Philemon is a good little letter and here's the main books that you need to consult when examining it:
John Knox, Philemon among the letters of Paul: a new view of its place and importance (New York: Abingdon, 1959).
Norman R. Petersen, Rediscovering Paul: Philemon and the sociology of Paul's narrative world (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1985).
Markus Barth and Helmut Blanke, Philemon (ECC; Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2000).
Joseph A. Fitzmyer, The Letter to Philemon: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary (AB; New York: Doubleday, 2000).
I would throw in John Barclay's Colossians and Philemon NT Guide (T & T Clark).
ReplyDeleteI also found Lohse's commentary helpful.
ReplyDeleteHave also a look at my posting:
ReplyDeletehttp://biblicalresources.wordpress.com/2008/08/19/conference-on-philemon/