PLACE OF WRITING THE PRISON EPISTLES
PLACE OF WRITING THE PRISON EPISTLES
Virgil Warren, PhD
The criteria for the prison-epistles imprisonment are (1) a lengthy imprisonment with (2) an expected release (3) where Onesimus would have access to Paul.
Pro Con
ROME
Paul was under house arrest and Paul requests housing to be prepared in could receive guests like Onesimus. Colossae (but Paul will soon be
released from the Roman imprison-
ment).
A known imprisonment
Was there a Colossae after A.D. 60?
Acts shows that Luke accompanied According to Tacitus’ Annals, 14:27 an
Paul to Rome (“we” passages). earthquake destroyed Colossae and
Laodecia. The former could not rebuild
The Roman imprisonment was the as Laodecia did. (It is possible to get
only lengthy imprisonment from which Paul to Rome and even released
Paul could have expected release (cp. before A.D. 60.)
Philippians 2:19-27; Philemon 22).
Praetorium (Philippians 1:13; cp. Acts 23:15) supposedly means a governor’s The Roman imprisonment was the palace in the New Testament. There only lengthy one (for life or death) would be no governor’s palace in
from which no appeal could be made Rome.
by a Roman citizen. (Contrast the
Caesarean imprisonment when Paul
appealed to Caesar.)
The saints of Caesar’s household sent
greetings (Philippians 4:22).
CAESAREA
Praetorium (Philippians 1:13; cp. Acts 23:15) How could the slave Onesimus have supposedly means palace of the governor. access to Paul in Caesarea? (the same
way he had such access in Rome?)
In Philemon 22 Paul requests preparation
for lodgings in anticipation of release.
EPHESUS
The Marcionite Prologue so locates But the Prologue locates the writing of
the writing of Colossians. Philippians and Philemon in Rome.
A request for Colossian housing would There is no Ephesian imprisonment.
make sense because Paul might want
to get out of Ephesus soon.
Onesimus would have fled farther than
Ephesus.
Many want to get the prison epistles
earlier so they can get Paul dead at the
end of the first Roman imprisonment,
and so not able to author the pastorals.
CAESAREA
Praetorium (Philippians 1:13; cp. Acts 23:15) How could the slave Onesimus have supposedly means palace of the governor. access to Paul in Caesarea? (the same
way he had access to him in Rome?)
In Philemon 22 Paul requests preparation
for lodgings in anticipation of release.
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