Philemon 1:1-25
Lesson 414
Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."
"The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Philemon"
A slave becomes a Christian,
"A Plea for forgiveness."
Authorship:
Paul wrote Philemon in approximately AD 61 while under house arrest in Rome (1:1). Because of its tact, grace, and
forgiving nature, Philemon has often been called "the polite epistle." Paul is now an old man (1:9). Written in his own hand (1:19), Philemon is the shortest of Paul's letters and perhaps the most personal.
Paul, Hebrew name Saul (Acts 13:9), was born a Roman citizen (Acts 22:27-28) in the small but wealthy city of Tarsus, Cilicia (Acts 21:39; 22:3) in modern-day Turkey. Born to Jewish parents around the time of Jesus' birth, Paul/Saul was from the Hebrew tribe of Benjamin (Romans 11:1) and was named after King Saul (Israel's first monarch). He was profoundly religious and possessed a keen intellect. At the tender age of thirteen, Paul was chosen to study the Hebrew Canon in Jerusalem under the renowned Rabbi Gamaliel (Acts 22:3), a high honor. Paul was "a Hebrew of Hebrews" (Philippians 3:5), the son of a Pharisee (Acts 23:6), and a strict Pharisee himself (Acts 26:5). Paul was a fierce opponent of Christianity (Galatians 1:13). When we first met Paul, he was watching the executioner's coats as they stoned Stephen, the first Christian martyr, to death (Acts 7:58; 22:20). After Stephen's murder, Paul made it his mission to find and persecute Christians (1 Corinthians 15:9). His reputation for cruelty was well known (Acts 9:13). Going city to city, he hunted down believers, beat them, forced many to renounce their faith (26:9-11), and threw them into prison (Acts 8:3; 26:10), where many were "put to death" (Acts 22:4). After converting to Christianity (Acts 9:1-9; 22:6-11; 26:12-18), Paul joined the Christians he had been persecuting and spent the rest of his life teaching the word of God throughout the vast Roman empire. Paul's contributions to the fledgling Christian church cannot be overstated. Following Jesus' instructions to spread the word (Acts 22:21), it is estimated that he walked over 10,000 miles on three separate evangelical tours and wrote thirteen of the twenty-seven books in the New Testament. Before Paul, little had been done to bring the Gospel to Gentiles. He endured decades of hardships as he spread the Gospel, all the time supporting himself with donations and working as a tentmaker (Acts 18:3). Preaching earned Paul many enemies (1 Corinthians 16:9) who repeatedly tried to kill him (Acts 19:23-41; 20:3; 23:12). Paul was persecuted in almost every city he visited. He was driven out of Antioch (Acts 13:50), forced to flee Berea (Acts 17:13-14), and his enemies put him on trial in Achaia (Acts 18:12). Paul was whipped five times and beaten with rods three times. They tried to stone in in Iconium (Acts 14:5). They did stone him in Lystra and left him for dead (Acts 14:19). In Philippi, he was arrested, whipped, and placed in stocks (Acts 16:23-24). Paul was mobbed in Thessalonica (Acts 17:5). They would have killed him in Jerusalem if not for Roman soldiers (Acts 22). As a prisoner on his way to Rome, he was shipwrecked and washed up on an island (2 Corinthians 11:24-25). He was reviled (1 Corinthians 4:12), and in constant danger from thieves he passed on the lonely stretches of road and brethren he trusted (2 Corinthians 11:26). Paul was often sick (Galatians 4:13-14), hungry, thirsty, beaten, and homeless (1 Corinthians 4:11). He was insulted (Acts 17:17-18; 17:32), called "the filth of the world" (1 Corinthians 4:13), treated "shamefully" (1 Thessalonians 2:2), and more than once forced to flee for his life (Acts 9:28-30; 17:10; 2 Corinthians 11:33). The years on the road left Paul in despair (2 Corinthians 1:8), weary, used up, and often in pain (2 Corinthians 11:27). Finally, he was chained and imprisoned for two years while he waited for his accusers to testify against him (Acts 23:35). After being released and arrested again, Paul was found guilty of a capital offense and beheaded. Called "the Apostle to the Gentiles," "the Apostle of Grace," and "a servant of God" (Titus 1:1), it is difficult to name a person more responsible for spreading Christianity.
Purpose and Theme:
In Paul's day, slavery was a well-entrenched institution in the Roman empire. Up to thirty percent of Rome's population was estimated to be slaves.
Philemon was a wealthy Christian from Colosse who was converted by Paul (Philemon 1:19). He was a vital member of the church and held services in his home (Philemon 1:2). Philemon owned the slave Onesimus. Paul wrote the book of Philemon to him. It reads like an abolitionist's manifesto. Little else is known of Philemon, but some believe he was later killed for his faith.
Onesimus was a common slave name. Onesimus (meaning "Useful") was a slave from Colosse who robbed his master, Philemon, and fled. He escaped to Rome, where he met and was converted by Paul. Concerned for Onesimis' situation, Paul sent him back to Colosse with Tychicus (Colossians 4:7-9) to deliver "The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Philemon." In his letter, Paul asked Philemon to accept Onesimus back, but not as a slave, as a "brother" (Philemon 1:10-19). Since runaway slaves faced stiff punishment, torture, and sometimes death, Paul's plea on behalf of Onesimus is a touching example of love. Some scholars tell us that Onesimus later became a bishop in Berea.
Just as Paul stepped in to save a slave from punishment, Jesus stepped in to save us. Just as Paul sought to pay Onesimus' debt to Philemon (1:18-19), Christ paid our debt to God.
Paul wrote Philemon in approximately AD 61 while under house arrest in Rome (1:1). Because of its tact, grace, and
forgiving nature, Philemon has often been called "the polite epistle." Paul is now an old man (1:9). Written in his own hand (1:19), Philemon is the shortest of Paul's letters and perhaps the most personal.
Paul, Hebrew name Saul (Acts 13:9), was born a Roman citizen (Acts 22:27-28) in the small but wealthy city of Tarsus, Cilicia (Acts 21:39; 22:3) in modern-day Turkey. Born to Jewish parents around the time of Jesus' birth, Paul/Saul was from the Hebrew tribe of Benjamin (Romans 11:1) and was named after King Saul (Israel's first monarch). He was profoundly religious and possessed a keen intellect. At the tender age of thirteen, Paul was chosen to study the Hebrew Canon in Jerusalem under the renowned Rabbi Gamaliel (Acts 22:3), a high honor. Paul was "a Hebrew of Hebrews" (Philippians 3:5), the son of a Pharisee (Acts 23:6), and a strict Pharisee himself (Acts 26:5). Paul was a fierce opponent of Christianity (Galatians 1:13). When we first met Paul, he was watching the executioner's coats as they stoned Stephen, the first Christian martyr, to death (Acts 7:58; 22:20). After Stephen's murder, Paul made it his mission to find and persecute Christians (1 Corinthians 15:9). His reputation for cruelty was well known (Acts 9:13). Going city to city, he hunted down believers, beat them, forced many to renounce their faith (26:9-11), and threw them into prison (Acts 8:3; 26:10), where many were "put to death" (Acts 22:4). After converting to Christianity (Acts 9:1-9; 22:6-11; 26:12-18), Paul joined the Christians he had been persecuting and spent the rest of his life teaching the word of God throughout the vast Roman empire. Paul's contributions to the fledgling Christian church cannot be overstated. Following Jesus' instructions to spread the word (Acts 22:21), it is estimated that he walked over 10,000 miles on three separate evangelical tours and wrote thirteen of the twenty-seven books in the New Testament. Before Paul, little had been done to bring the Gospel to Gentiles. He endured decades of hardships as he spread the Gospel, all the time supporting himself with donations and working as a tentmaker (Acts 18:3). Preaching earned Paul many enemies (1 Corinthians 16:9) who repeatedly tried to kill him (Acts 19:23-41; 20:3; 23:12). Paul was persecuted in almost every city he visited. He was driven out of Antioch (Acts 13:50), forced to flee Berea (Acts 17:13-14), and his enemies put him on trial in Achaia (Acts 18:12). Paul was whipped five times and beaten with rods three times. They tried to stone in in Iconium (Acts 14:5). They did stone him in Lystra and left him for dead (Acts 14:19). In Philippi, he was arrested, whipped, and placed in stocks (Acts 16:23-24). Paul was mobbed in Thessalonica (Acts 17:5). They would have killed him in Jerusalem if not for Roman soldiers (Acts 22). As a prisoner on his way to Rome, he was shipwrecked and washed up on an island (2 Corinthians 11:24-25). He was reviled (1 Corinthians 4:12), and in constant danger from thieves he passed on the lonely stretches of road and brethren he trusted (2 Corinthians 11:26). Paul was often sick (Galatians 4:13-14), hungry, thirsty, beaten, and homeless (1 Corinthians 4:11). He was insulted (Acts 17:17-18; 17:32), called "the filth of the world" (1 Corinthians 4:13), treated "shamefully" (1 Thessalonians 2:2), and more than once forced to flee for his life (Acts 9:28-30; 17:10; 2 Corinthians 11:33). The years on the road left Paul in despair (2 Corinthians 1:8), weary, used up, and often in pain (2 Corinthians 11:27). Finally, he was chained and imprisoned for two years while he waited for his accusers to testify against him (Acts 23:35). After being released and arrested again, Paul was found guilty of a capital offense and beheaded. Called "the Apostle to the Gentiles," "the Apostle of Grace," and "a servant of God" (Titus 1:1), it is difficult to name a person more responsible for spreading Christianity.
Purpose and Theme:
In Paul's day, slavery was a well-entrenched institution in the Roman empire. Up to thirty percent of Rome's population was estimated to be slaves.
Philemon was a wealthy Christian from Colosse who was converted by Paul (Philemon 1:19). He was a vital member of the church and held services in his home (Philemon 1:2). Philemon owned the slave Onesimus. Paul wrote the book of Philemon to him. It reads like an abolitionist's manifesto. Little else is known of Philemon, but some believe he was later killed for his faith.
Onesimus was a common slave name. Onesimus (meaning "Useful") was a slave from Colosse who robbed his master, Philemon, and fled. He escaped to Rome, where he met and was converted by Paul. Concerned for Onesimis' situation, Paul sent him back to Colosse with Tychicus (Colossians 4:7-9) to deliver "The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Philemon." In his letter, Paul asked Philemon to accept Onesimus back, but not as a slave, as a "brother" (Philemon 1:10-19). Since runaway slaves faced stiff punishment, torture, and sometimes death, Paul's plea on behalf of Onesimus is a touching example of love. Some scholars tell us that Onesimus later became a bishop in Berea.
Just as Paul stepped in to save a slave from punishment, Jesus stepped in to save us. Just as Paul sought to pay Onesimus' debt to Philemon (1:18-19), Christ paid our debt to God.
Philemon will consist of just one lesson and is broken down into two main segments:
1) Verses 1:1-16 - Opening greetings (1:1-3); Praising Philemon (1:4-7); Paul's plea for Onesimus (1:8-17).
2) Verses 1:18-25 - Charge it to Paul (1:18-21); Final benediction (1:22-25).
1) Verses 1:1-16 - Opening greetings (1:1-3); Praising Philemon (1:4-7); Paul's plea for Onesimus (1:8-17).
2) Verses 1:18-25 - Charge it to Paul (1:18-21); Final benediction (1:22-25).
Who was -
Timothy -
Timothy (one who honors God) was also called Timotheus. He was a disciple of Christ, a minister, an evangelist, Paul's protégé, and a prominent leader in the early church from the city of Lystra (in modern-day Turkey). Timothy was the son of a Jewish mother (Eunice) and a Gentile father (Acts 16:1-3). He studied The Old Testament as a child (2 Timothy 3:15) and became a believer with his mother and grandmother Lois (2 Timothy 1:5) during Paul's first visit to Lystra. Shy by nature and plagued by illness (1 Timothy 5:23), Timothy was well thought of by believers (Acts 16:2). He was like a son to Paul (Philippians 2:22; 1 Timothy 1:2; 1:18; 2 Timothy 1:2; 2:1) and accompanied him on the second (Acts 16:3-4) and third missionary journeys (1 Corinthians 16:10). Timothy helped Paul spread the Gospel (Romans 16:21; 1 Corinthians 16:10), write 2 Corinthians (2 Corinthians 1:1), Philippians (Philippians 1:1), Colossians (Colossians 1:1), and Philemon (Philemon 1:1), and helped him start the church in Philippi (Acts 16:11-12). Acts 19:22, 1 Thessalonians 3:1-10, and 1 Corinthians 4:17 report that Paul sent Timothy to Macedonia, Thessalonica, and Corinth to stabilize their struggling churches. Later, the aging Paul addressed the epistles 1 Timothy (1 Timothy 1:2) and 2 Timothy (2 Timothy 1:2) to him, and the loyal Timothy traveled to Rome to visit the imprisoned Paul (Philemon 1:1). Timothy himself was imprisoned and then released (Hebrews 13:23). He was devoted to Jesus, committed to the welfare of others (Philippians 2:20), and spent his life spreading the word of God.
Apphia -
A popular female name in biblical times. Many Bible scholars believe she was Philemon's wife. Christian tradition tells us that she was martyred for her faith. She is only mentioned in this passage.
Archippus -
The name Archippus means "master of the horse." Archippus was a Christian minister (Colossians 4:17) from Colosse and Paul's "fellowsoldier" in the battle against sin (Philemon 1:2). He was a member of Philemon's family, possibly his son. He is believed to be one of the seventy disciples appointed by Jesus to spread the word in "every city and place" (Luke 10:1-17). Legend tells us that Archippus was murdered for his faith at Chomae, near Laodicea.
Epaphras -
A Christian minister and follower of Pauls from Colosse who helped found the churches in Colosse, Laodicea, and Hierapolis. The Bible only mentions him in Colossians 1:7, Colossians 4:12, and briefly as a prisoner with Paul in Philemon 1:23.
Marcus -
Marcus was also known as John Mark or just Mark. Mark was a converted Jew and Barnabas' cousin (Colossians 4:10). His mother, Mary, turned her home into a Christian meeting place (Acts 12:12). Although Mark was not one of the original twelve disciples, he almost certainly knew Jesus personally. Some scholars believe he was the naked man fleeing Gethsemane as Jesus was arrested (Mark 14:51-52). Mark joined Paul on his first missionary journey (Acts 12:25; 13:5) but fell out of favor when he left the mission to return home to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13). Paul's disappointment in Mark created a rift with Barnabas (Acts 15:36-40). Mark eventually regained Paul's confidence (2 Timothy 4:11) and stood with Paul during his first imprisonment in Rome (Philemon 1:23-24). Mark visited numerous countries witnessing and wrote "The Gospel According to Mark," probably while in Rome when the persecution of Christians was on the rise. He was in Ephesus with Timothy in AD 66 when Paul asked them to join him (2 Timothy 4:11). He also traveled with and was like a son to the apostle Peter (1 Peter 5:13). Many Bible scholars believe Mark was Peter's interpreter and was with him when "The First Epistle General of Peter" was written. It is thought that Mark was a Roman citizen and that he founded the church in Alexandra, where he died during the eighth year of the Roman Emperor Nero's reign.
Aristarchus -
Aristarchus was a Macedonian (Acts 19:29) from Thessalonica (Acts 20:4; 27:2) who befriended Paul and helped him spread the word of God (Philemon 1:24). A Jewish convert, Aristarchus traveled with Paul on the third missionary journey and was cornered by a mob and almost killed during the silversmith riot in Ephesus (Acts 19:29). He survived and traveled with Paul to Greece and Asia (20:4). He later sailed to Rome with Paul (Acts 27:1-2) and was shipwrecked on the island of Melita for three months (Acts 27:1-28:16). Finally, another ship picked them up and they made their way under guard to Rome where they were imprisoned (Colossians 4:10). It is uncertain how Aristarchus died. But some historians believe he was killed for his faith during the reign of Nero.
Demas -
Short for Demetrius, Demas was a believer, Paul's traveling companion, and fellow worker (Colossians 4:14; Philemon 1:24). Demas stayed with Paul during his first imprisonment in Rome, but possibly out of fear of being arrested, he abandoned Paul during his second incarceration (2 Timothy 4:10).
Lucas -
Luke was Paul's protégé. Some believe that Luke was from Antioch, while others say, Philippi. He was an educated and "beloved physician" (Colossians 4:14) and the leader of the Philippian Church. Luke is the only Gentile writer of the New Testament. He wrote "The Gospel According to Luke" and "The Acts of the Apostles" and joined Paul on at least one of his missionary journeys. Luke never met Jesus, but much of his writings come from eyewitnesses who knew Him well (Luke 1:1-2). Since Luke's Gospel includes several stories from the Virgin Mary's life, he probably knew her well. Luke also accompanied Paul when he was taken in chains to stand trial in Rome. On their way, they were shipwrecked on the island of Melita for three months before being picked up by another ship (Acts 27:1-28:16). In Rome, Paul was held under house arrest in chains for two years (Acts 28:30-31). Little more is known about Luke; he is only mentioned three times in the Bible (Colossians 4:14; 2 Timothy 4:11; Philemon 1:24), yet between his two books, he wrote a quarter of the New Testament, making him a major contributor to Christianity and worthy of study.
Timothy -
Timothy (one who honors God) was also called Timotheus. He was a disciple of Christ, a minister, an evangelist, Paul's protégé, and a prominent leader in the early church from the city of Lystra (in modern-day Turkey). Timothy was the son of a Jewish mother (Eunice) and a Gentile father (Acts 16:1-3). He studied The Old Testament as a child (2 Timothy 3:15) and became a believer with his mother and grandmother Lois (2 Timothy 1:5) during Paul's first visit to Lystra. Shy by nature and plagued by illness (1 Timothy 5:23), Timothy was well thought of by believers (Acts 16:2). He was like a son to Paul (Philippians 2:22; 1 Timothy 1:2; 1:18; 2 Timothy 1:2; 2:1) and accompanied him on the second (Acts 16:3-4) and third missionary journeys (1 Corinthians 16:10). Timothy helped Paul spread the Gospel (Romans 16:21; 1 Corinthians 16:10), write 2 Corinthians (2 Corinthians 1:1), Philippians (Philippians 1:1), Colossians (Colossians 1:1), and Philemon (Philemon 1:1), and helped him start the church in Philippi (Acts 16:11-12). Acts 19:22, 1 Thessalonians 3:1-10, and 1 Corinthians 4:17 report that Paul sent Timothy to Macedonia, Thessalonica, and Corinth to stabilize their struggling churches. Later, the aging Paul addressed the epistles 1 Timothy (1 Timothy 1:2) and 2 Timothy (2 Timothy 1:2) to him, and the loyal Timothy traveled to Rome to visit the imprisoned Paul (Philemon 1:1). Timothy himself was imprisoned and then released (Hebrews 13:23). He was devoted to Jesus, committed to the welfare of others (Philippians 2:20), and spent his life spreading the word of God.
Apphia -
A popular female name in biblical times. Many Bible scholars believe she was Philemon's wife. Christian tradition tells us that she was martyred for her faith. She is only mentioned in this passage.
Archippus -
The name Archippus means "master of the horse." Archippus was a Christian minister (Colossians 4:17) from Colosse and Paul's "fellowsoldier" in the battle against sin (Philemon 1:2). He was a member of Philemon's family, possibly his son. He is believed to be one of the seventy disciples appointed by Jesus to spread the word in "every city and place" (Luke 10:1-17). Legend tells us that Archippus was murdered for his faith at Chomae, near Laodicea.
Epaphras -
A Christian minister and follower of Pauls from Colosse who helped found the churches in Colosse, Laodicea, and Hierapolis. The Bible only mentions him in Colossians 1:7, Colossians 4:12, and briefly as a prisoner with Paul in Philemon 1:23.
Marcus -
Marcus was also known as John Mark or just Mark. Mark was a converted Jew and Barnabas' cousin (Colossians 4:10). His mother, Mary, turned her home into a Christian meeting place (Acts 12:12). Although Mark was not one of the original twelve disciples, he almost certainly knew Jesus personally. Some scholars believe he was the naked man fleeing Gethsemane as Jesus was arrested (Mark 14:51-52). Mark joined Paul on his first missionary journey (Acts 12:25; 13:5) but fell out of favor when he left the mission to return home to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13). Paul's disappointment in Mark created a rift with Barnabas (Acts 15:36-40). Mark eventually regained Paul's confidence (2 Timothy 4:11) and stood with Paul during his first imprisonment in Rome (Philemon 1:23-24). Mark visited numerous countries witnessing and wrote "The Gospel According to Mark," probably while in Rome when the persecution of Christians was on the rise. He was in Ephesus with Timothy in AD 66 when Paul asked them to join him (2 Timothy 4:11). He also traveled with and was like a son to the apostle Peter (1 Peter 5:13). Many Bible scholars believe Mark was Peter's interpreter and was with him when "The First Epistle General of Peter" was written. It is thought that Mark was a Roman citizen and that he founded the church in Alexandra, where he died during the eighth year of the Roman Emperor Nero's reign.
Aristarchus -
Aristarchus was a Macedonian (Acts 19:29) from Thessalonica (Acts 20:4; 27:2) who befriended Paul and helped him spread the word of God (Philemon 1:24). A Jewish convert, Aristarchus traveled with Paul on the third missionary journey and was cornered by a mob and almost killed during the silversmith riot in Ephesus (Acts 19:29). He survived and traveled with Paul to Greece and Asia (20:4). He later sailed to Rome with Paul (Acts 27:1-2) and was shipwrecked on the island of Melita for three months (Acts 27:1-28:16). Finally, another ship picked them up and they made their way under guard to Rome where they were imprisoned (Colossians 4:10). It is uncertain how Aristarchus died. But some historians believe he was killed for his faith during the reign of Nero.
Demas -
Short for Demetrius, Demas was a believer, Paul's traveling companion, and fellow worker (Colossians 4:14; Philemon 1:24). Demas stayed with Paul during his first imprisonment in Rome, but possibly out of fear of being arrested, he abandoned Paul during his second incarceration (2 Timothy 4:10).
Lucas -
Luke was Paul's protégé. Some believe that Luke was from Antioch, while others say, Philippi. He was an educated and "beloved physician" (Colossians 4:14) and the leader of the Philippian Church. Luke is the only Gentile writer of the New Testament. He wrote "The Gospel According to Luke" and "The Acts of the Apostles" and joined Paul on at least one of his missionary journeys. Luke never met Jesus, but much of his writings come from eyewitnesses who knew Him well (Luke 1:1-2). Since Luke's Gospel includes several stories from the Virgin Mary's life, he probably knew her well. Luke also accompanied Paul when he was taken in chains to stand trial in Rome. On their way, they were shipwrecked on the island of Melita for three months before being picked up by another ship (Acts 27:1-28:16). In Rome, Paul was held under house arrest in chains for two years (Acts 28:30-31). Little more is known about Luke; he is only mentioned three times in the Bible (Colossians 4:14; 2 Timothy 4:11; Philemon 1:24), yet between his two books, he wrote a quarter of the New Testament, making him a major contributor to Christianity and worthy of study.
Study Tip:
Find the truth in each passage.
Think how that truth is relevant to you.
Decide how to apply that truth to your life.
Find the truth in each passage.
Think how that truth is relevant to you.
Decide how to apply that truth to your life.
