That he was apparently a resident of colossae is supported by the fact that his slave, onesimus, was a colossian colossians 4. For a broader view look at the comments in the right column. The book of philemon is considered by most scholars to be a companion letter to his epistle to the colossians. The apostles joy and praise for philemon s steady faith in the lord jesus, and love to all the saints. What does paul mean by saying he is a prisoner of christ jesus. May you discover gods character as you read his letter to you. Onesimus, a slave belonging to philemon, had fled from his master, possibly stealing money in. It is a prison letter, coauthored by paul the apostle with timothy, to philemon, a leader in the colossian church. An introduction to the book of philemon an argument of the book of philemon a selected bibliography of colossians and philemon daniel b. This outline of philemon is intended to assist you as you study the bible. To philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer.
Onesimus took a chance one day, as any slave would have done, and made a run for it. Read philemon 1 commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. Philemon is a perfect example of what ancient letters were typically like in the grecoroman world. Its purpose is to teach forgiveness and acceptance. The letter suggests that paul was in prison at the time of the writing. This section also suggests that philemon had provided financial assistance to paul in the past philemon 1. Its written to philemon whose slave onesimus ran away and became a believer under pauls teaching. The title of this letter is the name of the addressee, taken from verse 1. Watch our overview video on the book of philemon, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Though pauls letter to philemon is very brief, it is packed with rich nuggets of truth that truly reward the serious bible student.
For personal study, i suggest you start at the beginning of a chapter or book. Paul does not identify himself as an apostle with authority. Activity read the parts of the letter and let them identify it in the letter 1. Philemon summary we have detailed a brief summary of the book of philemon for bible study or sunday school lessons. There is no longer jew or greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female. Because believers in jesus are equal partners in the new humanity, paul asks philemon to forgive his runaway slave onesimus. In this letter, paul helps his friend philemon to reconcile with his. Could the common view of onesimus as a runaway, thieving slave be wrong. One of pauls shortest and the most explosive letters, the book of philemon demonstrates the gospel through action.
Paul had explained the gospel to philemon and had witnessed the profound. Recommended sites bible info questions with answers in major world languages. 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. While some would want to mine this little book for attacks. He then writes to philemon explaining why he is sending onesimus back. Pauls basic claim in philemon is the same as it is in galatians 3. To ask philemon of colossae to pardon his slave onesimus. The 1 chapter book of philemon is about a runaway slave onesimus being sent back to his master by the suggestion of paul the apostle. Apparently philemon was welltodo, for his home was large enough to accommodate the church assemblies, and he was a slave owner.
Philemon with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. This book was written by paul while he was in prison around a. We can only imagine all the godly communication through the ages of which we know nothing at all. The epistle of paul to philemon, known simply as philemon, is one of the books of the christian new testament. The book of philemon is a letter written by the apostle paul while in prison, to philemon in regards to his slave, onesimus. 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. Philemon 1 commentary james burton coffman commentaries. The key personalities of philemon are paul, philemon, and onesimus. Philemon owed to the apostle that debt of which the obligation outweighed every other the help by which he had been led out of spiritual darkness and brought to the knowledge of the truth.
The book is a very personal letter sent from the apostle paul see philemon 1,9,19 to his friend and son in the faith philemon. Paul confesses his regular prayers for philemon, and compliments him on his love, faith, and willingness to share his faith. Philemon was the master of onesimus, a runaway slave. The book of philemon demonstrates the gospel in action. The epistle of paul to philemon, known simply as philemon, is one of the books of the christian. Now philemon owned slaves, and he had a slave named onesimus. The epistle was intended for philemon, who may have been an elder in the church at colossae. Pauls epistle to philemon is one of the few books in the nt whose authenticity has hardly ever been doubted. Use this topic or order a custom research paper, written exactly how you need it to be. Also, paul asks philemon to accept onesimus as a fellow christian rather than as a slave. Philemons slave onesimus run away and came to paul and sought refuge. Paul is sending onesimus back to philemon not to be his slave, but to assist him in his work to spread faith in the protagonist. Study in philemon by edgar pierce exposing the word.
Study the bible online using commentary on philemon 1 and more. A summary, synopsis or recap is a shortened version of the original. After his dramatic conversion on the road to damascus, pauls singular purpose was to prove that jesus is the christ acts 9. It was written to philemon as a plea to request forgiveness for his runaway servant onesimus, who was a new believer in jesus christ. Paul, a prisoner of christ jesus, and timothy our brother, to philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer.
Letter from paul to philemon, paul, a prisoner of jesus christ, and timothy our brother, unto philemon our dearly beloved, and fellow laborer. In the bible book that bears philemon s name, paul addressed his beloved brother as a fellow worker, a title given to those who served for a time alongside paul. Read your own bible, the bible as quoted on this site, and my comments. He did what most runaway slaves apparently didhe moved into a great metropolis. Philemon 1 commentary matthew henry commentary on the. He was apparently from colossae because it was the home town of onesimus. Peter o brien, philemon, word biblical commentary, pp. Paul was as we must conclude from this allusion the spiritual father of philemon a phrase he himself uses in 1 corinthians 4. It deals with the themes of forgiveness and reconciliation. The letter to philemon is the shortest of all pauls writings and deals with the practice of slavery. 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. The book of philemon is one of the most interesting, yet neglected books of the bible. Philemon was a slave owner who also hosted a church in his home.
Paul mentions his own name three times in this his shortest. 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. 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. Summary of the book of philemon story of the bible. Tom constables expository notes on philemon this is also available in the net. It is directed to philemon, which means kisses or one that is affectionate, in behalf of onesimus, which means profitable or usefulness.
Philemon bible study lesson 1 historical backgrounds of. Since colossians was written from rome during pauls first imprisonment 62 ad. Paul helps his friend philemon to reconcile with his escaped former slave onesimus, and shows that they are equals because of jesus. The book of philemon is a prison epistle letter written while in prison, which paul wrote circa 61 a. Paul and philemon may have had what is known as a patronclient relationship. Book of philemon overview insight for living ministries.
By using this website, i acknowledge that i am 16 years of age or older, and i. You can find the best commentary on philemon for you using the tools on the right side. Philemon the book of philemon, in the bible, is a letter written by the apostle paul to philemon, a slave owner. The apostles joy and praise for philemons steady faith in the lord jesus, and love to all the saints. The book of philemon is a letter written by the apostle paul while in. The book of philemon was written in approximately a. Timothy is the brother of both paul and of the recipient of this letter but not in the physical literal sense. In this short personal letter, the apostle paul asks his friend philemon to extend forgiveness to a runaway slave named onesimus.
The book was written around 62 ad during paul first imprisonment in rome. This is because of the information in the book concerning onesimus who had comforted paul while he was in prison philemon 1. Most of the people mentioned in this letter for example, apphia, archipus, and others, including philemon and onesimus, are also mentioned in colossians, a fact which implies a close relationship between the two letters. Onesimus is a brother in gods family and philemon loves him very much. The book of philemon as well as the book of colossians were written by paul and delivered at the same time. Philemon 125 friendship, forgiveness, reputation discussion questions 1. Forgiveness shines like a brilliant light throughout the bible, and one of its brightest spots is the tiny book of philemon. Paul tries to convince philemon to make the right decision. Philemon 1721 new international version niv 17 so if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. Onesimus is mentioned in the book of colossians as one of you. To ask philemon of colossae to not only pardon his slave onesimus, but to give him a warm welcome as a fellow believer. In the bible book that bears philemons name, paul addressed his beloved. One of the visitors converted under pauls teaching was a man named philemon, a slaveowner from the nearby city of colossae philemon 1. There were millions of people in asia minor, and philemon was just one of the men who came to know the lord jesus.
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