Corpus-Paul

["David Inglis" <david AT colonialcommerce.com>]

Kym Smith wrote:

> Dear Dave,
> 
> It is quite possible that Onesimus and Onesiphorus are the same person. I
> am not sure, however, that the reference to 'chains' is a valid
> connection. It might be if all three letters (Col, Phlmn, 2 Tim) were
> written from the same prison but this is not certain. Personally I suspect
> that 2 Tim was written during Paul's second imprisonment in  Rome and
> shortly before his death (in 64) while Col and Phlmn were written and
> posted (with Ephesians) from prison in Ephesus in 62 (Following Paul's
> release from Rome at the end of Acts).

Dear Kym,

Thanks for the reply.  I agree you regarding the place of writing of 2
Tim, but (as I think you are aware) I also believe that Col and Phm were
written from Rome.  Taking 2 Tim first, I think that a Roman imprisonment
is clearly meant from verses 1:16-17: "May the Lord grant mercy to the
family of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed
of my imprisonment.  But when he arrived in Rome, he eagerly searched for
me and found me."  So far as Col and Phm are concerned, one of the key
points (in my mind) is that in addition to references to Paul's 'standard'
companions Mark and Timothy, these two letters contain references to
various people who are not found in *any* earlier letter, nor even in
Acts:

Luke (who would not be expected to be foubd in Acts!)
Epaphras/Epaphroditus (the messenger from Philippi)
Onesimus/Onesiphorus (the slave who helped Paul in prison)
Archippus (from Colosse)
Demas (Who went to Thessalonica later)

The fact that these people are not mentioned in Acts, Gal, 1 & 2 Cor, Rom,
1 & 2 Thes or Eph suggests to me that they did not enter Paul's life until
later on, making a Roman imprisonment for Col & Phm much more likely than
an Ephesian one.  While this is obviously not conclusive, I do believe it
is a strong point in favor of Rome rather than Ephesus.

Dave Inglis
david AT colonialcommerce.com
3538 O'Connor Drive
Lafayette, CA, USA