These are notes that I took in D.A. Carson’s class this year:

In Philemon, these ideas are much more important to consider, so I am posting them today with some commentary.

1. Every major culture/civilization had slavery as an institution until the 18th century.
       -this is not to say it was ever “right” but that it was an economic reality

2. In Rome, it was not a racial thing
       -the classes in that day were slaves, free and nobility – in America we often think “slave” as “black” and this simply was not true in ancient days

3. In American (or New World) slavery, slaves were made slaves by either being born slaves or their ancestors were captured and shipped by a superior military force 
       -while this was occasionally true in the ancient world, bankruptcy or financial strife often caused it

4. In the ancient world, slaves could be educated or have clout
        -often could speak for their masters in situations, etc

5. In the OT, when slavery was permitted, it was not quite slavery, but indentured servanthood

6. It was not simply a North/South concept in America, but more South and less North

7. The movement of ending slavery worldwide emerged out of the evangelical movement (gospel-oriented led to freedom)

When reading Philemon, one must consider these things. Onesimus might have been educated or had lived in something close to freedom before, but deserted for whatever reason. Now Paul sees him as useful in many ways!