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John Paul Heil, «The Chiastic Structure and Meaning of Paul’s Letter to Philemon», Vol. 82 (2001) 178-206
This article proposes a new chiastic structure for Paul’s letter to Philemon based on rigorous criteria and methodology. The center and pivot of the chiasm, ‘but without your consent I resolved to do nothing, so that your good might not be as under compulsion but rather under benevolence’ (v. 14), is a key to explicating the letter’s supposedly unclear purpose. Paul wants Philemon to give his former slave Onesimus back to Paul as a beloved brother and fellow worker for the gospel of Jesus Christ, because of Philemon’s response to the grace of God evident in his faithful love for the holy ones as a beloved brother and fellow worker of Paul.
We propose the following Chiastic Structure of Paul’s letter to Philemon
A 1Paul a prisoner of Christ Jesus (Xristou= 'Ihsou=) and Timothy the brother to Philemon our beloved and fellow worker (sunergw=|) 2 and Apphia the sister and Archippus our fellow soldier and the assembly at your house. 3Grace (xa/rij) to you (u(mi/n) and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (kuri/ou 'Ihsou= Xristou=).
B 4I thank (Eu)xaristw=) my God every time I make mention of you in my prayers (proseuxw=n), 5hearing of your love and faith, which you have toward the Lord (ku/rion) Jesus and for all the holy ones, 6 that the partnership of your faith might become effective in the recognition of all the GOOD (a)gaqou=) that is among us for Christ (Xristo/n). 7For (ga_r) I have had much joy and encouragement in your love (th=| a)ga/ph| sou), because the hearts (ta_ spla/gxna) of the holy ones have been refreshed (a)nape/pautai) through (dia_) you, brother (a)delfe/).
C 8Therefore, though having much boldness in Christ to command to you (soi) what is proper, 9 on account of love I would rather appeal, being as I am, Paul (Pau=loj), an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus. 10 I appeal to you (se) for my (e)mou=) child, whom I have begotten in prison, Onesimus,
D 11 who was once to you useless but now is indeed both to you (soi_) and to me (e)moi_) useful, 12 whom I am sending back to you, him (au)to/n), that is my (e)ma_) heart, 13 whom I wanted to keep (kate/xein) for myself, so that (i#na) he might serve on your (sou=) behalf me (moi) in the imprisonment of the gospel,
E 14 but without your (sh=j) consent I resolved TO DO (poih=sai) nothing, so that (i#na) your (sou) GOOD (a)gaqo/n) might not be as under compulsion but rather under benevolence.
D' 15 For perhaps it was for this reason he was separated for awhile, so that (i#na) you might have him (au)to_n) back (a)pe/xh|j) forever, 16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me (e)moi/), but how much more to you (soi_) both in
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