Paul was writing philemon as a brother in christ and now. This summary of the book of philemon provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and. Philemon 2025 20 yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the lord. Could the common view of onesimus as a runaway, thieving slave be wrong. Onesimus is a brother in gods family and philemon loves him very much. Philemons slave onesimus run away and came to paul and sought refuge.
Philemon 125 friendship, forgiveness, reputation discussion questions 1. The epistle of paul to philemon, known simply as philemon, is one of the books of the christian new testament. Philemon stands as one piece of strong evidence to the contrary, revealing that lofty doctrines such as the love of god, forgiveness in christ, or the inherent dignity of humanity have real and pertinent impact in everyday life. But philemon did not understand pauls letter to be saying that. An introduction to the book of philemon paul wrote philemon to implore his friend, and fellow believer, philemon to forgive his runaway slave, onesimus. Books of the bible list order complete new and old testament. I will pay it backnot to mention that you owe me your very self philemon 1. Philemon, a study guide from the executable outlines series by mark a. It is a jail letter, cocomposed by paul the apostle with timothy, to philemon, a pioneer in the colossian church.
Philemon with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. He mentions this also in his other prison epistles ephesians, philippians and colossians. This message is an overview of the book of philemon and part of a 2year study of the bible. It appears that he was a slave holder before he was saved. It has been said that no document in the history of the world has so altered humanitys attitude toward the institution of slavery as has this letter. The name refers to the new covenant or promise between god and humanity through the death and resurrection of jesus christ. One of pauls shortest and the most explosive letters, the book of philemon demonstrates the gospel through action. Epistle to philemon read the bible online bible study tools. One of the most important things to understand about philemon is the background of slavery in the ancient world. These verses state what the story of philemon and onesimus. Onesimus took a chance one day, as any slave would have done, and made a run for it.
Pauls epistle to philemon is one of the few books in the nt whose authenticity has hardly ever been doubted. Philemon provides valuable historical insights into the early churchs relationship to the institution of slavery. Letter from paul to philemon, paul, a prisoner of jesus christ, and timothy our brother, unto philemon our dearly beloved, and fellow laborer. Onesimus, a slave belonging to philemon, had fled from his master, possibly stealing money in the process vv. At least he had a nice home, and it was believed it was large enough that the church had been held in his home. Forgiveness and reconciliation are spotlighted in the life of onesimus and the book of philemon. Now philemon owned slaves, and he had a slave named onesimus. Read and study philemon, including book summary, with the versebyverse bible commentary.
A summary of the book of philemon 1881 words bartleby. Book of philemon overview insight for living ministries. His travels somehow brought him to rome where, in the providence of god, he came in contact with paul. Pauls plea to philemon to receive and treat converted escaped slave with kindness. In order to better comprehend the concepts depicted in the book of philemon it is important to gain an understanding of its historical and cultural context. The book was written around 62 ad during paul first imprisonment in rome. The letter to philemon the new international commentary on the new testament. To ask philemon of colossae to pardon his slave onesimus. The letter to philemon the new international commentary.
Paul chose to take the role of mediator between the two and even offered to personally cover the debts of the recently converted slave. One of the most important things to understand about philemon the is background of slavery in the ancient world. The key personalities of philemon are paul, philemon, and onesimus. Paul continues by saying that he is confident that philemon will do what is right and receive his former servant as a brother in the faith verses 2021. Visit our library of inductive bible studies for more in depth inductive studies on this and other books of the bible you can use in your small group. Whatever onesimus took from philemon, paul says he will repay verses 1819. I write this letter to you, philemon, my good friend and companion in this workalso to our sister apphia, to archippus, a real trooper, and to the church that meets in your house. Galatians, philippians, and philemon summary shmoop. Paul wrote to philemon, a christian brother living in colosse.
This summary of the book of philemon provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of philemon. It was written to philemon as a plea to request forgiveness for his runaway servant onesimus, who was a new believer in jesus christ. The book of philemon is a very beautiful little book. Philemon bible study lesson 1 historical backgrounds of. The book of philemon resonates with an understanding of life jesus set forth in the sermon on the mount. The new testament chronicles the life and ministry of jesus, the growth and impact of the early church. There is no longer jew or greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female. Philemon tpt from paul, a prisoner of the anointed bible. Paul wrote philemon to implore his friend, and fellow believer, philemon to forgive his runaway slave, onesimus. Jun 14, 20 and an excerpt from this weeks sermon on philemon. In this short personal letter, the apostle paul asks his friend philemon to extend forgiveness to a runaway slave named onesimus. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the lord. Paul letter to philemon bible understanding the book of.
Scholarly yet easy to understand, this volume explores the nuances of pauls messages to the church, which deal with many of the same issues faced by the church today. Paul challenges philemon to receive onesimus back in the same way he would welcome paul, as a brother and a partner in the gospel. Main characters the book of philemon involves three main characters. The book of philemon also know as the epistle of paul to philemon, referred to just as philemon, is one of the books of the bible new testament. This is the only place in the new testament where philemon is mentioned by name, but we do know that he was a beloved friend to paul. These small group studies of philemon contain outlines, crossreferences, bible study discussion questions, and applications. Pauls friendship with philemon is shown by something significantly missing in his greeting. See more of understanding philemon book study on facebook. Apr 11, 2019 forgiveness shines like a brilliant light throughout the bible, and one of its brightest spots is the tiny book of philemon.
We know from this letter, that philemon was probably a man who had some wealth. The book of philemon is a prison epistle letter written while in prison, which paul wrote circa 61 a. The book of philemon does not defend slavery fred clark. Following i will explain in my own understanding each attribute stated in the book of philemon. Watch our overview video on the book of philemon, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The background to the book of philemon is the story of a slave. Paul urged philemon to receive onesimus no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a brother beloved v. Activity read the parts of the letter and let them identify it in the letter 1.
Philemon was a slave owner who also hosted a church in his home. Some 5 understand caesarea to be the location of writing, but this is unlikely for the following reasons. Philemon 1 niv paul, a prisoner of christ jesus, and. Copeland hundreds of free sermon outlines and bible study materials available for online browsing and downloading. Minister, woodland heights christian church, crawfordsville, in no. Philemon is a perfect example of what ancient letters were typically like in the grecoroman world. I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in christ. When paul sits down to put pen to parchment to write to his friends in galatia, hes not exactly feeling the warm fuzzies for them. Summary of the book of philemon this summary of the book of philemon provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of philemon. He understood because it was impossible to read this letter without understanding that paul was also casting him in this reenactment of. The book of philemon demonstrates the gospel in action. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. David guzik commentary on pauls letter to philemon, which is a plea to his friend. Twice he speaks of being a prisoner of jesus christ.
Paul wrote this book to his friend philemon who lived in colosse, and this letter was probably sent to him along with the letter to the church there. In the bible book that bears philemons name, paul addressed his beloved brother as a. This letter to philemon is an appeal for him to receive onesimus now as a brother in christ, and for him to forgive. I have to admit i have read this book many times but this time, god has opened my eyes to a greater understanding of what this 25 verse, one chapter book holds. Galatians, philippians, and philemon summary galatians. He did what most runaway slaves apparently didhe moved into a great metropolis. It gives a dynamic meaning to faith in the market place. Oct 11, 2012 the book of philemon does not defend slavery. How to approach problem solving we must approach problem solving out of a concern for the persons with the problem. The epistle to philemon introduction to philemon author. The apostle paul, who is imprisoned in rome, the affluent philemon, a christian that paul saved some time earlier and hosts the church in his house, and philemons slave onesimus, who escaped slavery and. Paul mentions his own name three times in this his shortest epistle verses 1. What does paul mean by saying he is a prisoner of christ jesus.
Paul pleads for understanding from philemon, but there is no mention of atrocities or evils from the side of the. The possibility of this stems from the understanding that god looks at us as individuals without titles. The book of philemon is one of the most interesting, yet neglected books of the bible. The book is unique for the social impact it has exercised. It is a prison letter, coauthored by paul the apostle with timothy, to philemon, a leader in the colossian church. Also, paul asks philemon to accept onesimus as a fellow christian rather than as a slave. Philemon 1 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on. The apostles joy and praise for philemon s steady faith in the lord jesus, and love to all the saints.
Paul was a prisoner at the time verses 1 and 9, so this is one of the four prison epistles, along with ephesians, philippians, and colossians, which paul wrote during his first roman imprisonment. Paul, the apostle of jesus christ 1,9,19 place of writing. One of the tricky parts of the bible, or any ancient or religious literature, is trying to understand the historical context. There were millions of people in asia minor, and philemon was just one of the men who came to know the lord jesus. Paul helps his friend philemon to reconcile with his escaped former slave onesimus, and shows that they are equals because of jesus. Slavery was widespread in the roman empire according to some estimates, slaves constituted one third, perhaps more, of the population, and an accepted. Apparently philemon was welltodo, for his home was large enough to accommodate the church assemblies, and he was a slave owner. The book of philemon illustrates that principles like these can and should profoundly affect the lives of believers. Live long enough, and you will understand the difficulty of offering. The letter suggests that paul was in prison at the time of the writing. Apr 23, 2019 an introduction to the book of philemon. Believers should also treat one another in the same way. To indirectly request of philemon to send onesimus back to paul so that he can go on helping paul as he had already begun to do.
Paul does not identify himself as an apostle with authority. To ask philemon of colossae to not only pardon his slave onesimus, but to give him a warm welcome as a fellow believer. The book of philemon gives us insight as to how these words in colossians are to be applied to daily living. Paul does not identify himself as an apostle with authority, but as a prisoner of jesus christ, calling. What he meant is truethat this little book beautifully illustrates the. Though pauls letter to philemon is very brief, it is packed with rich nuggets of truth that truly reward the serious bible student.
Gordon fee in his book how to read the ible for all its worth lays out the form of ancient letters as follows with examples from philemon added. But now, he truly lives up to the meaning of his name, both to philemon and to paul. May 24, 2017 the book of philemon also know as the epistle of paul to philemon, referred to just as philemon, is one of the books of the bible new testament. Sermon outline 02 2612 by admin february 29, 2012 2. Some understand caesarea to be the location of writing, but this is unlikely for the. This book was written by paul while he was in prison around a. Can this short letter be viewed from different perspectives. Philemon was the master of onesimus, a runaway slave. References to the church are found throughout the book. Ephesians, colossians, philemon discusses the origin, authorship, purpose, and contents of these new testament letters.
Forgiveness shines like a brilliant light throughout the bible, and one of its brightest spots is the tiny book of philemon. Sadly, many misconstrue this to say that paul condones slavery but that is not even in the context of the book of philemon. The letter from paul to philemon was of a very personal nature. The bible knowledge commentary says onesimus, a slave of philemon, had run away, having evidently robbed his master phile. Its written to philemon whose slave onesimus ran away and became a believer under pauls teaching. It deals with the themes of forgiveness and reconciliation. The epistles to the colossians, to philemon, and to the ephesians the new international commentary on the new testament. This little letter, however, helps us understand that the first calling of the church is not to speak out against injustice, but to actually live out the justice and peace jesus taught. The book of philemon also addresses the master servant relationship. Philemon 1 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary, by the leading authority in the church of christ, presents a verse level look at the bible. Because believers in jesus are equal partners in the new humanity, paul asks philemon to forgive his runaway slave onesimus.
The historical and cultural context of the book of philemon. Paul tries to convince philemon to make the right decision. Ephesians, colossians, philemon understanding the bible. Once we have an informed understanding of slavery in the ancient world we will be able to make better sense out of what paul is writing to philemon regarding his slave and christian brother onesimus. Pauls basic claim in philemon is the same as it is in galatians 3. Philemon 125 this letter seems to be a personal letter, but of its divine inspiration there can be no doubt. The book of philemon does not defend slavery october 11, 2012 fred clark. Paul includes multiple believers in the addressing of this letter 1b2. This short letter is a masterpiece of tact and psychology. The letter to philemon is the shortest of all pauls writings and deals with the practice of slavery. To live in relationships of equality regardless of. It is directed to philemon, which means kisses or one that is affectionate, in behalf of onesimus, which means profitable or usefulness. Stay connected amidst social distancing receive weekly bible studies to. Paul employs psychological tact, while at the same time not sacrificing his apostles authority.
It manages the subjects of absolution and compromise. An introduction to the book of philemon related media. Philemon is one book that i have never heard anyone preach, teach, or even mention. Although the book of philemon is about sin, forgiveness, salvation, love, validation, inspiration, grace is amongst all. The letter to philemon the new international commentary on the new testament mcknight, scot on. In any given book of the bible, which is an anthology, you run into a lot of. Bynum 2009 tabernacle baptist church the doctrine of imputation applied memory verse.
80 78 46 1333 746 1377 1348 548 84 1397 423 872 597 1179 257 1002 83 476 1523 694 728 58 543 1491 696 909 351 151 598 1164 408 516 1174 950