The Gospel of Judas: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary by David Brakke (review)

Abstract

In chap. 4, B. discusses the historical plausibility that Onesimus was a broker negotiating with Paul, Philemon, and the church in Philemon’s household. To endorse this idea, B. draws a parallel between the role of Epaphroditus in Philippians (2:25; 4:18) and that of Onesimus in Philemon, as both figures were sent to the incarcerated apostle Paul so as to help him out. B. also singles out the parallel between Burrhus, a deacon in the Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians, and Onesimus in Philemon in that both were the envoys dispatched to Paul during his imprisonment. Evidence from both nonbiblical and extrabiblical texts leads B. to conclude that Onesimus was a deacon, since in earliest Christianity prison visitation was one of the specific duties of a deacon. Beavis divides the last chapter into two smaller sections. First, she discusses the historical reconstruction of Philemon through an intertextual analysis of the letter to the Colossians and Ignatius’s letter to the Ephesians, at the same time maintaining focus on Onesimus. By and large, such an intertextual study generates a fresh image of Onesimus as a devout and trustworthy disciple. Second, B. investigates the reception of Onesimus in church history. Ecclesiastical tradition tends to remember Onesimus as the bishop of Ephesus or as one of the martyrs in earliest Christianity. B. emphasizes that Onesimus has historically been commemorated variously as a significant figure, perhaps a deacon, a bishop, a witness, or a saint. Beavis concludes her study with an ingenious afterword that conjures up the silenced voice of Onesimus, which is hidden but retrievable in Philemon through imaginary conversations with the former slaves, both ancient and modern, based on their stories. This creatively crafted afterword is sufficient to inspire readers to reread Philemon from a doulocentric standpoint. Overall, B.’s retelling of Philemon from a marginal perspective illustrates the possibility of hearing the voices of the silenced and restoring agency to the oppressed throughout the history of Christianity. This innovative book is highly recommended to any students, laypeople, church leaders, and theologians who are committed to fostering the Christian virtue of social justice by interpreting biblical texts in other ways.