Paul, Power and Philemon: “Knowing Your Place”

Cross-Purposes in Paul? Violence of the Cross, Galatians, and Human Dignity

“…While it is on one level important to record important differences between the slavery of the first-century and of later, colonial times, 21 as institution slavery was regardless of the period under discussion, the "permanent, violent domination of natally alienated and generally dishonored persons": the constant threat and actions of 16 Cf also a more detailed discussion on first century slavery and its impact on the New Testament, cf Glancy (2006) and Harrill (2003;; and on the letter to Philemon in particular, cf Punt (2009a). It is important to stress that 'slave' should not be generalised to merely a certain harsh lifestyle or subservient status; a slave was "a person with a definite financial value under the ownership of another person" (Tsang 2005:9).…”

“…obligations and ostensibly (and at best) to maintain the stability of the household through treating the slaves fairly, in 1 Pt 2:18-21 slaves are instructed to submit even to excessive and abusive authority (Punt 2009a).…”

Mapping Human Dignity in the New Testament: Concerns, Considerations and Concepts

“…gender and 'sexuality') (cf . Punt 2005;2009b) for constructing an adequate portrait of human value and worth -for understanding the human being as an embodied person.…”