Onesimus the letter carrier and the initial reception of Paul’s letter to Philemon

After an introduction to the letter to Philemon this article argues that the traditional identification of Onesimus as the letter carrier is far more plausible than any of the recently proposed alternatives (Tychicus, Timothy, an unknown person). It is further argued that the letter addresses the re...

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Հիմնական հեղինակ: Head, P
Ձևաչափ: Journal article
Լեզու:English
Հրապարակվել է: Oxford University Press 2020
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author Head, P
author_facet Head, P
author_sort Head, P
collection OXFORD
description After an introduction to the letter to Philemon this article argues that the traditional identification of Onesimus as the letter carrier is far more plausible than any of the recently proposed alternatives (Tychicus, Timothy, an unknown person). It is further argued that the letter addresses the relationships between Paul, Philemon, and Onesimus, using language reminiscent of the ‘letter of recommendation’. Since such letters are both habitually ambiguous and require the letter carrier to continue the conversation initiated by the letter, it follows that Onesimus was trusted by Paul to help Philemon receive the letter. It is further argued on both general and Pauline grounds that it is plausible to think that Onesimus would have resolved the ambiguity inherent in the written communication with a verbal request for manumission.
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spelling oxford-uuid:426281c6-0170-42f0-a7e0-6501f777c6ad2022-12-13T13:05:44ZOnesimus the letter carrier and the initial reception of Paul’s letter to PhilemonJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:426281c6-0170-42f0-a7e0-6501f777c6adEnglishSymplectic Elements at OxfordOxford University Press2020Head, PAfter an introduction to the letter to Philemon this article argues that the traditional identification of Onesimus as the letter carrier is far more plausible than any of the recently proposed alternatives (Tychicus, Timothy, an unknown person). It is further argued that the letter addresses the relationships between Paul, Philemon, and Onesimus, using language reminiscent of the ‘letter of recommendation’. Since such letters are both habitually ambiguous and require the letter carrier to continue the conversation initiated by the letter, it follows that Onesimus was trusted by Paul to help Philemon receive the letter. It is further argued on both general and Pauline grounds that it is plausible to think that Onesimus would have resolved the ambiguity inherent in the written communication with a verbal request for manumission.
spellingShingle Head, P
Onesimus the letter carrier and the initial reception of Paul’s letter to Philemon
title Onesimus the letter carrier and the initial reception of Paul’s letter to Philemon
title_full Onesimus the letter carrier and the initial reception of Paul’s letter to Philemon
title_fullStr Onesimus the letter carrier and the initial reception of Paul’s letter to Philemon
title_full_unstemmed Onesimus the letter carrier and the initial reception of Paul’s letter to Philemon
title_short Onesimus the letter carrier and the initial reception of Paul’s letter to Philemon
title_sort onesimus the letter carrier and the initial reception of paul s letter to philemon
work_keys_str_mv AT headp onesimusthelettercarrierandtheinitialreceptionofpaulslettertophilemon