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1. Using Philemon and the Bible as pro-slavery documents is textbook slave master theology. Philemon is CLEARLY an early Christian abolitionist text. In order to understand Paul’s references to “slave” you must also understand υἱοθεσία (huiothesia) or the Doctrine of Adoption. https://twitter.com/jdpeterson1689/status/1279480062249594885
2. We see Paul refer to the doctrine of Adoption frequently in his letters & he uses it to describe our relationship to God & former relationship to Sin. We were “Slaves” of Sin & Now Slaves of God thru Adoption (huiothesia). What is “Adoption”?
3. In the Greco-Roman world, a slave could be adopted into the family of his Master and in so being aquire all the rights & privileges of Roman citizenship. Just like we, are adopted into God’s family & become co-heirs. Paul’s admonition to slaves to obey masters comes alongside-
4. Paul’s theology of adoption and his theology of the church as “family of God”. We see this in Philemon. He tells Philemon to receive Onesimus AS A BROTHER. His expectation was that Philemon would Adopt Onesimus into his family!
Bro, I believe & KNOW my Bible.
Bro, I believe & KNOW my Bible.
5. Slave master theology, which is still alive & well hence your tweet, argues that Paul was okay w/ slavery & it ignores Pauline theology & Pauline theological vernacular. Paul was CLEARLY an abolitionist; Philemon an abolitionist epistle, & Christianity & abolitionist faith. 
6. Oh, last thing. Was Philemon a heretic? We don’t know much abt Philemon but we do know he was treating his slave in such a way that he ran off. Paul, excercising his Apostolic authority told Philemon to “get right”. He had all confidence Philemon would & sent Onesimus back..
7. The text of Philemon should lead us to believe Paul, being a wise man, didn’t have misplaced confidence & that the story ends with reconciliation, reunification, unity, AND REPENTANCE. Hola at me when you find a letter of repentance from Whitefield, Edwards, or others. 
8. I should probably add, I don’t call your critique “slave master theology” to tear you down or condemn you, I say that cuz I want to encourage you to consider the origins of your thought process that was likely taught to you. We gotta kill lineage of “Ol’ time religion”.
