A Socio-Rhetorical Interpretation of the Letter to Philemon in Light of the New Institutional Economics - An Exhortation to Transform a Master-Slave Economic Relationship into a Brotherly Loving Relationship

Cover

Preface

Table of Contents

List of Abbreviations

Chapter 1: Setting the Stage for Socio-Rhetorical Interpretation

1.1 Introduction

1.2 Thesis Statement

1.3 The Value of this Research

1.4 Interpretation History of the Letter to Philemon

1.4.1 Development and Insufficiencies of the “Runaway Hypothesis”

1.4.2 New Trend in Research

1.4.3 Short Conclusion: Contribution and Insufficiency of Previous Research

1.5 Methodology: The Application of Socio-Rhetorical Interpretation to the Letter to Philemon

1.5.1 Framework of Socio-Rhetorical Interpretation

1.5.2 Application of Socio-Rhetorical Interpretation in Interpreting the Letter to Philemon

1.5.3 Limitation and Corresponding Response of the Socio-rhetorical Model

Definition

The Problem of Genre

Missing Theology

Justification of New Texture

Integral or Segregated?

Risk of Running into Indeterminate Ways of Interpretation

1.6 Basics of the Letter to Philemon

1.6.1 The Story behind the Letter

1.6.2 Relationship with Other Letters of Paul

1.6.3 Concerning the Period and Context of this Study

1.6.4 Attitude toward Slavery: Metaphorical Use or Reality Addressed

1.7 Conclusion

Chapter 2: Inner Texture: Relationship Transformation as the Main Focus of the Letter to Philemon

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Materialistic Layer: Word Analysis

2.2.1 Main Focus: Relational Words

2.2.2 Main Argument: Love-Related Words

2.2.3 Theological Ground: Words with Theological Connotations

???????? and ????????

Faith

God-Related Words

2.2.4 Commerce-Related Words

2.3 Fabric Layer: Epistolary Analysis

2.3.1 The Structure of the Letter

2.3.2 Opening of the Letter to Philemon

2.3.3 Recipient Formula

2.3.4 Thanksgivings

2.3.5 Short Conclusion

2.4 Stylistic Layer: Rhetorical Analysis

2.4.1 Formal Rhetorical Analysis: F. F. Church and M. M. Mitchell

Exordium (Verses 4–7)

Proof (Verses 8–16)

New Direction Suggested by Formal Rhetorical Analysis

Conformance to the Deliberative Argumentation Identified by Margaret M. Mitchell

Beyond the Formal Rhetoric

2.5 Dialogue

Chapter 3: Intertexture: Theological and Ethical Thoughts of Paul

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Intertexture in the Socio-Rhetorical Interpretation of the Letter to Philemon: Theological and Ethical Thoughts of Paul

3.3 The Structure of Pauline Ethical Thought (1): Integral View of Indicative and Imperative

3.4 The Structure of Pauline Ethical Thought (2): The Three Motifs behind the Theology and Ethics of Paul

3.4.1 Eschatological Motif

3.4.2 Theological Motif

3.4.3 Christological Motif

3.5 The Content of Paul’s Ethical Thought: Love as a Guiding Principle for the Believing Community

3.5.1 Paul’s Use of ?????

3.6 The Structure of Love in Paul’s Thought

3.6.1 New Relationship with God: New Life in Love

3.6.2 New Relationship with the World: New Creation with Freedom to Love

3.6.3 New Relationship with New Community: New Bonding by Love

Romans 12–13: Eschatological Nature of Love for the Solidarity of a Congregation

1 Corinthians 8–11:1: Love as Self-Control for Others: Foundation of Exercising One’s Freedom

Galatians 5–6: Freedom with Working in Love

Short Summary

3.7 Intertextual Reading: Reading the Letter to Philemon in Paul’s Structure of Love

3.7.1 Model of Intertextual Reading of the Letter to Philemon

3.7.2 Basic Theological Thought: Reading the Letter to Philemon with Reference to the Integral View of Indicative and Imperative

3.7.3 Reading the Letter to Philemon with the Three Motifs as Reference

Eschatological Motif

Theological Motif

Christological Motif

3.7.4 Reading the Letter to Philemon in Paul’s Ethical Structure of Love

New Relationship with God: New Life in Love in the Letter to Philemon

New Relationship with the World: New Creation with Freedom to Love in the Letter to Philemon

New Relationship with the New Community: New Bonding by Love in the Letter to Philemon

3.8 Dialogue

Chapter 4: Economic Texture: Reading the Letter to Philemon in Light of the Economic Relationship Generated from the New Institutional Economics

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Methodology

4.2.1 Economic Texture

4.2.2 The Use of NIE as an Analysis Framework

4.2.3 The Significance of Institutions in Understanding Economic Relationships

4.2.4 Douglass North’s Model

4.3 Informal Institution: Exploitative in Nature

4.3.1 Economic Interest as the Dominant Consideration in the Roman Economy

The Development of Economic Interest as the Dominant Value

Result of Wars on Attitude toward Economic Benefit

4.3.2 Macroeconomic Environment: Growing Demand for Slaves

Magnitude of Development: Scale of the Roman Economy

Quality of Development: Growth in Trade

Income Inequality and the Nature of Exploitation

4.3.3 Ideological Justification: Philosophy and Social Values

Philosophical Justification of Roman Slavery

Social Value: Nature of Consumer City

4.3.4 Political System: How Rules Were Determined

Political Structure in the Late Roman Republic

Legal System

4.3.5 Implications for the Economic Relationship: Exploitative in Nature

4.4 Formal Institution: Objectifying Attitude toward Slaves

4.4.1 Definition of Slaves: Objectifying Slaves

4.4.2 Economic Motives for Objectifying Slaves

4.4.3 Owning Slaves: Classified as Res Mancipi

4.4.4 Acquisition and Transference of Slaves

4.4.5 The Exclusive Right to Use Slaves

4.4.6 Implication for Economic Relationship: Objectifying Slaves as Instruments

4.5 Managing Slaves as Labor: Manipulating Slaves in Practice

4.5.1 Economic Problems of Managing Slaves

General Situation

Specific Economic Reasons for Management Problems

4.5.2 NIE Basic Concepts Underlying the Management Problem of Slaves

Bounded Rationality

Opportunism

Asset Specificity

4.5.3 Diversity and the Mixed Nature of Slave Jobs

Farm Slaves: Extensiveness

Household Slaves: Penetrating Different Levels of Household Work

Slaves in Trade and Commerce: High Trust Required

Short Summary

4.5.4 Contractual Arrangements: Manipulating Slaves in Light of the Management Problems

Basics Facts about Manumission

Modes of Manumission

Economic Analysis of Manumission in Light of the NIE Theory

Basics of peculium

Incompleteness of peculium

Artificial Asset Specificity

NIE Interpretation of Slave-Managing Problems

4.6 Dialogue

4.7 Conclusion

Chapter 5: Synthesis: Reading the Body of the Letter to Philemon with the Three Textures in Mind

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Redefining the Problem Addressed by Paul in the Letter to Philemon

5.2.1 Redefining the Problem in Light of Paul’s Eschatological Motif: To Choose the New Value to Practice in this World

Choosing New Value in Light of Existing Institution: 1 Cor 7:19–24

Short Conclusion

5.2.2 Redefining the Problem in Light of Paul’s Theology: To Recognize and Accept the New Relationship

Conflict between the Economic Relationship and Loving Brotherhood Relationship

Exploitative Nature vs. Love as the Basis of a Relationship

View of Slaves as Objectified Instrument vs. Brotherhood as an Attitude in a Relationship

Manipulating vs. Freedom in Practice

5.2.3 Redefining the Problem in Light of Paul’s Christology: To Choose to Follow the Model of Paul and Christ in Practice

Imitation of Paul and Christ in the Letter to Philemon

Short Summary

5.3 Reading the Body of the Letter in Light of Different Textures

5.3.1 Analysis of the Body of the Letter to Philemon: Paul’s Rhetorical Argument Calls for a New Relationship

5.3.2 Verses 8–9: New Value of Love: To Challenge the Power of the Master

5.3.3 Verse 10: New Life in Christ: To Challenge the Legal Justification of Slavery

5.3.4 Verse 11: A Transformation of the Worldly Relationship: From Objectified Status to Personhood

5.3.5 Verses 12–14: Respecting One’s Freedom: Demonstrating Love in Action

5.3.6 Verses 15–16: Ultimate Request: Loving Brotherhood Relationship

The Use of “Beloved Brother” in Verse 16

5.3.7 Verse 17: New Form of Working Relationship: ???????? – Partnership in Christ

5.3.8 Verses 18–19: Clearing the Final Barrier: Forgo the Economic Benefit or Loss

5.3.9 Verses 20–21: Concluding Remarks: New Relationships in the Lord and in Christ

5.4 Conclusion

Chapter 6: Conclusion

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Summary of Arguments in Previous Chapters

6.3 Contributions and Future Directions Inspired by this Thesis

6.3.1 Methodological Breakthrough

6.3.2 Further Ways to Incorporate Economic Analysis in Biblical Studies

6.3.3 Reflection on Contemporary Capitalist Society

Working Relationship: Objectification

Incentive System: Another Form of Economic Compulsion

6.4 Conclusion

Bibliography

Ancient Sources

Secondary Literature

Index of Ancient Sources

1. Old Testament

2. New Testament

3. Greek and Roman Authors

Index of Modern Authors

Index of Names and Subjects