So if philemon considered himself a partner of paul, paul asks that he receive onesimus as he would paul himself 4. The similarity of this familylike love relationship is displayed by. Philemon, a study in grace overview this is another of the prison epistles, the others being colossians, ephesians, and philippians. Its canonicity was widely recognized in the early church, particularly by ignatius, tertullian, origen, eusebius, marcion, and in the muratorian canon. Wright put it, is a small masterpiece, but it hasnt always. Bartsch, 2 b3 pauls desire to put onesimus to work in the ministry 1214 c1 his having sent onesimus back to philemon despite his emotional attachment to the slave 12 c2 his prior resolve to keep onesimus c3 his reluctance to act without philemon s consent 14.
Stay connected amidst social distancing receive weekly bible studies to share with family and friends. Paul is writing to philemon requesting him to receive onesimus, a runaway slave, back as a christian brother. Philemon is a perfect example of what ancient letters were typically like in the grecoroman world. Paul employs psychological tact, while at the same time not sacrificing his apostles authority. 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. Lessons from the book of philemon the book of philemon is one of two books in the new testament with only one chapter. The student will read a commentary of his or her choosing on the book of philemon. Paul realized there might have been some financial loss which resulted from onesimus flight. He took the disciples with him and had discussion daily in the lecture hall of tyrannus. Study guide for philemon by david guzik blue letter bible.
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. Book of philemon overview insight for living ministries. Slavery in the bible and the book of philemon fellowship bible. Could the common view of onesimus as a runaway, thieving slave be wrong. Philemon bible commentaries free online downloadable. Commentary on the book of philemon christian ambassadors, inc 1. After his dramatic conversion on the road to damascus, pauls singular purpose was to prove that jesus is the christ acts 9. Remember, paul considered philemon to be a fellow worker, or partner, in the spreading of the gospel verse 1. The letter to philemon is the shortest of all pauls writings and deals with the practice of slavery. Pauls plan that philemon would accept onesimus, in the same way he would. The thirteenth, and last, of pauls epistles, and the eighteenth book in the new testament, is philemon. That book is pauls epistle to philemon, the shortest of all of pauls letters 3. Paul was imprisoned in rome when he wrote this personal.
Interesting facts about philemon barnes bible charts author. Philemon 2025 20 yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the lord. Philemon bible study lesson 1 historical backgrounds of philemon. A runaway slave had made his way to rome, and by chance, or gods. Studying the book of philemon in small group discussions lesson 1 thanksgiving and prayer philemon 1. On the basis of such a partnership, philemon should have been ready to receive one of pauls converts as he would receive paul himself 17.
Jerome in his commentary on the epistle, mentions the. The letter is addressed to philemon, an old friend of pauls who he had converted during his time at colosse. Apparently philemon was welltodo, for his home was large enough to accommodate the church assemblies, and he was a slave owner. Pauls convert and fellowworker who lived in colossae and ministered to the saints. In the book, the author refers to himself three times as paul vv. Philemon 125 friendship, forgiveness, reputation discussion questions 1. Questions should be studied by each individual before your discussion group meets. 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. The books similarity to the book of colossians 1, 2, 2324. It was written to philemon as a plea to request forgiveness for his runaway servant onesimus, who was a new believer in jesus christ. As is true of so many of the shorter bible books, this one too is an illustration cf. How does this letter, compared to pauls other letters, start out differently.
Are we not grateful that even in the masses of people of the entire earth, god has found us. Philemon provides valuable historical insights into the early churchs relationship to the institution of slavery. There is little doubt that paul wrote this epistle, since he refers to himself at least three times in verses 1, 9 and 19. Exegesis of philemon presented at the chicago conference at st. The letter suggests that paul was in prison at the time of the writing. Bynum 2009 tabernacle baptist church the doctrine of imputation applied memory verse.
Of course, philemon already owed paul his own life 5. Fee in his book how to read the bible for all its worth lays out the form of. The book of philemon is a prison epistle letter written while in prison, which paul wrote circa 61 a. According to ambrosiaster, the reason for pauls joy is that he was certain that philemon would obey his requests as outlined in the letter, because he paul was superior to the people whose hearts philemon had refreshed in philm. This went on for two years, so that all the jews and greeks who lived in the province of asia heard the word of the lord.
Are any of these aspects of ancient slavery surprising to you. The holy spirit has included it in the scriptures for a very definite reason. Can this short letter be viewed from different perspectives. Pauls exercise of authority in the letter to philemon. His name is only found in the first verse of this epistle. The book of philemon was written in approximately a. Of the letters paul wrote to churches or individuals, in 9 of them he called himself an apostle in the opening. Slavery was widespread in the roman empire according to some estimates, slaves constituted one third, perhaps more, of the population and an accepted part of life. What does paul mean by saying he is a prisoner of christ jesus. In pauls day, slavery had virtually eclipsed free labor. There is a book in the new testament which has been described as.
Please give some information on the biblical book and its relevance the book of philemon, as n. To philemon our beloved brother and fellow worker, 2 and to apphia our sister, and to archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house. Onesimus to philemon, not as a slave, but as a brother, in freedom. The author of the book of philemon was the apostle paul philemon 1. This letter was written as the result of pauls deep interest in onesimus, a slave who had fled colossae to rome, to escape from philemon his master who was a rich and influential man, of that city. That does not detract from the inspiration and value of this epistle. Philemon, a wealthy christian at colossae, and all future readers of the bible. Pauls friendship with philemon is shown by something significantly missing in his greeting. Lessons learned from philemon simple bible studies.
Summary of the book of philemon story of the bible. The epistle to philemon a model of christian courtesy 1. The letter is addressed to philemon, who, evidently, had been onesimus master. Paul wants philemon to know, how refreshing it will be to him if onesimus is accorded a warm forgiving. The book of philemon demonstrates the gospel in action. It is of the lords sovereignty that in the arrangement of the new testament this epistle was positioned after the three preceding books. The title of this letter is the name of the addressee, taken from verse 1. Onesimus, a slave belonging to philemon, had fled from his master, possibly stealing money in. Philemon is a prison epistle written by paul while in prison at rome during the early 60s a. Clearly, a kinship existed between paul and philemon, one that would serve a. 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. This summary of the book of philemon provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of philemon. Because believers in jesus are equal partners in the new humanity, paul asks philemon to forgive his runaway slave onesimus. It more likely refers to philemon than to the last one named, archippus.
That sheds a lot of light on the letter to philemon. Gospel writers mark and luke also received this title later in the letter 1. Stay connected amidst social distancing receive weekly bible studies to. Philemon 125 this letter seems to be a personal letter, but of its divine inspiration there can be no doubt. Activity read the parts of the letter and let them identify it in the letter 1. It was way up in the phrygian country in the anatolian section of what is turkey today. Bible study lesson sheets these are lessons designed for either a class or personal study. By receiving onesimus in this way, philemon could give paul joy and a. An alternate view is that the actual master of the slave is archippus and that the one to whom the letter is addressed, philemon, is the most prominent christian there.
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