From Colossae, by way of Ephesus,
a letter came by galley ship to us,
with a superb idea we must discuss
with all the brethren---this next worship meeting.
The letter was sent from Onesimus,
once held, decades ago, in slavery;
whom Paul had led to Christian liberty.
Then Philemon, his master, set him free.
On his way to take up the Bishops's see
over our good Ephesian brethren, he
wrote to us with a most eloquent greeting;
and then requested any of Paul's letters
we might have to be copied out and sent
to him, to be part of a compilation
disseminated with the good intent
that all who read may learn more of Salvation---
despite time's. and the world's, collaboration
to keep our faith in dim obscurity.
Starward
[jlc]
Author's Notes/Comments:
During my senior year at college, I first encountered the theory that Onesimus, subject of the Apostle Saint Paul's letter to Philemon, subsequently compiled that Apostle's Epistles as we now have them in our Bible---Romans through Philemon. Unfortunately, and to my distress, I cannot now state the name of the scholar, or the text, of this theory; but I wish to state clearly, here, it is not mine. I simply find it not only plausible but charmingly inspiring. The text I read (back in late 1979) also remakred that, despite the various order of the books of the New Testament given in different editions (they tell me that Eastern New Testaments begin with the Gospels of Matthew and John, and place the General Epistles before the Epistle of the Apostle Saint Paul), the Pauline documents are, in each edition, given in the same exact order as we have them, Romans through Philemon, with the four personal letters always last, and Philemon always final. That same scholar suggested that Philemon is last as a kind of signature piece that Onesimus included.
Should someone be able to tell me the name of the scholar and/or the text in which this theory appeared, I will be happy and grateful to give credit here.
