Also, paul asks philemon to accept onesimus as a fellow christian rather than as a slave. The book of philemon is as several authors have said, like looking over the shoulder of philemon as he reads his personal mail. Philemon 125 friendship, forgiveness, reputation discussion questions 1. In this short personal letter, the apostle paul asks his friend philemon to extend forgiveness to a runaway slave named onesimus. Being encouraged by the reports of spiritual effectiveness in philemons life, paul requests of him to graciously receive his runaway slave, onesimus, as a fellow believer and partner in the gospel ministry in accordance with the love that he has shown to other believers. The letter to philemon is the shortest of all pauls writings and deals with the practice of slavery. Paul is strongly affirmed to be the author of philemon. Bynum 2009 tabernacle baptist church the doctrine of imputation applied memory verse. What we are, who we are, how god sees us, how we see god, how we see others. Galatians, philippians, and philemon summary shmoop. Philemon 1 bible commentary john gills exposition of the bible. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Read philemon commentary using john gills exposition of the bible.
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. Onesimus is a brother in gods family and philemon loves him very much. As the shortest of pauls letters 335 words, it is situated at the end of the pauline corpus, which has been traditionally arranged not by date but from the longest to the shortest romans through philemon. Study the bible online using commentary on philemon and more. Before you attempt to answer the questions below you should read these chapters in the bible and answer the questions at the end of each chapter found at the website answer the questions below and then click ok to send your answers. There are three main characters paul, philemon, and onesimus that paul himself used to focus on the important doctrine of the believer in christ. Paul does not identify himself as an apostle with authority, but as a prisoner of jesus christ, calling. Exposition of the old and new testament, by john gill, full text etext at. The book of philemons moral vision is that social hierarchies, such as the.
There is a book in the new testament which has been described as. What are the most commonly asked questions about the book of philemon. Book of philemon overview insight for living ministries. What does paul mean by saying he is a prisoner of christ jesus. This outline of philemon is intended to assist you as you study the bible. It is a prison letter, coauthored by paul the apostle with timothy, to philemon, a leader in the colossian church. Whatever onesimus took from philemon, paul says he will repay verses 1819.
That book is pauls epistle to philemon, the shortest of all of pauls letters 3. Ephesians philippians colossians philemon is pauls only one chapter book. Use this topic or order a custom research paper, written exactly how you need it to be. The epistle to philemon chapter one objectives in studying philemon 1 to be impressed with the loving hospitality which characterized the christians in the early church 2 to learn lessons in the use of tact in dealing with others summary in this very short and personal epistle, paul addresses it to philemon, apphia, archippus and to the. Philemon is a perfect example of what ancient letters were typically like in the grecoroman world. Stay connected amidst social distancing receive weekly scripture encouragement to share with family and friends. 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 the book of philemon, in the bible, is a letter written by the apostle paul to philemon, a slave owner. To indirectly request of philemon to send onesimus back to paul so that. This is unfortunate, since his works contain priceless gems of information that are found nowhere. 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. Before we enter on the exposition, such general things as follow may be. Philemon 2025 20 yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the lord. Title philemon, the recipient of this letter, was a prominent member of the church at colosse vv. The foundation is a nonprofit organization that pays scholars, translators and editors to prepare these works for publication. Pauls letter to philemon daily bible reading series 14 kindle edition by deborah h.
This message is an overview of the book of philemon and part of a 2year study of the bible. 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. The philemon series is the name for the largely unpublished works by c. Philemon was a slave owner who also hosted a church in his home. 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. The epistle of philemon was written by the apostle paul while imprisoned in rome. The book of philemon gives us insight into the social fabric of the new testament church especially the relationship between masters and slaves within the.
It was written to philemon as a plea to request forgiveness for his runaway servant onesimus, who was a new believer in jesus christ. In verses 17, paul gives his greetings to philemon and presents his appreciation and gratitude for him as a brother and worker in jesus christ. To philemon our dearly loved coworker, 2 apphia our sister, archippus our fellow soldier, and the church that meets in your house. Forgiveness shines like a brilliant light throughout the bible, and one of its brightest spots is the tiny book of philemon. The apostles joy and praise for philemons steady faith in the lord jesus, and love to all the saints. That he was apparently a resident of colossae is supported by the fact that his slave, onesimus, was a colossian colossians 4.
To ask philemon of colossae to pardon his slave onesimus. Colossians, philemon the niv application commentary book. Introduction to philemon by matthew henry blue letter bible. Study questions for the book of philemon flashcards quizlet. Galatians, philippians, and philemon summary galatians. The epistle of paul to philemon, known simply as philemon, is one of the books of the christian new testament. Philemon, a slaveholder, and a convert of paul, apparently during the period of his ephesian sojourn, had joined the company of saints in christ at colossae, and the church met in his house. To ask philemon of colossae to not only pardon his slave onesimus, but to give him a warm welcome as a fellow believer. Paul tries to convince philemon to make the right decision. This epistle to philemon is placed the last of those with the name of paul to them. May you discover gods character as you read his letter to you. Introduction to philemon bible exposition commentary. Pauls letter to philemon is the eighteenth book in the new testament. Philemon bible study lesson 1 historical backgrounds of.
Once famed for its soft wool and colorful dyes, commercial competition had muted its influence. Philemon 125 this letter seems to be a personal letter, but of its divine inspiration there can be no doubt. It more likely refers to philemon than to the last one named, archippus. There is no longer jew or greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female. The book of philemon is a prison epistle letter written while in prison, which paul wrote circa 61 a. Exposition of colossians and philemon new testament. Onesimus, a slave belonging to philemon, had fled from his master, possibly stealing money in the process vv.
Pauls epistle to philemon is one of the few books in the nt whose authenticity. 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. Could the common view of onesimus as a runaway, thieving slave be wrong. In the bible book that bears philemons name, paul addressed his beloved brother as a fellow worker, a title given to those who served for a time alongside paul. Paul, a prisoner of jesus christ, and timothy our brother, unto philemon our.
Minister, woodland heights christian church, crawfordsville, in no. So paul is sending onesimus back to philemon for their reconciliation. It is directed to philemon, which means kisses or one that is affectionate, in behalf of onesimus, which means profitable or usefulness. Bible our library commentaries john gills exposition of the bible philemon. It deals with the themes of forgiveness and reconciliation. The book of philemon demonstrates the gospel in action. Because believers in jesus are equal partners in the new humanity, paul asks philemon to forgive his runaway slave onesimus. Philemon 1, new international version niv the bible app. The book of philemon is about a personal appeal to a prosperous christian slave owner to receive his slave back as a brother in christ.
The book of philemon was written in approximately a. Paul introduces himself, noting that he is a prisoner of christ jesus. Study in philemon by edgar pierce exposing the word. The key personalities of philemon are paul, philemon, and onesimus. The letter suggests that paul was in prison at the time of the writing. Philemon united states conference of catholic bishops. He then moves to his point, saying he has a request, again reminding them that he is an old man and a prisoner of christ. Hendriksen, william, exposition of colossians and philemon. The epistle to philemon a model of christian courtesy 1. One of the visitors converted under pauls teaching was a man named philemon, a slaveowner from the nearby city of colossae philemon 1. Pauls basic claim in philemon is the same as it is in galatians 3. Philemon ceb greeting from paul, who is a prisoner.
Colossae was a bustling city in phrygia, in the southwest region of asia minor. Apparently philemon was welltodo, for his home was large enough to accommodate the church assemblies, and he was a slave owner. The book was written around 62 ad during paul first imprisonment in rome. As human beings, it is a natural tendency to perceive the eye for an eye mentality as fair and just, but god disagrees. Philemon 1 commentary philemons relationship to onesimus. In this series, forgiveness a study in philemon, we are shown that there are higher paths than retaliation and holding grudges. Yet most people today have never heard of john gill. Home faq books of the bible philemon questions about philemon. Start studying study questions for the book of philemon. In the time of the apostles it had seen its better days. Can this short letter be viewed from different perspectives. 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.
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