guidance for those called to lead the church, and comfort in the face of theological questions. The Protestant Reformers of the sixteenth century also found wisdom and guidance in these letters. In this RCS volume, Lee Gatiss and Bradley Green guide readers through a diversity of early modern commentary on the New Testament epistles.

Matthew V. Johnson is senior pastor at The Good Shepherd Church (Baptist) in Atlanta. --

Concentrate on the biblical author's message as it unfolds. Designed to assist the pastor and Bible teacher in conveying the significance of God's Word, the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament series treats the literary context and structure of every passage of the New Testament book in the original Greek. With a unique layout designed to help you comprehend the form and flow of each passage, the ZECNT unpacks: The key message. The author's original translation. An exegetical outline. Verse-by-verse commentary. Theology in application. While primarily designed for those with a basic knowledge of biblical Greek, all who strive to understand and teach the New Testament will benefit from the depth, format, and scholarship of these volumes.

In this addition to the award-winning BECNT series, leading New Testament scholar and bestselling author G. K. Beale offers a substantive evangelical commentary on Colossians and Philemon. With extensive research and thoughtful chapter-by-chapter exegesis, Beale leads readers through all aspects of Colossians and Philemon--sociological, historical, and theological--to help them better understand the meaning and relevance of these biblical books. As with all BECNT volumes, this commentary features the author's detailed interaction with the Greek text and an acclaimed, user-friendly design. It admirably achieves the dual aims of the series--academic sophistication with pastoral sensitivity and accessibility--making it a useful tool for pastors, church leaders, students, and teachers.

"Draws on Positioning Theory to offer a fresh reading of Philemon and challenge traditional interpretations that argue for a pro-slavery perspective in the letter"--