The book of philemon was written in approximately a. This means that philemon, paul and timothy do the same sort of work. Yet i am in chains and need all the help i can get. Jun 23, 2020 the only mention of philemon in the bible is in the book by that name. Feb 18, 20 a daily bible study in 7day sections with a summary commentary, discussion questions, and daily application section introduction the prior section sunday philemon 1. However, i do not say to you how you owed me even your own self. Even harder is to prove, what some presume, that philemon. Philemon stands as one piece of strong evidence to the contrary, revealing that lofty doctrines such as the love of god, forgiveness in christ, or the inherent dignity of humanity have real and pertinent impact in everyday life. An application of philemon for the modern day bryan hodge.
This book was written by paul while he was in prison around a. Philemon 1, spurgeons verse expositions of the bible, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary is from the most widely read and. Onesimus took a chance one day, as any slave would have done, and made a run for it. We have detailed a brief summary of the book of philemon for bible study or sunday school lessons. Philemon serves as an example of tact in dealing with sensitive issues. The book of philemon illustrates that principles like these can and should profoundly affect the lives of believers. Apr 23, 2019 an introduction to the book of philemon paul wrote philemon to implore his friend, and fellow believer, philemon to forgive his runaway slave, onesimus. It appears that he was a slave holder before he was saved. The power of the gospel in winning a runaway thief and slave. Philemon commentary john gills exposition of the bible.
Pauls convert and fellowworker who lived in colossae and ministered to the saints. Philemon 125 this letter seems to be a personal letter, but of its divine inspiration there can be no doubt. Hermeniaa critical and historical commentary on the bible. A word list at the end explains words with a star by them. Today, more than ever, the church needs to proclaim a message of reconciliation to our divided society and to a world that has never abandoned the disturbing reality of slavery. Both of these would have been evident in his conduct. Encouragement verses 5, 7 sometimes we have an unbalanced view of the apostle paul. This letter was written as the result of pauls deep interest in onesimus, a slave who had fled colossae to rome, to escape from philemon his master who was a rich and influential man, of that city. The epistle is addressed to philemon, with the church in his house, and to sister apphia and archippus. A new testament metaphor for total devotion to christ onesimus our. Philemon, a study in grace overview this is another of the prison epistles, the others being colossians, ephesians, and philippians. Philemon, if you leave onesimus with me, its like you serving me, because onesimus is your rightful servant.
The letter to philemon is the shortest of all pauls writings and deals with the practice of slavery. Though it is made up of only 25 verses, it contains many principles that remain applicable for believers today. Paul wrote to philemon, a christian brother living in colosse. Even harder is to prove, what some presume, that philemon was their son. Historical references, commentary and comparative texts. The motives to which paul appeals are deeply rooted in philemons spiritual obligations to him as spiritual father. Paul now sends onesimus back to philemon with a letter which asks the master to forgive his former slave who is now his brother in christ. Philemon was a hristian of olosse who was likely a convert of pauls. Because believers in jesus are equal partners in the new humanity, paul asks philemon to forgive his runaway slave onesimus. Or lead word, which is the repeated use of a word or its cognates to emphasize a certain thematic point.
Best commentaries and books on philemon logos bible software. Paul, a prisoner of jesus christ, and timothy our brother, unto philemon our dearly beloved, and. Onesimus fled to rome where he came in contact with paul and was saved. Pauls epistle to philemon is one of the few books in the nt whose authenticity has hardly ever. This is the only place in the new testament where philemon is mentioned by name, but we do know that he was a beloved friend to paul. Summary of the book of philemon story of the bible. Philemon had a shining testimony, the kind paul often encouraged other believers to have with commands such as walk in a manner worthy of the gospel php 1. Paul, a prisoner of christ jesus, and timothy our brother, to philemon our beloved friend and. Commentary on the book of philemon christian ambassadors, inc 4. Paul mentions his own name three times in this his shortest epistle verses 1.
This letter is longer than letters usually were at that time. Furthermore, philemon was able to receive the runaway slave kindly and graciously, because of christs work in him. Book of philemon book iii, chapter 4, book vii, chapter 21, ecclesiastical history, eusebius of caesarea c 320. A summary, synopsis or recap is a shortened version of the original. Philemon 1 commentary matthew henry commentary on the. In the first century, letters were often very short. Paul and philemon had known each other for many years. His testimony of love, faith, and refreshing the other believers around him brought joy to the heart of paul and joy to the heart of god. Philemon apphia, archippus, and the church in philemon s house 16. Now philemon owned slaves, and he had a slave named onesimus. To philemon our beloved brother and fellow worker, 2 and to apphia our sister, and to archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house. Twice he speaks of being a prisoner of jesus christ. The book of philemon is a prison epistle letter written while in prison, which paul wrote circa 61 a.
The key personalities of philemon are paul, philemon, and onesimus. This would seem to denote a special and close relationship between them. So in ad 60 or 61 from a prison cell in rome, paul wrote a personal letter to philemon and sent onesimus the slave back to colossae. Paul chose to take the role of mediator between the two and even offered to personally cover the debts of the recently converted slave. 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. It seems likely paul had gotten his information from onesimus.
Chapters available philemon spurgeons verse expositions. Philemon 1 william barclays daily study bible bible commentaries. Pauls epistle to philemon is one of the few books in the nt whose authenticity has hardly ever been doubted. Philemon was the master of onesimus, a runaway slave. The book of philemon demonstrates the gospel in action. Read philemon commentary using john gills exposition of the bible. It was written to philemon as a plea to request forgiveness for his runaway servant onesimus, who was a new believer in jesus christ. Onesimus, a runaway slave, somehow while on the lam, came in contact with the imprisoned apostle paul. Slavery was a sensitive issue and under roman rule a runaway slave could be executed. Christian love and forgiveness are given prominence in the book of philemon.
Philemon, i know onesimus might be of some use to you. I beseech thee for my son onesimus, whom i have begotten in my. Watch our overview video on the book of philemon, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The book was written around 62 ad during paul first imprisonment in rome. I have read various books on theological hermeneutics, and one, whose title has slipped my mind, had once suggested the hermeneutics isnt only about picking up the bible, analyzing it, and putting it back down, but also making an application through it. The book of philemon is one of the most interesting, yet neglected books of the bible. In allusion to that name, which signifies profitable, the apostle allows that in time past he had been unprofitable to philemon, but hastens to mention the change by which he had become profitable.
Dec 19, 2018 lohse, eduard, colossians and philemon, a commentary on the epistles to the colossians and to philemon. In this brief letter, the apostle paul was making an urgent appeal to philemon to welcome back onesimus, who was likely a runaway slave, with love, forgiveness, and as a newly converted brother in christ. He did what most runaway slaves apparently didhe moved into a great metropolis. Thoroughly researched and presented in easy commentary format. The book of philemon is about a slave onesimus who ran away from his master philemon. How does this letter, compared to pauls other letters, start out differently. He mentions this also in his other prison epistles ephesians, philippians and colossians. Secondly, if onesimus stayed he helped a man in chains.
As a result, philemon had established a house church in colossae. There are no arguments for or against slavery in philemon, as that is not the purpose of the book. Philemon paul helps his friend philemon to reconcile with his escaped former slave onesimus, and shows that they are equals because of jesus. Yet i am in chains, and need all the help i can get. Bynum 2009 tabernacle baptist church the doctrine of imputation applied memory verse. The main purpose of a summary is as a simplification highlighting the major points from the original and much longer version of the subject. Some commentaries suggest that aristarchus was the pastor of the church there and that apphia was his wife. In fact, it was because of paul that philemon had come to believe jesus was the promised christ. His love was toward the lord jesus and toward the other believers. It is directed to philemon, which means kisses or one that is affectionate, in behalf of onesimus, which means profitable or usefulness. May 02, 2020 colossians, philemon, ephesians, new international commentary on the new testament by f. The epistle shows that he was a believing christian and an esteemed acquaintance of the apostle. Study the bible online using commentary on philemon and more. Annual lesson commentary on bible school lessons 1956, pp.
The author of the book of philemon was the apostle paul philemon 1. You can find the best commentary on philemon for you using the tools on the right side. G dunn, the epistles to the colossians and to philemon. Tertullians description of and arguments against marcions bible. Reconciliation is a painful process sometimes, but it is very important.
There were millions of people in asia minor, and philemon was just one of the men who came to know the lord jesus. Onesimus originated from colosse,5 we may suppose that philemon lived there also. Study the bible online using commentary on philemon 1 and more. The book of philemon is a personal letter from the apostle paul to his friend philemon whom he calls a dear friend and fellow worker philemon 1. Philemon 1 commentary philemons relationship to onesimus. Philemon summary we have detailed a brief summary of the book of philemon for bible study or sunday school lessons. In the book of philemon, paul appeals to his friend on behalf of a runaway slave named onesimus. A hermeneutical analysis of philemon 2669 words bartleby. Free bible study on the new testament book of philemon. As we read pauls letter to his friend, we know philemon probably had a large house. Paul was a prisoner at the time verses 1 and 9, so this is one of the four prison epistles, along with ephesians, philippians, and colossians, which paul wrote during his first roman imprisonment. To argue against slavery would have been suicidal in the ancient world. This slave had run away from the household of philemon. Jul 20, 2012 the book of philemon is a true story which touches the heart.
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