The Book of Philemon

The Book of Philemon brings into full focus a problem with Paul's letters. Paul likes to talk around issues. He gives a wink and a nod to his readers, readers he expects to be specific churches and specific people, not people engaged in biblical studies 2000 years hence. The other side is supposed to 'know what Paul is saying' based on a past relationship. A relationship the current reader lacks.

Paul says in essence to his reader "YOU know what I mean." And the original reader probably did, but we are left wondering. In Philemon, there are places where Paul seems to be doing this very thing. The text leaves you with mixed emotions. There is some sense that Paul suggests that equality among Christians (at least) is the ideal situation. Paul comes off as almost passive-aggressive as he says to Philemon "I COULD order you to do [something, we cannot be sure what], but I won't order you to do 'that thing' I only trust that you will do 'that thing' because you know how much I love you."

What is 'that thing' that Paul is NOT ordering Philemon to do? It is easy enough to infer that Paul is suggesting to Philemon that he should let his runaway slave (Onesimus) go free. But is this what Paul is suggesting? Onesimus' escape from Philemon gave Paul a grand opportunity to say outright that slavery is evil, and no Christian should support it. That would have saved the church from hundreds and thousands of years of scandalous behavior. Yet Paul forgoes the opportunity to make that kind of sweeping statement, and instead talks around the issue. It is incredible frustrating.

One thing is for sure, there is enough canon fodder here for either side. This truly is open to interpretation, and it would be nice if we had something firmer to found our faith on. Yet it speaks to something very important about Pauline theology I've spoken of before: reading Paul is like listening to one side of a telephone conversation. Paul did not know he would be writing something that 2000 years later people would consider 'scripture'. He thought he was writing LETTERS, letters to and about specific people. We are left trying to infer what he 'really meant'.