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.

sets for the entire letter a tone of gratitude for the God-given grace and peace the senders and recipients share with all who believe in and work to promote the gospel of Jesus Christ.

B. From love Philemon’s partnership can result in doing good for Christ (vv. 4-7).

        The transition from the A to the B units is by way of a catch-word connection. In response to the grace (xa/rij) that comes from God (qeou=) (v. 3) Paul thanks (Eu)xaristw=) his God (qew=|) every time he makes mention of Philemon in his prayers (v. 4)²². Paul thanks God for Philemon’s ‘love and faith’, both of which are directed to both ‘the Lord Jesus’, in response to the grace and peace that come from ‘the Lord Jesus Christ’ (v. 3), and to ‘all the holy ones’ (v. 5)²³. Included among ‘all the holy ones’, that is, all believers, is the audience, the assembly at Philemon’s house (together with Apphia and Archippus, v. 2), listening to the letter²⁴. Paul has drawn them, as beneficiaries of Philemon’s love and faith, into his prayers of thanksgiving for Philemon. They stand before Philemon as public witnesses who can identify with and verify what Paul is saying about Philemon.

        How Philemon’s faith (pi/stin) can be directed to all the holy ones (v. 5) is indicated by the purpose of Paul’s prayer, namely, that the partnership of Philemon’s faith (pi/stew/j) might become effective in the recognition (by all the holy ones) of all the good that is among ‘us’ (Paul and Philemon) for (promoting the gospel about) Christ (v. 6)²⁵. The faith (and love) that Philemon has ‘for all the holy ones’ (v. 5) can effect a public recognition of all the good that is among