A Hermeneutical Analysis of Philemon
A Hermeneutical Analysis of Philemon
By Jonathan A. Watson
Introduction
I have read various books on Theological Hermeneutics, and one, whose title has slipped my mind, had once suggested the Hermeneutics isn’t only about picking up the Bible, analyzing it, and putting it back down, but also making an application through it. So, in this paper I have followed such a suggestion. First I will mention the background of the book being hermeneutically analyzed. This answers many of the questions needed to contextualize the book into its original socio-cultural setting for better understanding. Secondly, I will do an exegesis, or commentary, on the verses of the book to explain the interpretation that I had gotten out of it. This is done in light of the previous information, as well as extra source commentaries and Koine Greek lexicons, and the Christian value of letting “Scripture interpret Scripture”. Lastly, the application part follows; homiletics, or, preparing a sermon that would usually be preached to a church based on the exegesis and application of the book’s meaning into today’s culture and society.
Authorship:
The letter is normally accepted to have been written by Paul. Few have challenged this in comparison to other challenges on epistle authorship.
Recipient:
The letter was written, mainly, to Philemon.
Date:
60 A.D. is what is thought to be the most accurate date of when the book was written.
Place:
Paul most likely wrote the letter from Rome, while he was in prison, although some suggest it might have been elsewhere.
Literary Genre:
This book of the Bible features characteristics of a letter, thus can be classified as an epistle.
Summary:
Paul greets Philemon and requests Philemon to receive his bondservant, Onesimus, no longer as a bondservant but as a brother. If Onesimus has any debts owed making him a bondservant, Paul states he is willing to pay them himself in place of Onesimus. Paul later requests for a guestroom and sends greetings from
By Jonathan A. Watson
Introduction
I have read various books on Theological Hermeneutics, and one, whose title has slipped my mind, had once suggested the Hermeneutics isn’t only about picking up the Bible, analyzing it, and putting it back down, but also making an application through it. So, in this paper I have followed such a suggestion. First I will mention the background of the book being hermeneutically analyzed. This answers many of the questions needed to contextualize the book into its original socio-cultural setting for better understanding. Secondly, I will do an exegesis, or commentary, on the verses of the book to explain the interpretation that I had gotten out of it. This is done in light of the previous information, as well as extra source commentaries and Koine Greek lexicons, and the Christian value of letting “Scripture interpret Scripture”. Lastly, the application part follows; homiletics, or, preparing a sermon that would usually be preached to a church based on the exegesis and application of the book’s meaning into today’s culture and society.
Authorship:
The letter is normally accepted to have been written by Paul. Few have challenged this in comparison to other challenges on epistle authorship.
Recipient:
The letter was written, mainly, to Philemon.
Date:
60 A.D. is what is thought to be the most accurate date of when the book was written.
Place:
Paul most likely wrote the letter from Rome, while he was in prison, although some suggest it might have been elsewhere.
Literary Genre:
This book of the Bible features characteristics of a letter, thus can be classified as an epistle.
Summary:
Paul greets Philemon and requests Philemon to receive his bondservant, Onesimus, no longer as a bondservant but as a brother. If Onesimus has any debts owed making him a bondservant, Paul states he is willing to pay them himself in place of Onesimus. Paul later requests for a guestroom and sends greetings from