160 Reconciliation and fellowship in Philemon
Ian Paul
33.07
1 September 2025
12 November 2025
The epistle for Trinity 12 in Year C is Paul's letter to Philemon about his runaway slave Onesimus.
Why is this letter so interesting? What is the significance of it being a public rather than private letter? What rhetorical strategy does Paul use to make his point? And how do the ideas of reconciliation and fellowship apply both to the question of slavery and to modern life?
You can read the letter of Pliny to Sabinianus (Letter 9.21) in English here: https://topostext.org/work/198
and in Latin here: https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=urn:cts:latinLit:phi1318.phi001.perseus-lat1:9.21
You can read about the Vindolanda tablets, including the invitation of Claudia Severa with a section written in her own hand, here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vindolanda_tablets#Contents
You can follow the Colossae excavations here: https://x.com/ColossaeP
For my argument why we should not be using the word 'church' in translating the New Testament, see here: https://www.psephizo.com/biblical-studies/why-we-should-stop-using-the-word-church/
For discussion of the gospel reading for Trinity 12, Luke 14.25–33 see here: https://youtu.be/1FhIJcrfB_8
and for written commentary on that passage, see here: https://www.psephizo.com/biblical-studies/the-costly-grace-of-following-jesus-in-luke-14/
