Philemon, Game Theory and the Reconfigration of Household Relationships
Paul's letter to Philemon is curiously opaque with regard to Paul's intentions. This article argues that when one assesses his rhetorical strategy in terms of game theory, it becomes clearer that Paul is trying to achieve Onesimus' freedom by offering Philemon the opportunity to coope...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Print Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Amsterdam University Press
[2017]
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| In: |
European journal of theology
Year: 2017, Volume: 26, Issue: 1, Pages: 32-42 |
| IxTheo Classification: | HC New Testament |
| Further subjects: | B
Peer reviewed
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| Summary: | Paul's letter to Philemon is curiously opaque with regard to Paul's intentions. This article argues that when one assesses his rhetorical strategy in terms of game theory, it becomes clearer that Paul is trying to achieve Onesimus' freedom by offering Philemon the opportunity to coopererate rather than confronting him with a demand, which would be viewed negatively in terms of ancient codes of honour. Further, Paul employs familial vocabulary in an attempt to deconstruct ancient society's hierarchies of obligation and to reconstruct them around a new understanding of the church as a family, which necessarily delegitimises the institution of slavery within the church |
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| ISSN: | 0960-2720 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: European journal of theology
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