ae : eel ee Rescate Matra veacl a]THE LETTER TO PHILEMON aR VOLUME 34CTue Ancttor BIBLE isa fresh approach to the world’s greatest classic. Its object is to make the Bible accessible to the modem reader; its method is to arrive at the meaning of biblical literature through exact translation and extended exposition, and to reconstruct the ancient setting of the biblical story, as well as the circumstances of its transcription and the characteristics of its tran- scribers, Te ANcHoR BIBLE is a project of international and interfaith scope: Protes- tant, Catholic, and Jewish scholars from many countries contribute individual volumes. The project is not sponsored by any ccclesiastical organization and is not intended to reflect any particular theological doctrine. Prepared under our joint supervision, THe ANCHOR BIBLE is an effort to make available all the significant historical and linguistic knowledge which bears on the interpreta~ tion of the biblical record. THe ANCHOR BIBLE is aimed at the general reader with no special formal train- ing in biblical studies; yet it is written with the most exacting standards of scholarship, reflecting the highest technical accomplishment This project marks the beginning of a new cra of cooperation among scholars in biblical research, thus forming a common body of knowledge to be shared by all William Foxwell Albright David Noel Freedman GENERAL EDITORS THE ANCHOR BIBLE THE LETTER TO PHILEMON ca A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary JOSEPH A. FITZMYER, SJ. Me 99/2 THE ANCHOR BIBLE Doubleday New York London Toronto Sydney Auckland‘Tre ANCHOR Bust PUBLISHED BY DOUBLEDAY a division of Random House, Inc. 1540 Broadway, New York, New York 10036 ‘Tie Anchor Brste, Douscenay, and the portrayal of an anchor with the letters ‘A and B are trademarks of Doubleday, a division of Random House, Ine. IMPRIML POTEST Very Reverend James R. Stormes, S.J Praepositus Provinciae Marylandiae TMPRIMATUR Most Reverend William E. Lori, STD. Viear General for the Archdiocese of Washington ‘Washington, DC. 6 January 2000 ‘The imprimatur is an official declaration that a book is free of doctrinal or moral error. No implication is contained therein that the one who has granted the imprimatur agrees with the content, opinions, or statements expressed. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Bible. NZ. Philemon. English. Fitzmyer. 2000. "The letter to Philemon: a new translation with introduction and commentary / Joseph A. Fitzmyer.—Ist ed p. cm—(The Anchor Bible; v. 340) Includes bibliograpical references and indexes. 1. Bible, NIT. Philemon—Commentaries. I. Fitzmyer, Joseph A. Tl Title, I. Bible. English. Anchor Bible. 1964; v. 34C. BS192.2.A1 1964.G3 vol. 34¢ 1B82765.31 220.7'7s—de21 1227786077] 100-029501 ISBN 0-385-49629-X Copyright © 2000 by Doubleday, a division of Random House, Ine Al Rights Reserved Printed in the United States of America December 2000 First Edition w98 7654321 To students whom I have taught over the years since 1958 from whom I have learned muchCONTENTS od Preface Abbreviations < THE LETTER TO PHILEMON: TRANSLATION INTRODUCTION . Title, Text, Authorship, Date and Place of Composition |. Philemon, Onesimus, the Occasion and Purpose of the Letter Slavery in Antiquity /. Significance of the Letter /. Theological Teaching of the Letter |. Structure and Outline of the Letter Bibliography for the Introduction GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHY Commentaries . Monographs Articles TRANSLATION, COMMENTARY, AND NOTES . Prescript and Greeting (1-3) . Thanksgiving (4-7) |. The Body of the Letter (8-20) . Conclusion (21-25) 121CONTENTS INDEXES Subjects Commentators and Modern Authors Biblic. and Other Ancient Writings 129 BI 135 PREFACE ° After I had finished the commentary on the Acts of the Apostles for the An- chor Bible series, the editor, D, N. Freedman, asked me to write a commentary on Paul's Letter to Philemon. It was supposed to be written by another con- tributor who died before he could complete it. Having written two very brief commentaries on this Pauline letter in the Jerome Biblical Commentary (1968) and in the New Jerome Biblical Commentary (1990), I was happy to comply with the editor's request. Once again, this commentary on the Letter to Philemon is like the others that [have written in this series, on the Gospel according to Luke, the Acts of the Apostles, and Paul's Epistle to the Romans. It purports to be written in the classic style of biblical commentaries using the historical-critical method, which is considered the best way to ascertain the sense intended and expressed by a biblical writer, or to arrive at what is usually called the literal sense of a biblical writing. The Letter to Philemon is a very brief Pauline writing, containing only twenty-five verses, 335 Greek words, and 143 different vocables, but it has: some problematic aspects that have always been the object of no little discus- sion. Chief among them is why such a letter, addressed to an individual whom Paul knew, ever found its way into the Christian biblical canon. By including it, early Christians have passed it on as part of their heritage to coming genera- tions of Christian readers. Earlier commentaries on the Letter to Philemon will be mentioned by the name of their authors and an abbreviated form of their titles, which are listed fully in the general bibliography. In that bibliography the commentators are broken down into groups according to time: patristic commentators (Greek and Latin writers, listed chronologically); medieval commentators (Greck and Latin writers, listed chronologically); fifteenth- to cighteenth-century com- mentators (listed chronologically); and nineteenth- and twenticth-century commentators (listed alphabetically). It has been my aim to give as complete st of commentaries on the Letter to Philemon as I have been able to find Many medieval commentaries have never been published; they are found in manuscript form in European libraries. If I have come across reference to them, | include the information to the extent that it seemed accurate. In the specific bibliographies at the end of the introduction or at the end of perico- pes, authors are listed in alphabetical order. When a strange or unfamiliar fiPREFACE name appears in the COMMENTS or. NOTES, the reader should consult first the specific bibliography at the end of the pericope; if the information is not found there, then the bibliography of the introduction and the general bibliog- raphy should be consulted, In the latter, not only commentaries are listed but also monographs and articles on general topics pertaining to the letter. The index of modem authors may also serve as a guide to information about the writers of books and articles. References to OT books cite the chapter and verses according to the He- brew or Aramaic text, which may not be that of some English Bibles. This is to be noted especially in the case of the Psalter, where psalms are always cited according to the numbering of the Hebrew text, even when the discussion may involve the Greek form of the text in the LXX. In case of doubt, one can usually consult the NAB, which uses the Hebrew-text numbering, Lastly, it is my duty to acknowledge my debt to the editor of the Anchor Bible serics, David Noel Freedman, for his initial suggestion that I write this commentary and for his subsequent help and advice in its writing. I am also grateful to Dr. Mark J. H. Fretz and Mr. Andrew Corbin, the in-house editors at Doubleday, and to the copy editor, Bill Betts, for their concern and assis- tance in turning my manuscript into a book Joseph A. Fitzmyer, SJ Professor Emeritus of Biblical Studies ‘The Catholic University of America Washington, D.C, 20064 Resident at: Jesuit Community, Georgetown University P.O, Box 571200 Washington, D.C. 20057-1200 AB ABD ABRL ACNT ACW AnBib ANRW AsSeign ASTI ATR b. BAC BAGD BAe BBB BDF BDR BibLeb BJRL, BR BSac ABBREVIATIONS ° Anchor Bible D.N. Freedman (ed)., The Anchor Bible Dictionary (6 vols.; New York: Doubleday, 1992) Anchor Bible Reference Library American Commentary on the New ‘Testament Ancient Christian Writers Analecta biblica Aufstieg und Niedergang der romischen Welt (95 vols.; ed H. Temporini and W. Haase; Berlin and New York: de Gruyter, 1972-) Assemblées du Seigneur ‘Annual of the Swedish Theological Institute Anglican Theological Review Babylonian ‘Ialmud (prefixed to the name of a tractate) Biblioteca de autores cristianos W. Bauer, W. F. Amdt, and F. W. Gingrich, A Greek- English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Karly Christian Literature (2d ed., rev. F. W. Gingrich and F. W. Danker; Chicago: University of Chicago, 1979) W. Bauer, Griechisch-deutsches Werterbuch zu den Schriften des Neuen Testaments und der frithchristlichen Literatur (6th ed., rev. K. and B. Aland; Berlin: de Gruyter, 1988) Bonner biblische Beitrage F. Blass and A. Debrunner, A Greek Grammar of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (tr. R. W. Funk; Chicago: University of Chicago, 1961) F. Blass and A. Debrunner, Grainmatik des neutestamentlichen Griechisch (14th ed.; ed. F. Rehkopf, Gottingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1976) . Bibel und Leben Bulletin of the John Rylands (Universit f ee i I I (University) Library (of Biblical Research Bibliotheca SacraBT BU BVC BWANT BZ BZNW CahEv cB CBCNEB cBQ BSC CCLat cD GentB cGTC GIG cI. Class cNT Cone] CSEL cT™M DBSup EDNT EGGNT EKKNT EKL Fp. EstBib EvEre EQ Ev? Expos ExpTim FC GAGNT ABBREVIATIONS The Bible Translator Biblische Untersuchungen Bible et vie chrétienne Beitrge zur Wissenschaft vor Alten und Neuen ‘Testament Biblische Zeitschrift Beihefte zur ZNW Cahiers évangile Cultura biblica Cambridge Bible Commentary on the New English Bible Catholic Biblical Quarterly Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Corpus Christianorum, Latin series Damascus Document (from Cairo Genizah) Century Bible Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary Corpus inscriptionum graecarum Corpus inscriptionum latinarum Classical Quarterly Commentaire du Nouveau Testament Concordia Journal Corpus scriptorum ecclesiasticorum latinorum Concordia Theological Monthly Dictionnaire de la Bible, Supplément H. Bakz and G. Schneider (eds.), Exegetieal Dictionary of the New Testament (3 vols.; Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1990-93) Exegetical Guide to the Greek New Testament Evangelisch-Katholischer Kommentar zum Neuen ‘Testament Eyangelisches Kirchenlexikon (5 vols.; ed. E. Falbusch et als, Gottingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1986-97) Epistle Estudios biblicos yangelische Erziehung Evangelical Quarterly Evangelische Theologie Expositor Expository Times Fathers of the Church M. Zerwick and M. Grosvenor, A Grammatical Analysis of the Greek New Testament (2 vols.; Rome: Biblical Institute, 1979) GCs GSLNT GIT HCNT HTR IB IBNTG, ICC IDB IDBSup Int IBC JBL IR IRS ISNT JSNTSup 1s KEHNT KV KNT kel LCL LQ 1S} LW LXX MeyerK MM Abbreviations Griechische christliche Schriftsteller Geistliche Schriftlesung, Neues ‘Testament Gereformeerd theologisch tijdschrift Hand-Commentar, Neues ‘Testament. Handbuch zum Neuen Testament Herders theologischer Kommentar zum Neuen Testament Harvard Theological Review G. A. Buttrick (ed.), Interpreter’s Bible (12 vols.; Nashville, ‘Tenn., and New York: Abingdon, 1952-57) C. F. D. Moule, An Idiom Book of New Testament Greek (Cambridge: Cambridge University, 1953) International Critical Commentary G. A. Buttrick (ed.), Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible (+ vols,; Nashville, ‘Tenn., and New York: Abingdon, 1962) K. Crim (ed.), Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible Supplementary Volume (Nashville, Tenn., and New York: Abingdon, 1976) Interpretation R. E. Brown et al. (eds.), The Jerome Biblical Commentary (2 vols. in 1; Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1968) Journal of Biblical Literature Journal of Religion Journal of Roman Studies Journal of the Study of the New Testament Supplements to [SNT Journal of Theological Studies Kurzgefasstes exegetisches Handbuch zum Neuen ‘Testament King James Version (Authorized Version of the Bible of 1611) Kommentar zum Neuen ‘Testament kai ta loipa (= et cetera) Loeb Classical Library Lutheran Quarterly H. G. Liddell, R. Scott, and HT. S. Jones, A Greek-English Lexicon (2 vols.; 9th ed.; Oxford: Clarendon, 1940) Luther's Works Septuagint H. A. W. Meyer, Kritisch-exegetischer Kommentar tiber das Neue Testament (Gottingen: Vandenhocck & Ruprecht, 1847-) J. H. Moulton and G, Milligan, The Vocabulary of the Greek Testament Illustrated from Papyri and Other Non- wiatNAB NCentBC NClarB NDIEC NEB NICNT NIDNTT NIV NB NBC Nov NovT'Sup NRSV NT NTAbh NTD OTBKNT. P. PAHT PG PL PLSup ABBREVIATIONS Literary Sources (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1930; repr. 1957) Moffatt New ‘Testament Commentary Manuscript(s) Masoretic text (Hebrew text of the OT) Meélanges de l'Université Saint-Joseph B. and K, Aland (eds.), Novum Testamentum graece (27th ed.; Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 1993) New American Bible New Century Bible Commentary New Clarendon Bible G. H.R. Horsley and $. R. Llewelyn (eds.), New Documents Illustrating Karly Christianity (8 vols.; North Ryde, N.S.W.: Ancient History Documentary Research Centre; Grand Rapids, Mich: Eerdmans, 1976-98) New English Bible ‘New Intemational Commentary on the New Testament G. Brown (ed.), The New International Dictionary of New Testament ‘Theology (3 vols. Grand Rapids, Mich Zondervan, 1975-78) New International Version (of the Bible) New Jerusalem Bible R. E. Brown ct al. (eds.), The New Jerome Biblical Commentary (Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1990) Novum Testamentum Supplements to Nov'l New Revised Standard Version (of the Bible) New Testament Neutestamentliche Abhandlungen Das Neue Testament deutsch Neutestamentliche Forschungen New Testament Studies ‘The New ‘lestament for Spiritual Reading New Testament Tools and Studies Old Testament Okumenischer Taschenbuch-Kommentar zum Neuen ‘Testament Papyrus J. A. Fitzmyer, Paul and His Theology (Englewood Cliffs, NJ.: Prentice-Hall, 1989) J. Migne, Patrologia Graeca J. Migne, Patrologia Latina Supplements to PL PRS PSB BV RB REB ResQ RevBéen Revlixp RevistB RE RCC? RHPR RHR RivB RNI RSV SB] SBLDS SBLSP SBS sBT sc SeCatt SNT SNTSMS. SPCIC SPIB Str-B TAPS TBT TCGNT TDNT Abbreviations Perspectives in Religious Studies La Sainte Bible de Pirot-Clamer (12 vols.; Paris: Letouzey et Ané, 1938, repr. 1946; 3d ed., 1951) : Paulys Real-Eneyclopadie der classischen Altertumswissenschaft (Neue Bearbeitung, ed. G. Wissowa; Stuttgart: Metzler, 1905-78) Revue biblique Revised English Bible Restoration Quarterly Revue Bénédictine Review and Expositor Revista biblica Razén y fe Religion in Geschichte und Gegenwart (3d ed; 7 vols.; Tubingen: Mohr [Siebeck], 1957-65) Revue Thistoire et de philosophie religicuses Repue de histoire des religions Rivista biblica Regensburger Neues ‘Testament Revised Standard Version (of the Bible) La Sainte Bible de Jérusalem Society of Biblical Literature Dissertation Series Society of Biblical Literature Seminar Papers Stuttgarter Bibel-Studien Studies in Biblical Theology Sources chrétiennes Scuola cattolica Studien zum Neuen Testament Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas Monograph Series Studiorum paulinorum congressus internationalis catholicus 1961 (AnBib 17-18; Rome: Biblical Institute, 1963) Scripta Pontificii Instituti Biblici (H. Stuack and) P. Billerbeck, Kommentar zum Neuen Testament aus Talmud und Midrasch (6 vols.; Munich Beck, 1926-63) ‘Transactions of the American Philosophical Society The Bible Today . B. M. Metzger, Textual Commentary of the Greek New Testament (2d ed.; Stuttgart and New York: United Bible Societies, 1994) G. Kittel and G. Friedrich, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (10 vols.; Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1964-76)TheolEv “THKNT ThStud TKNT TLNT TZ 19 TRE ISK TU ‘TynNTC Tr USOR USR UTB VC Vg VL vol. vs WAusg WBC wD WMANT ABBREVIATIONS ‘Theologia evangelica (Pretoria) Theologischer Handkommentar zum Neuen ‘Testament Theologische Studien ‘Theologischer Kommentar zum Neuen Testament C. Spicg, Theological Lexicon of the New Testament (3 vols; Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson, 1994) Theologische Literaturzeitung Theologische Quartalschrift ‘Theologische Realenzyklopadie (29 vols. to date; Berlin: de Gruyter, 1977-) ‘Theologische Studien und Kritiken ‘Texte und Untersuchungen ‘Tyndale New Testament Commentary ‘Texte zur Forschung Union Seminary Quarterly Review (New York) Union Seminary Review (Richmond, Va.) Uni-Taschenbiicher Vigiliae christianae Vulgata Latina (Vulgat 1 of the Bible) Vetus Latina (Old Latin version of the Bible) volume Verbum salutis Weimar Ausgabe (of works of M. Luther) Word Biblical Commentary Wort und Dienst Wissenschaftliche Monographien zum Alten. und Neuen ‘Testament M. Zerwick, Biblical Greek Illustrated by Examples (Rome: Biblical Institute, 1963) Zeitschrift fur die neutestamentliche Wissenschaft Zeitschrift fur die wissenschafthiche ‘Theologie THE LETTER TO PHILEMON: TRANSLATION‘Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy, our brother, to Philemon, our dear friend and fellow worker, “to Apphia, our sister, to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the church at your house, *grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ‘I give thanks to my God, as | always remember you in my prayers, “because I hear about the faith that you have in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God's dedicated people, °so that the sharing in your faith may be effective in the realization of all the good that is ours in Christ. "For I have experienced much joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of God’s dedicated people have been refreshed through you, my brother. ®So, although Tam emboldened enough in Christ to order you to de what is proper, °T would rather appeal out of love. I, Paul, am an elderly man and now a prisoner too for Christ Jesus. !"I appeal to you on behalf of my child, Onesimus, whose father | have become in my imprisonment. ''He was once useless to you, but now he has become quite useful [both] to you and to me. 22] am sending him, that is, my very own heart, back to you. 1 would have preferred to keep him here with me, so that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel; "but I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that the good you do might not be forced but come of your own free will. '*For perhaps he has been separated for a while for this very reason, that you may have him back for ever, !®no longer as a slave but as more than a slave, as a beloved brother. He is such to me, but how much more to you, both as a human being and in the Lord. 'If, then, you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. !SIf he has wronged you in any matter or owes you anything, charge that to me. “I, Paul, write this with my own hand; I will repay it—not to mention that you owe me even your own self. *°Yes, my brother, may | profit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ! 2IConfident of your acquiescence, | write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask. **At the same time, prepare a guest-room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I may be restored to you. *Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings, “as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit!