The Old Testament Law, Galatians and Philemon - Case Study Example

God does not always heal and, perhaps, this ‘eye disease’ might be a constant reminder to Paul (as an individual point of reflection related to Paul’s specific personality) to always remember where Paul has come from. Paul was blinded in his conversion and maybe this ‘remnant’ (eye disease) is a constant reminder to Paul of Who/Whom Paul represents. In case someone wishes to push this disease issue aside as an ancillary point, Paul suggests that his disease was remarkable and obvious enough that the disease drew the attention of everyone Paul is speaking to in Galatians (Chap.4, v. 14).

Again, Paul draws specific attention in Philemon to his eye disease (Phl., verse 19) and his need for assistance to write. What follows in Philemon vs. 19-25 is of supreme importance since Paul says he’s writing it in his handwriting (leading readers to believe the writing before verse 19 was transcribed by an assistant [Timothy] ). Paul cunningly ‘sells’ his idea by inferring a business arrangement with Philemon (verse 19) and then reminding Philemon of what Paul has done for him (end of verse 19). Paul smartly suggests that as soon as he (Paul) is released he is coming to stay with Philemon (vs. 21-22) probably to make sure that Philemon does what Paul is implicating in this letter.

One can easily see the ‘old’ Paul with his dynamic stubbornness and overbearing personality (the Paul who stood by as Stephen was stoned in Acts chapter 8) combined with a loving spirit given to Paul through Paul’s conversion. It is interesting to witness Paul suggesting to Philemon that his ‘slave’ Onesimus is considered by Paul to be Paul’s son. Paul also uses his imprisonment to show the unfairness of Onesimus’s continued imprisonment as Philemon’s slave. In effect, Paul is telling Philemon that treating Onesimus differently than just a Christian ‘Brother’ (and Paul’s son) is to be acting like the ‘Keeper’ of Paul’s prison keeping Paul unfairly under chains. Paul’s argument implies that Christians are all prisoners under Christ if we are Christians and to continue the enslavement of Christian Brothers is almost like trying to subvert Christ Jesus’ position as leader. Specifically, Paul is suggesting to Philemon that persecuting Onesimus any further is contrary to Christian principles.

In Galatians, Paul goes straight through his road from conversion to evangelizing the Gospel to the Gentiles. With one or two instances where he met and interacted with the ‘original disciples’, Paul did not evangelize full-throttle until approximately twelve years after his conversion. This is a surprising delay, engineered by God (Paul would have given a full reckoning of his errors if Paul caused the delay), to prepare Paul for what his mission was as an apostle of Jesus.

The precise connection between the understanding of ‘human’ contracts and promises by God is exceptionally related in both Galatians and Philemon. In Galatians Chapter 3 vs. 8-23, Paul is explaining the ‘contract’ that God signed (promise) with Abraham for a ‘seed’ (Jesus) to fulfill God’s promise of salvation through Abraham. Paul suggests the non-breakability of human ‘contracts’, especially God’s ‘contract’ (promise) with humans, and the adoption of the Law and how the Commandments cannot supersede an already signed contract with God by Abraham.

Paul is showing that the Law is not a contract but a ‘Guide’ pointing towards God’s promise with Abraham and used to show and remind the people of Israel how important the contract with Abraham is. In Philemon, Paul uses the same type of ‘contract’ language with Philemon (verses 18-19) to lay the foundation for Paul’s commitment to what he is saying and to emphasize Paul’s implication (Philemon surely was aware that Paul preached much about the God’s promise to Abraham and the difference of that promise with the Law) that Philemon may be guilty of reverting to living according to the Law. It is a subtle reminder to Philemon of who Philemon was before Jesus and who Philemon must become after Jesus. Read More