Editing Epistle to Philemon (section)

==Themes==
Paul uses slavery vs. freedom language more often in his writings as a metaphor.<ref>Foster, Paul. "Philippians And Philemon: Sacra Pagina Commentary." p.174</ref> 

This letter may have provided some comfort to some slaves of the time.<ref>Foster, Paul. "Philippians And Philemon: Sacra Pagina Commentary." p.176</ref>

Though its practice appears centrally, Paul does not share value judgements about the institution of slavery. Its influence could create pressures, as an “abolitionist would have been at the same time an insurrectionist, and the political effects of such a movement would have been unthinkable."<ref name="Gaventa, Beverly Roberts 2010. p.894">[[Beverly Roberts Gaventa|Gaventa, Beverly Roberts]], and David L. Petersen. The New Interpreter's Bible: One-Volume Commentary. Nashville: Abingdon, 2010. p.894</ref>  Paul saw human institutions like slavery among many that in his apocalyptic view would soon go.<ref name="Gaventa, Beverly Roberts 2010. p.894"/> 

When it comes to Onesimus and his circumstance as a slave, Paul felt that Onesimus should return to Philemon but not as a slave; rather, under a bond of familial love. Paul also was not suggesting that Onesimus be punished, in spite of the fact that Roman law allowed the owner of a runaway slave nearly unlimited privileges of punishment, even execution.<ref name="auto">Gaventa, Beverly Roberts, and David L. Petersen. The New Interpreter's Bible: One-Volume Commentary. Nashville: Abingdon, 2010. p.895</ref> This is a concern of Paul and a reason he is writing to Philemon, asking that Philemon accept Onesimus back in a bond of friendship, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Paul is undermining this example of a human institution which dehumanizes people.<ref name="auto"/> Onesimus, like Philemon, belongs to Christ, and so "Christ, and not Philemon, has a claim on Onesimus' honor and obedience."<ref>Foster, Paul. "Philippians And Philemon: Sacra Pagina Commentary." p.175</ref>

Verses 13–14 suggest that Paul wants Philemon to send Onesimus back to Paul (possibly freeing him for the purpose). Marshall, Travis and Paul write, "Paul hoped that it might be possible for [Onesimus] to spend some time with him as a missionary colleague... If that is not a request for Onesimus to join Paul’s circle, I do not know what more would need to be said".<ref>{{cite book|last1=Marshall|first1=I. Howard|last2=Travis|first2=Stephen|last3=Paul|first3=Ian|title=Exploring the New Testament. Vol. 2: A Guide to the Letters and Revelation|date=2011|publisher=InterVarsity Press|location=Downers Grove, Illinois|isbn=9780830869404|page=155|edition=2nd|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZBiv5N45thkC|access-date=25 May 2015}}</ref>