Philemon
Notes
Transcript
The Minor Epistles
The Minor Epistles
Since we’ve just finished a wonderful and long series on the minor prophets making the minor epistles the next series seemed a natural. You might be thinking to yourself, I haven’t heard of the minor epistles… or there’s no such thing as the minor epistles. Well I just made it up. The minor prophets were named the minor prophets not because they were insignificant but because they were short. At least when you compare them to the other prophets. I thought I was being clever but knew I couldn’t have been the first so after a quick search on the internet I found several people had created a list of minor epistles or done some similar sort of series. What none of them did is what I have decided to do. That is, only the one chapter books in the new testament will be our list.
Philemon with 25 verses
2 John with 13
3 John with 15 * yes some bibles only show it as 14 all of them have the same text though.
Jude with 25
So I have 4 weeks before I go on vacation and so we will do 4 books in 4 weeks and set a world record for Micah. To be honest I did think about taking 4 weeks on Philemon though.
Okay we are looking at letters for the next four weeks and this one follows a common pattern Paul uses.
Greeting
Thanksgiving
Body
Closing/Salutations
I quite like the idea of keeping our tradition of looking at names right as we start, and we’ll get a lot in the first couple verses here.
Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,
To Philemon our beloved fellow worker and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house:
Paul in English, Paulus in Latin, and Paulos in Greek means Small - For those asking Saul means “asked for or prayed for”
Jesus which is exactly the same name a Joshua. means Yah - (Ya Ho Vah) the name of God - saves
Timothy which is two Greek words stuck together τιμη Time and Theos which is Honor and God so Timothy is Honoring God or Honor to God.
Likely born to a Christian home as a first generation Christian.
Philemon which is kind of a derivative of Philema which means a kiss (or hug in our culture), a show of affection. So Philemon is one who shows affection or befriends.
Apphia - depending on where you think the name originates from it could be different. If it’s Hebrew (unlikely) protected/shielded if it’s Phrygian which would be not very far north of Colossae - where these people all lived - it would be Darling Many believe she is the wife of Philemon.
Archippus - Chief Horse or head of horses - like a military commander over cavalry - not that he was but that’s the meaning
So Paul greets all these people and the church that meets in Philemon’s house. A lot of people treat this like it was a private letter, as it’s nature seems to indicate. But all would have known about the events that unfold in the aftermath of this letter.
Onesimus comes up later but we’ll tackle it in the names section quickly before moving on. It means ‘will be useful or profitable’
I think this letter is taken well by Philemon and it ends up read to the church, and shared with many more. Otherwise it never would have made wide enough circulation that it would be preserved.
Going back to the start of verse one we also see that Paul identifies himself as a prisoner of/for Christ Jesus. Many date this letter to Paul’s final captivity in Rome in 61AD
We finish the Greeting with vs 3
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
In the next section of thanksgiving Paul shows true appreciation to Philemon.
Unlike Col 1:3-14 where Paul gives thanks for the church there in his thanksgiving here it is just one person.
I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints,
First we get insight to Paul’s prayer life. He tell God who he’s thankful for. When is the last time you just thanked God for people in your life?
This is a person Paul is clearly thankful for but why?
Hears - ongoing - about faith in Jesus and how he loves the other saints.
— You thought we were done with chiastic structure when we finished OT minor prophets… well Paul does it here. Some translations arrange it so that you get the point in English but we have a) love b) faith b’) toward Jesus a’) unto saints
and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.
Here I’m just going to say that I think ESV got this wrong. It’s not technically wrong but most English readers are going to the the wrong idea with this phrasing.
I pray that the faith you share with us may deepen your understanding of every blessing that belongs to you in Christ.
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.
I pray that your participation in the faith may become effective through knowing every good thing that is in us for the glory of Christ.
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.
“Sharing of your faith” in this context, is not sharing like telling others about Jesus. It’s sharing as in participation or contribution or partnership. The Greek word is Koinonia most often translated as fellowship but participation I think gets across the intent best here.
So Paul continues this prayer of thanksgiving with the desire that Philemon’s faith which he has in common with other Christians would deepen his understanding of the blessings we all have for the purpose of glorifying of Christ.
You can see that Paul is almost setting Philemon up for something in the future that pertains to Christian living.
In vs 7 the thanksgiving concludes in this reminder of what Philemon does normally.
For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.
I almost didn’t even put this in but it also sounds a little like Paul is buttering Philemon up for what comes next. It’s a big deal. How is he going to respond? Let’s make sure to remind him of who he is in Christ and remind him of the good he has done in God’s name.
The main body of the letter is next
Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required,
Whoah… we switched gears here. This is one massive run-on setance btw. From 8-14 is a single Greek sentance. Notice we started with compliments, and praise for the Godly things Philemon has already done. Now he’s reminding him that he could have taken this letter in a different direction but he’s not going to, let’s see why.
yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus—
He does not want his position to overrule relationship. He doesn’t think law is the fix to this issue. What is? Love. He mentioned love twice before in his thanksgiving. It’s that kind of love he’s depending on. For the second time he also mentions he’s a prisoner for the sake of Jesus. He is in bondage against his will.
In Colossians Paul handles things differently here he doesn’t appeal generally to the church he gives out commands. He is excersizing his Apostolic authority and telling them what is required of them.
Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.
Now, let’s touch the third rail here. Bondservant is the same word as slave. This word ranges from the dedicated service of a willing person to the chattel slavery of owning another human that is merely property and you can do with as you please. Just understand that we’re in Roman empire first century. Slavery has existed in an institutionally legal system since it’s founding. At this point in history some of the tide has started to turn on public opinion about how slaves are treated. But at this point it’s still legal to kill your slave with no legal repurcussion. It does start to become popular to free slaves and many masters free their older slaves. However because they’re older they aren’t as desirable for the job market… and now that they’re free their master has no obligation to feed or house them. Freedom wasn’t always a better circumstance. In fact the city of Rome was likely run by slaves. Some of the top officials were slaves, they were literate and well educated. I say that not to excuse some part of slavery but just to get the context of the time we’re in.
I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment.
When Paul speaks of becoming someone’s father he’s saying that he has led this person to the Lord and discipled them. His appeal is one of authority, but one as a human, as a father who’s child.
WHAT IS PAUL’S APPEAL!? He leaves this entirely open ended. Philemon should understand what’s happening here. Paul continues..
(Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.)
Now we get that play on the name of Onesimus which earlier we said mean to be useful or to be profitable. Now Paul plays on that name, he’s becames useless to you (presumably because he ran away) but now he is useful to you and me, because he’s come to follow Christ and will be someone to koininos with, participate in our faith together with, work for the Kingdom of God.
I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart.
Paul, can’t make Onesimus do anything, he’s literally in prison. But still this change is so complete for Onesimus that Paul can confidently say he is sending him back but notes that this is his very heart. These two have clearly grown very close, the allusion to father and son, and now this is my very heart. This part reminds me of Gen 43-44 with Joseph in Egypt and asking for Benjamin to come but Jacob would die if he didn’t return. None of the same language applies but that idea just came to me as something that has a parrellel in sending off someone dear.
I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel, but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord.
Again Paul is careful to make clear whatever decision is made it is one that Philemon can choose. Paul could have written the letter that said “hey, your run away slave has come to Christ. He is very useful and I’ll send him back if you want but he’s very useful. Will you give him to me?” He didn’t do that though. This however would have also robbed Onesimus of the opportunity of repentance to a now brother in Christ. He still needed to accept the earthly consequences of his earthly actions. He was just trusting that would not be unto death.
Now Paul sinks in the freedom is truly there for Philemon to choose. He recognizes there might have been a purpose for the time Onesimus ran away, and that redemption might be to go back to service for Philemon.
For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
You, Philemon, might now have someone who works freely at high quality, as a brother. And this companionship is eternal it’s not just in the flesh but in the Lord. But notice that it’s slipped in there for vs 16 No longer as a slave. We have the clearest picture of what Paul was really hoping Philemon’s response was going to be. Freedom, but it was not overt, and some argue Paul wasn’t expecting it at all. What Paul did expect was the love that Philemon had for Christians would be the same love he extends now to Onesimus.
Paul goes a little farther and does include commands though I think that word seems to come with a harsh connotation that isn’t implied.
So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me. If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it—to say nothing of your owing me even your own self.
Command: receive him as you would me
Paul will pay all debts owed by Onesimus. Depending on how he ended up in slavery that could be an offer to purchase his freedom outright. In otherwords if Philemon isn’t going to essentially pardon Onesimus and freely forgive Paull will pay those debts.
Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.
Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.
Some would be offended today if you acknowledged that you want something out of the relationship they have with you. I’m not your friend for free would turn anyone’s head. But we aren’t talking about receiving cash benefits out of being in koininia partnership. Paul says he wants benefit or profit. Now this word here is actually the same word where Onesimus’ name comes from. The other play on words we talked about earlier was just with the meaning of the word. Here it is the word Onimemi. This is where the second command comes. Refresh my heart in Christ. He used that phrase back in the section of thanksgiving vs 7. Where the things in Love Philemon does refresh the saints. This may be the clearer subtle hint at freedom since Paul hasn’t and doesn’t directly ask for Onesimus to be freed. In fact it’s unlikely Paul would, simply to protect the church from being percieved by Rome as insighting rebelion and calling for all slaves to be free. That would have brought an even swifter and harder persecution than the one that was already under way by this time.
At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be graciously given to you.
The third command wraps up the body. Prepare a room for me. Paul isn’t threatening to check up on what happens, he’s hopeful his imprisonment will come to an end and he can be refreshed by a wonderful saint who blesses those around him.
We wrap up with a conclusion like a lot of letters do and some greetings from others. No we’re not going to look at all their names meanings but I’m glad you were thinking that.
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.