Exploring Philemon : Freedom, Brotherhood, and Partnership in the New Society

A new, sociorhetorical interpretation of the Letter to Philemon Exploring Philemon shows how this letter entered the world of the ancient Mediterranean and the early church with a dramatic and powerful rhetorical force by analyzing the range of textures interwoven with each other to produce a profound effect on an early Christian (Philemon) and on the church that met in his home. It demonstrates that many striking and subtle features work together to present a rhetorical argument that the new Christian society must be one of freedom, brotherhood, and partnership not just for the powerful, but for all. Features: An analysis of the visual imagery of the letter Application of up-to-date rhetorical, sensory-aesthetic, and intertextual interpretive methods Use of Social and cultural, ideological, and theological strategies Exploring Philemon Shows How This Letter Entered The World Of The Ancient Mediterranean And The Early Church With A Dramatic And Powerful Rhetorical Force By Analyzing The Range Of Textures Interwoven With Each Other To Produce A Profound Effect On An Early Christian (philemon) And On The Church That Met In His Home. It Demonstrates That Many Striking And Subtle Features Work Together To Present A Rhetorical Argument That The New Christian Society Must Be One Of Freedom, Brotherhood, And Partnership Not Just For The Powerful, But For All. Roy R. Jeal. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes.