Study Tips: Author's IntentionSample

Avengers Endgame is one of the highest-grossing films ever made. People love it. But if you wanted to introduce it to a friend who’s never watched a Marvel film, you’d probably get them to watch Infinity War first. Otherwise, be prepared to pause it every five minutes and answer their questions!

Context is important. Lots of our misunderstandings and confusion when reading the Bible are because we don’t have enough context. Stronger understandings of historical, literary, and redemptive contexts help us to understand and enjoy reading the Bible.

Historical Context: One of the big themes in this letter is slavery. Crucifixion was a torturous death sentence reserved for enemies of the Romans and escaped slaves. It was a tool to deter slaves from any attempts to escape or rebel against Rome. If Onesimus returned to Philemon, he’d be sensible to expect crucifixion. But is that what Paul thinks will happen? How does this bit of historical context influence how you understand this letter?

Literary Context: This is a letter from Paul to his friend Philemon; it isn’t a list of instructions we should all obey. We can’t treat these as instructions unless Onesimus turns up at our front door asking to be part of our family. But we can learn from Paul’s advice to his friend and try to apply it to our own situations.

Redemptive Context: How does Jesus make a difference to Onesimus, Philemon, Paul, and slavery in the Roman world? Colossians 3 and 4 explain how Jesus’ death and resurrection transform us into more complete reflections of God’s character, and that this should have a powerful effect on how we treat other people, including slaves and masters. It also tells us that Jesus’ death and resurrection have made a united family with no divisions along ethnic or social lines. The slave and the free have been made part of the one body of Jesus, and their shared master, Jesus, is in each of them. Maybe this is why Onesimus had the courage to return to Philemon’s household and why Paul expects a warm welcome rather than a crucifixion.

As you read Philemon today, how do these bits of context influence your understanding?

Read Colossians 3:1-25; Colossians 4:1 and Philemon.