PHILEMON
1.
AUTHOR
Paul (1,
19).
2.
ADDRESSEES
Philemon,
Apphia, Archippus and the
church in Philernon’s house (1-2).
3.
PURPOSE
Philemon
was a wealthy man brought by Paul to believe in the Lord. Philemon had a
servant named Onesimus. Onesimus
absconded to Rome where he met Paul, repented and believed in the Lord. Later,
Paul sent him back to Philemon. Fearing that Philemon might misunderstand the
true intention of Onesimus’ conversion, Paul wrote
this epistle to Philemon appealing him to forgive and once again receive Onesimus.
4.
PLACE
A prison
in Rome (1, 23; cf Col 4:10). Together with the epistles to the
Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians, those epistles are called collectively
“The Prison Epistles”.
5.
DATE
Circa 63
AD.
6.
CONTENTS
This is a
personal epistle. Nonetheless the message is good for the church as a whole. It
shows the love in the early church. Paul addressed his fellow Christians as
beloved brothers, fellow workers, fellow soldiers, partners and fellow
prisoners (1,2, 17,23). Paul called a runaway slave a beloved brother of his
very heart (16, 12). Paul also wanted Philemon to treat Onesimus
the same way as he had treated him. Paul wanted Philemon to forgive the debts
owed by his slave as he would forgive the debts owed by Philemon to him. This
epistle also discusses the master-slave relationship. Slavery was an
institution in both oriental and occidental societies. The mission of the
apostles was to preach the gospel and witness for Christ. They would not
interfere with political matters. Although Paul did not condemn slavery in this
epistle, by sending him back to Philemon and requesting Philemon to treat Onesimus well was an indication that to Paul there was no
class distinction. In Galatians 3:28 he wrote: “There is neither
Jew or Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor
female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”
It was
reported that President Lincoln of the United States of America set free
some five million black slaves after reading this epistle.
7.
OUTLINE
Part One - Introduction
(1-3)
1. Author
(1)
2. Addressees
(1-2)
3. Salutation
(3)
Part Two - Paul’s
Thanksgiving Prayer For Philemon (4-7)
1. He
thanked God for his love and faith (5)
2. He
thanked God for his good deeds (6)
3. His
joy (7)
Part Three - Paul Pleaded For Onesimus
(8-19)
1. Paul
need not use authority (8-9)
2. Onesimus was a child of Paul during his ministry in prison
(10)
3. The
change in Onesimus (11)
4. Onesimus was the very heart of Paul (12)
5. The
respect of Paul for Philemon (13-14)
6. The
wonderful arrangement of God (15-16)
7. The
friendship of Paul and Philemon (17)
8. Paul
was willing to repay Philemon on behalf of Onesimus
(18-19)
Part Four - Paul’s
expectation of Philemon (20-22)
1. His
confidence in Philemon (21)
2. His
request to Philemon (22)
Part Five - Conclusion (23-25)
1. Greetings
(23-24)
2. Benediction
(25)
PART ONE: INTRODUCTION
(1-3)
1. “Paul,
a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly
beloved, and fellow labourer.” (1)
Paul felt
that being a prisoner of Jesus Christ was his greatest honour. He did not
regard his imprisonment for the sake of Christ as something shameful. He even
exhorted Timothy saying, “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our
Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the affliction of the
gospel according to the power of God” (2 Tim 1:8). And he boasted about it (cf
2 Tim 2:9; Eph 3:1, 4:1). To be sent to prison for the sake of Christ is a
blessing: “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall
say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be
exceeding glad : for great is your reward in heaven”
(Mt 5:11-12). It will be shameful for one to be sentenced to imprisonment on
account of murder, stealing and other acts of wickedness. If we suffer because
we are Christians we bring glory to the name of God (1 Pet 4:14-16).
Philemon
was a zealous believer who loved the Lord very much (5-7). Paul referred to
himself as a prisoner of Christ in this epistle to evoke the compassion of
Philemon towards Onesimus for whom Paul was appealing
on behalf. Timothy was his fellow worker (2 Cor 1:1; Phil 1:1; Col 1:1; 1 Thess 1:1; 2
Thess 1:1).
2. “Paul,
a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly
beloved, and fellowlabourer. And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house.” (1-2)
This
epistle was addressed to Philemon, Apphia, Archippus and the church in Philemon’s house.
3. “Grace
to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (3)
This is
the form of salutation Paul often used in his epistles (cf Rom 1:7; 1 Cor 1:3;
2 Cor 1:2; Gal 1:3; Eph 1:2; Phil 1:2; Col 1:2; 1 Thess 1:2).
PART TWO: PAUL’S
THANKSGIVING PRAYER FOR ONESIMUS (4-7)
Paul in
his prayers gave thanks to God on account of Philemon’s faith and love. “I
thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers.” Paul often prayed
for the believers (Rom 1:9-10; 1 Cor 1:4; Eph 1:16,3:1; Phil 1:3-4; Col 1:9; 1
Thess 1:2; 2 Thess 1:3). He also requested the believers to pray for him (Eph
6:19-20; Col 4:3-4; 1 Thess 5:25; 2 Thess 3:1). In his letter to Timothy, Paul
wrote, “1 exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, inter
cessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men” (1 Tim 2:1). Here, Paul
emphasizes the importance of intercessary prayers. In
our prayers we should remember others or to pray for one another (Jas 5:16).
Praying for others is an indication of concern on our part and God will be
pleased to grant our requests.
1. “Hearing
of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all
saints” (5)
Paul
thank God for I us love and faith. The one who informed Paul accordingly could
be Epaphras (cf Col
4:12) or Onesimus himself.
2. “That
the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of
every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.” (6)
Paul
thanked God for His good deeds. Paul wished that Philemon would he effective in
communicating his faith.
Some do
works of charity to gain fame and some to win praises of others like the
Pharisees in those days. The heavenly Father will not reward those who do
charity with such motives. The Lord Jesus told us: “Take heed that ye do your
alms before men, to be seen of them : otherwise ye have no reward of your
Father which is in heaven ... lint when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand
know what thy right hand doeth : That thy alms may be in secret; and thy Father
which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly” (Mt 6:1-4)
3. “For
we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints
are refreshed by thee, brother.” (7)
Paul was
overjoyed on hearing the good deeds done by Philemon. lie
also felt greatly comforted on learning the faith and love of Philemon. Paul had
great concern for the believers’ faith, love and conduct (cf 1 Thess 3:6-10;
Phil 1:25-26; 2 Tim 1:3-4). The greatest joy and comfort of a minister comes
from knowing that the believers have strong faith, great love and good conduct.
Paul wrote in 2 Thess 2:20, “Because the bowels of the Saints are refreshed by
thee, brother” Philemon’s love not only made Paul joyful and comforted,
all the saints were refreshed as well.
PART THREE: PAUL PLEADED
FOR ONESIMUS (8-19)
Here Paul
pleaded with Philemon to once again receive Onesimus.
Paul gave an account of the change in Onesimus from
being “unprofitable” to “profitable”. Paul also assured Philemon that he would
repay any debt owed by Onesimus.
1. “Wherefore,
though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,
Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such a one as Paul the aged,
and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.” (8-9)
Paul, as
the apostle of Christ, could actually use his authority to command Philemon to
receive Onesimus but because Philemon was such a kind
person who loved the Lord so much, Paul need not exercise his apostolic
authority to bring Philemon under submission. He rather urged him to accept Onesimus. Paul pleaded with Philemon saying, “But without
thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were
necessity, but willingly” (14). If we could learn to make requests rather than
to give order in our daily lives, we will find greater satisfaction in the
result.
2. “1
beseech thee for my son Onesimus,
whom I have begotten in my bonds.” (10)
Paul has
used the expression “my son” four other times in the gospel (1 Cor 4:17; Phil
2:22; 1 Tim 1:2; lit 1:4). Since Onesimus was a child
of Paul begotten in prison, their relationship must have been intimate. Could
Philemon have remained indifferent now that Paul had personally appealed to him.
3. “Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to
thee and to me.” (11)
“Onesimus” means “profitable”. His name at first seemed
inappropriate. lie absconded from his master and probably took some money with
him. That was why Paul said that in the past he was useless to Philemon but now
that he was converted he would he useful to both Paul and Philemon. Whatever we
may be in the past (Rom 6:17; Eph 2:1-3,4:17-19), now
that we are blessed by the Lord we must walk in the Spirit and bear the fruit
of light.
We were
once servants of sin; now we are servants of righteousness (Rom 6:17-18). We
did not believe God, yet we have now obtained mercy from Him (Rom 11:30). We
indulged in the lust of the flesh and were by nature the children of wrath but
now we have obtained mercy to become children of God (Eph 2:3-6). We were
without Christ, alienated from the commonwealth
of God but we are now
reconciled with Him and are able to come before Him (Eph 2:12-18). We were our
old self but now we put on the new man (Eph 4:22-24). We were in darkness but
now we walk in the light of the Lord (Eph 5:8). We were defiled, unrighteous
but now through the Spirit of God we are washed, sanctified and justified in
the name of the Lord Jesus (1 Cor 6:9-11). We were enemies of God but now we
are reconciled with I—Tim (Col
1:21-22).
4. “Whom
I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels” (12)
Such a
term was never used by Paul to describe other fellow workers. After believing
in the Lord there must have been a great change in Onesimus
and Paul had a high regard for him.
5. “Whom
I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto
me in the bonds of the gospel: But without thy mind would I do nothing; that
thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.” (13-14)
Philemon
obtained much spiritual edification from Paul. Paul could very well have
decided to keep Onesimus to serve him but he did not
wish to do it without Philemon ‘ s consent. Whatever we do we should seek the
opinion of others. We should not take it for granted that as ministers in the
church we have all the authority to do things according to our wish. We must
consult lest we be misunderstood.
6. “For
perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest
receive him for ever; Not now as a servant, but above
a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee,
both in the flesh, and in the Lord?” (15-16)
7. It
may seem a bad thing for Onesimus to have absconded
from Philemon, but to Paul he reckoned it as a wonderful arrangement of God.
For it was through his escape that he had a chance to be converted. Therefore,
Philemon only suffered a small loss now that Onesimus
had gone back to him a totally changed person.
Paul
wrote that Onesimus was no longer a slave, but more
than a slave, a beloved brother. He became a member of Christ’s body, a
spiritual brother. For, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond
nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus”
(Gal 3:28).
8. “If
thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.” (17) It is evident
that Paul and Philemon were very good friends.
9. “If
he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account; I Paul have written it with mine
own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.” (18-19).
Onesimus probably stole his master’s money. Paul was
willing to repay Philemon whatever Onesimus had taken
from him. Paul was a man of love. In his heart he was filled with the love of
Christ. Let us imitate Paul as Paul imitated Christ (1 Cor 11:1).
Paul had
assured Philemon of Onesimus’ worthiness.
Even
though Philemon helped Paul physically (5-7, 22) the spiritual instructions
Paul had given to Philemon were worth much more. Philemon was still indebted to
Paul a great deal. Philemon was fully aware of this. Therefore, Paul said,
“Albeit I do not say to thee, how thou owest unto
me.”
PART FOUR: PAUL’S
EXPECTATION OF PHILEMON (20-22)
“Yea,
brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord; refresh my bowels in the Lord.”
Philemon could not reject Paul’s request. Paul’s request was not for his own
gain but for the new believer Onesimus. Surely t3hilemon
would accept Paul’s request.
1. “Having confidence in thy obedience! wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I
say.” (21)
Paul
convinced that Philemon would accede to his request and so he wrote this
letter. Paul also believed that Philemon would do more than he had requested
him. In Paul’s other epistles, he has also written:
a.
To the church in Rome, he said, “1 also am
persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with
all knowledge, able to also admonished one another” (Rom 15:14-15).
b.
To the church in Corinth, he said, “I wrote this
same unto you, lest, when I came I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought
to rejoice having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all” and
“I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things” (2 Cor 2:3,
7:16).
c.
To the church in Galatia, he said, “I have
confidence in YOU through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded; but
he that troubleth you shall hear his judgment, whosoever he be” (Gal 5:10).
d.
To the church in Philippi,
he said, “Being confidence of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good
work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil 1:6).
e.
To the church in Thessalonica, he said, “And we
have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the
things which we command you” (2 Thess 3:4).
2. “But
withal prepare me also a lodging : for I trust that
through your prayers I shall be given unto you.” (22)
The
friendship between Paul and Philemon was very intimate indeed. Otherwise, Paul
would not have made such a request. “For I entreat that through your prayers I
shall be given unto you.” Paul was a man of faith. He was not only confident
that his own prayers would be answered, he also believed that his request for
others to pray for him would be effectual (cf Eph 6:19; Phil 1:19; Col 4:3-4; 2 Thess
3:1-2).
PART FIVE: CONCLUSION
(23-25)
1. “There
salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner
in Christ Jesus. Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.”
(23-24)
Besides
Paul there were five others who greeted Philemon namely:
a.
Epaphras who was a
member of the Colossian church, a faithful deacon, a man of prayers, fellow
bond servant and prisoner of Paul in Christ Jesus (cf Col 1:7, 4:12).
b.
Marcus alias John (Ac 12:12, 25), cousin brother
of Barnabas (Col
4:10). Paul and Barnabas separated because of Marcus during one of his
missionary journeys (Ac 15:36-39). Now once again, Paul found Marcus very
useful (2 Tim 4:11). Mark later became a co-worker of Peter also (1 Pet 5:13).
c.
Aristarchus who came from Thessalonica (Ac
27:2), a fellowprisoner of Paul (Col
4:10), a faithful worker who had sailed with Paul to Rome (Ac 27:2).
d.
Demas who was originally working with Paul (Col 4:14) but later
forsook Paul because he became worldly (2 Tim 4:10).
e.
Luke, the writer of gospel and The Acts, a
physician who loved the Lord very much. He was also one of Paul’s beloved
co-workers (Col
4:14). When Paul was imprisoned in Rome
about to be martyred only Luke remained with him (2 Tim 4:11).
2. “The
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Amen.” (25)
These are
words of benediction often used by Paul (cf Rom 16:20; Gal 618; Phil 4:23; 1
Thess 5:23; 2 Thess 3:18).