Philemon Simplified

We’re Going to Do Philemon Differently Than We Usually Do

There’s Only 25 Verses, But They are Verses Packed with Meat

We are Going to Read/Study the Entire Book of Philemon Tonight

Philemon 1–3 (NASB95)

1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, 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:3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

As is Typical with Paul’s Writings…

We See the Author and the Audience in the First Few Verses

Author = Paul and Timothy

They are Writing From Prison

This Would Be Paul’s 2 Year House Arrest in Rome at the End of Acts

This Would Have Been Written Around the Same Time as:

Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians

Audience = Philemon, Apphia, Archippus

But the Primary Recipient is Philemon

Apphia May Have Been Philemon’s Wife and Archippus Their Son

And the Members of the Church that Meets in Philemon’s House…

Which Seems to Have Been in Colossae

Archippus is Mentioned as a Servant in the Colossian Church in Colossians 4:17

And Another Person Names Onesimus, Who We’re About to Learn About…

Helped to Deliver the Letter to the Colossians

Paul Calls Him “One of You” (He’s From Colossae)

And We Find Out in Philemon that He is Philemon’s Slave

We Know a Few Things About Philemon

Besides Living in Colossae:

He was a “Beloved Fellow Worker” in the Church

He was Wealthy

He had a House Big Enough for the Local Church to Meet in

He Lived Up to His Name

Philemon’s Name Even Means “Loving/Affectionate One”

Philemon 4–7 (NASB95)

4 I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints;6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ’s sake.7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

Paul and Philemon Were Close

And Philemon Seems to Be a Good Man…

Full of Love and Faith in Jesus and Toward His Siblings in Christ

In this Passage, Paul is Thankful that Philemon’s Understanding of the Gospel…

Has Caused His Faith to Be Active in Doing What is Good

Paul has Received Much Joy and Comfort From Philemon’s Love for Christians

This is What the Gospel is Capable of

When People Place Their Faith in Jesus…

A Wonderful Transformation Takes Place

It Turns People into Active Forces for Good in the World

In Saying All of this, Paul is Setting Up His Purpose for this Letter

“Philemon, Jesus has Truly Transformed You into a Good, Faithful, Loving Person”…

Philemon 8–11 (NASB95)

8 Therefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is proper,9 yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you—since I am such a person as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus—10 I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment,11 who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me.

Paul has a Request of Philemon

And it has to Do with His Slave, Onesimus

Paul Could Just Command Philemon Concerning this Request…

But, Out of Love, He Chooses to Appeal to/Urge Him Instead

He Doesn’t Want to Make Philemon Do this…

He Wants Him to Choose to Do this

We’ll See What Paul’s Request is in a Moment

Paul Tells Philemon that He Became a Father to Onesimus While in Prison

That is to Say, “He Led Him to Christ Through the Gospel”

Onesimus = “Useful”

Onesimus Used to Be “Useless” to His Master, Philemon…

But He is Now Living Up to His Name

He is “Useful” to Both Paul and Philemon

There’s Another Possible Word-Play that Paul is Using Here

Useful = euchrēstos Sounds Like christos = Christ

Useless = achrēstos Sounds Like achristos = Without Christ

When Onesimus was achristos (Without Christ) He was achrēstos (Without Use)

But When Onesimus Put His Faith in christos, He Became euchrēstos (Useful)

Do You See the Transformation that Jesus can Make in Our Lives?

Philemon 12–14 (NASB95)

12 I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart,13 whom I wished to keep with me, so that on your behalf he might minister to me in my imprisonment for the gospel;14 but without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will.

Paul Wanted to Keep Onesimus with Him…

Because His Newfound Faith in Jesus Transformed Him into…

A Wonderful and Useful Minister to Paul While He was in Prison

But Paul Knew that Onesimus Belonged to Philemon…

So He Chose to Send Onesimus Back to His Master

As Paul Said Before, He Could Command Philemon to Release Onesimus From His Slavery…

So that Onesimus Could Continue Ministering to Paul

But Paul Wants Philemon to Make that Choice of His Own Free Will

“Philemon (Loving/Affectionate One), the Gospel has Turned You into Faithful, Good, and Loving Man”

“And Now Your Useless, Runaway Slave has Accepted that Same Gospel…”

“And I Would Love for Him to Stay with Me Because He is Very Useful to Me”

“I’m Not Going to Force You to Do Anything”

“I Want You, of Your Own Free Will, to Make the Right Decision

Philemon 15–16 (NASB95)

15 For perhaps he was for this reason separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever,16 no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

What Onesimus Did in Running Away From Philemon Could Be Punishable By Death Under Roman Law

When You’re the Property of Another…

To Run Away is to Steal Your Masters Property

But Paul Believed that God’s Hand was at Work in this Whole Situation

“Maybe this All Happened so that You Would Have Onesimus with You Forever…”

“But Not as a Slave, as a Beloved Brother”

The Gospel Transforms Relationships

Onesimus was Once a Useless Slave

But Now He is Returning as a Useful and Beloved Brother

Philemon 17 (NASB95)

17 If then you regard me a partner, accept him as you would me.

This is One of the Best Lines of the Book

“If You Consider Me as Your Partner in the Faith…”

“Accept Onesimus as Me”

What Would that Look Like?

How Would Philemon have Received Paul?

Prepare a Room for Him

Wash His Feet

Throw a Feast in His Honor

Philemon Would Have Served Paul as an Honored Guest

Can You Imagine a Master Serving the Slave?

How Absurd of a Notion is that?

John 13:3–5 (NASB95)

3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God,4 got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself.5 Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.

John 13:13–15 (NASB95)

13 “You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am.14 “If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.15 “For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.

Paul is Requesting that Philemon Treat His Run-Away Slave as Jesus Would

Philemon is to Serve Onesimus as a Brother

And Onesimus is Expected to Serve Philemon as a Brother

Because in Jesus’ Kingdom, that’s What Brothers Do

No One Forces or is Forced to Serve Another

Everyone, Out of Love, Willingly Submit to Each Other

Philemon 18–20 (NASB95)

18 But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account;19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand, I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well).20 Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.

We Don’t Know if Onesimus Stole From Philemon…

Or if His Absence has Caused a Loss…

But Paul Offers to Pay His Debt

Paul is Willing to Pay a Debt He Did Not Owe…

In Order to Bring About the Reconciliation of 2 Separated Parties

Does that Sound Familiar to You?

Philemon Owes Himself to Paul for Leading Him to Jesus

So Paul Asks Philemon Benefit Him and Refresh His Heart

“Benefit” in Greek Sounds Like Onesimus (Another Word-Play)

What Benefit Could Philemon Offer to Paul that Would Refresh Paul’s Heart?

By Accepting Onesimus as if He Were Paul

Offering Forgiveness, Reconciliation, and Loving Brotherhood

Philemon 21–25 (NASB95)

21 Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, since I know that you will do even more than what I say.22 At the same time also prepare me a lodging, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given to you.23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow workers.25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Paul is Confident in Philemon’s Loving and Faithful Character

He is Confident that Philemon will Go Beyond What He has Said

What has Paul Said?

He Wants Philemon to Accept Onesimus, Not as a Slave But as a Brother

He Wants Onesimus to Be Allowed to Stay with Paul

This Could Mean His Total Liberation or Simply More Freedom

This Letter has Been at the Forefront of Battle Against Slavery in the World

Though Paul Never Explicitly Commands Liberation of the Enslaved…

He Greatly Undermines the Institution of Slavery

Onesimus is Too No Longer Be Viewed Or Treated as a Slave

He is to Be Viewed and Treated as a Brother in Christ

If That Command Followed to its Necessary Conclusion…

The Slave will Be Liberated and Given Freedom in Full

Some Claim that Paul Condones Slavery Because He Doesn’t…

Explicitly Condemn it or Command Against it

But They Misunderstand the Whole Point of the Gospel

It’s Not a Law of Force

It’s a Law of Love

The Gospel Shows Us the Love and Compassion of Jesus…

The Great Emancipator of All Creation…

And Then Tells Us to Have that Same Love and Compassion

The Gospel of Jesus Doesn’t have to Command Against Slavery to Condemn it

The Gospel is Much Cleverer Than that

It Shows us the Heart/Spirit of God and Invites Us to Share His Heart/Spirit

And Where People Hold the Gospel/Teachings/Example/Love of Jesus in Their Hearts…

Slavery Cannot Exist

Because Christianity is About

Considering Others Greater/More Important Than Yourself

Serving Others, Not Being Served

One Cannot Love Like Jesus and Enslave Another

The Gospel has Brought About the Outlawing of Slavery in Many Places…

Not By Force, But By Transforming the Hearts of Mankind

Invitation

Paul Offered to Pay Onesimus’ Debt in Order for Reconciliation to Take Place

Jesus has Made the Same Offer for You and I

Have You Placed Your Faith in Jesus?