seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Philemon 1:1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,
To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker— 2 also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your home:
3 Grace and peace to you[a] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. 6 I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. 7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.
8 Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9 yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus— 10 that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus,[b] who became my son while I was in chains. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
12 I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. 13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary. 15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— 16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.
17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. 20 I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. 21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.
22 And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. 24 And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
a. Philemon 1:3 The Greek is plural; also in verses 22 and 25; elsewhere in this letter “you” is singular.
b. Philemon 1:10 Onesimus means useful.
When I first read this book... without the commentary.... this book, all one chapter of it, appears to be a letter of reference for this guy Onesimus. I saw this guy back in Colossians. I thought he was one of Paul's buddies. He is not.
This is from the Bible-studys.org site.
Historical – Theological Themes: Philemon provides valuable historical insights into the early church’s relationship to the institution of slavery. 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. In Paul’s day, slavery had virtually eclipsed free labor. Slaves could be doctors, musicians, teachers, artists, librarians, or accountants; in short, almost all jobs could be and were filled by slaves.
Slaves were not legally considered persons, but were the tools of their masters. As such, they could be bought, sold, inherited, exchanged, or seized to pay their master’s debt. Their masters had virtually unlimited power to punish them, and sometimes did, so severely for the slightest infractions. By the time of the New Testament, however, slavery was beginning to change. Realizing that contented slaves were more productive, masters tended to treat them more leniently. It was not uncommon for a master to teach a slave his own trade, and some masters and slaves became close friends. While still not recognizing them as persons under the law, the Roman Senate in A.D. 20 granted (or allowed them), to purchase their freedom. Some slaves enjoyed very favorable and profitable service under their masters and were better off than many freemen because they were assured of care and provision. Many freemen struggled in poverty.
“Apphia” was probably Philemon’s wife. “Archippus” may have been Philemon’s son, but was more likely the minister in the church (Col. 4:17). “The church in thy house:” The earliest churches met in homes; Christian church buildings were unknown until the third century. Philemon was probably one of the wealthier church members, since it met at his house, and since he was a slave-owner.
This is from the easy English site.Paul wrote this letter to a certain person called Philemon. It is about another person called Onesimus. Paul was writing about a certain situation. He was not giving general advice to Christians. He was helping people whom he loved. He was a very good church leader. Church leaders need to deal with their people’s personal situations.
Paul wants Philemon to do something different from what people in his culture expected. We all live in cultures. In different cultures, people expect us to behave in different ways. Sometimes, church leaders must urge people to obey what the Bible teaches. This might be different from what people expect in their culture.
An early church leader called Ignatius wrote many letters. In one letter, he refers to someone called Onesimus. He describes this Onesimus as the Bishop of Ephesus. (A bishop is the leader of the church or churches in a certain area.) Ignatius’s letter is not in the New Testament. But many scholars believe that this Onesimus and the Onesimus in Paul’s letter are the same person. If this is true, then Onesimus’s life changed completely because of Paul’s letter. Onesimus was a slave. He had run away. A judge should have punished him. Instead, Onesimus received mercy. (Mercy means that someone is kind when he or she does not have to be kind.) Onesimus developed to become a church leader.
We do not know exactly who put this letter into the New Testament. But it is certainly in our Bibles.
People in the early church decided that we should know about this letter. It would be good for us to study it. And it would be good for us to teach about it. (Look at 2 Timothy 3:16.) It may seem to be different from other New Testament letters. We may want to use it in different ways. But it is in the canon. So, we should understand it. And we should use it to serve God.
Paul wants to convince Philemon to do the right thing. Paul does not want to order him to do it. Onesimus has run away from Philemon. This was wrong. But Onesimus has come to Paul. He has been useful to Paul. Paul wants to keep Onesimus with him. Paul wants Onesimus to help him. But he must ask Philemon to agree to this. Otherwise, it would not be right.
Paul has sent Onesimus back to Philemon. So, Onesimus can ask Philemon to free him. Then, Onesimus would not be a slave. Onesimus must ask Philemon to send him back. Then Onesimus could work with Paul.
Paul is asking Philemon to accept Onesimus. He is asking him to love Onesimus as a brother. Onesimus is a brother in God’s family and Philemon loves him very much. Also, Paul asks Philemon to accept Onesimus as a fellow Christian rather than as a slave. This is a lot to ask anyone. But Paul knows what Philemon is like. So, Paul can ask this. Paul tries to convince Philemon to make the right decision. Paul does not want their culture to affect Philemon’s decision. He wants Philemon to do what Philemon thinks is right.
The name ‘Onesimus’ means ‘useful’. However, Onesimus ran away. So he became ‘not useful’. But now he has come to Paul and he has come to God. So, he is ‘useful’ again. Paul wants Onesimus to be useful to Paul. And he wants Onesimus to be useful to God. But Philemon owns Onesimus. So Paul sends Onesimus back to Philemon. Paul asks Philemon to free Onesimus to work for God.
Paul continues to convince Philemon of the right thing to do. Onesimus does not deserve what Paul is asking Philemon to do. Onesimus has run away. Probably, he stole something from Philemon. So, Onesimus has done wrong. But God and Paul have accepted Philemon although he has done wrong. They have accepted him although he was a sinner. So now Philemon should accept Onesimus as a repentant sinner and as a fellow Christian.
If Onesimus stole anything, Paul will pay it back. Paul promises to be responsible if any punishment was due to Onesimus. Paul also reminds Philemon that Philemon was a sinner. So Philemon deserves punishment from God. But God forgave him. Paul forgave him, too. Paul says this to persuade Philemon to do the right thing. Paul knows what Philemon’s character is like. So, he feels sure that Philemon will do the right thing.
Wow.... a cool story is hidden in this one chapter book. Back in Colossians I read about this guy.... but he was just a worker with Paul. I thought he might have been one of the crew that beat Stephen to death. Turns out he's a runaway slave.
Apparently Onesimus was a slave of the guy Philemon. According to the commentaries, though, he might have been a white man who owed Philemon a debt, which made him a slave. Onesimus might have really been a doctor, lawyer, carpenter, shepherd... or anything.... Slaves weren't just brown people who were beaten and did all the dirty work. In the days of Paul.... a slave was property.... but women were property too.... as were children... properties to be used to repay the owner for food, lodging, or a debt they owed. Sure humans were bought, sold, and abused. Then again... wives were married, consummated, and then divorced leaving them worthless and destitute. So... slaves and women were at the mercy of the human who owned them.
Onesimus might have stolen something to sell to finance his getaway. Then again... Onesimus might have only taken a change of clothes and food for the road, but since Philemon owned him... that was theft. Paul said he would pay for what Onesimus stole.
Paul is writing to Philemon to ask him to free Onesimus. Paul needs Onesimus to be an Elder in the church. Back in Timothy... they talked about the fact an Elder had to be a good man.... but in order for Onesimus to be accepted as an Elder... this problem with Philemon had to be settled. Onesimus could be a slave and an Elder.... that was brought up by the commentary in a previous study. Onesimus could have stayed a slave and still worked as an Elder in the church.... but the theft had to be made right. And... by running away... Onesimus owed Philemon an apology at least.
Paul told Philemon that Onesimus was a fellow Christian. That means that Onesimus was a new man... reborn. Paul wants Philemon to forgive Onesimus. Paul will pay for what Philemon took.... but he wants Philemon to drop the charges and free Onesimus so Onesimus can help Paul by running a church for him.
So in this letter... Paul was trying to get Philemon to forgive Onesimus like a brother forgives a brother. Paul reminded Philemon that ALL Christians are the adopted children of God. We are the bothers and sisters of Jesus the Messiah. One of us is not better that the other.... we are all hand sculpted creations of God. God counted the number of hairs He used to sculpt each of these three men. They were each important to Him. Onesimus got a whole book in the Bible about his need to be forgiven.
This chapter is about a runaway slave who would be Elder.
