Study of Philemon (A Lesson of Forgiveness)

Philemon 1-3 From Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our dear friend and colaborer, to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your house. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

Paul establishes who he is by defining himself as a captive of Jesus.

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) 1300 δέσμιος

δέσμιος (desmios), ου (ou), ὁ (ho): n.masc.; ≡ Str 1198; TDNT 2.43—LN 37.117 prisoner, one under arrest (Mt 27:15; Mk 15:6; Ac 16:25; 23:18; 25:14; Eph 3:1; 4:1; 2Ti 1:8; Phm 1, 9)

Prison (Our minds are captured and fixated on Jesus Christ)

prison, a building or other facility used for holding individuals in judicial confinement

Types of Imprisonment: Various types of imprisonment were known in biblical times. Accused persons were often imprisoned either while their cases were being investigated or to assure their appearance for trial. The ot contains several examples: Gen. 39:19-41:14; 1 Kings 22:26–27; Num. 15:34 (see also Lev. 24:12, ‘until the will of the Lord should be declared’). In nt times Roman magistrates had the right either to remand accused persons to civil or military prisons or to release them on bail or on personal recognizance. Provincial magistrates often chose to imprison accused persons, and defendants of lower social status were everywhere particularly vulnerable. The nt offers many examples of pretrial imprisonment: Acts 4:3; 12:3–4; 16:23–24; 23:35; Phil. 1:7–26. The binding or chaining of Jesus before bringing him to Pilate may reflect some sort of formal arrest procedures (Matt. 27:2; Mark 15:1).

Achtemeier, Paul J., Harper & Row and Society of Biblical Literature. 1985. In Harper’s Bible Dictionary, 1st ed., 824. San Francisco: Harper & Row.

Paul affirms Philemon

Philemon (Φιλήμων, Philēmōn). A “friend and fellow-worker” of Paul (Phlm 1), and the recipient of the New Testament letter that bears his name. He was an important member of the church at Colossae who was known for his hospitality, since the church met in his house (Phlm 2, 5–7). Apphia may have been his wife and Archippus his son (Phlm 2; Col 4:17). Onesimus—concerning whom Paul writes the Letter to Philemon—was his slave.

Apphia (afʹee-uh), a Christian woman addressed by Paul in Philemon (Philem. 2), possibly Philemon’s wife.

ARCHIPPUS (PERSON) [Gk Archippos (Ἀρχιππος)]. A Christian greeted in the salutation of the letter to Philemon, identified as a “fellow soldier” of Paul (Philemon 2), and as one urged to fulfill the “ministry” (diakonia) he had received in the Lord (Col 4:17). Since Archippus is mentioned immediately after PHILEMON and APPHIA in Philemon 2, he is usually taken to have been a member of Philemon’s household, perhaps a close relative of Philemon and Apphia, such as a son or a brother.

The Church in his home: COLOSSAE. A city in the Roman province of Asia, in the W of what is now Asiatic Turkey. It was situated about 15 km up the Lycus valley from *Laodicea, on the main road to the E. It was originally the point at which the great routes from Sardis and Ephesus joined, and at a defensible place with an abundant water-supply. It was an important city in the Lydian and Persian periods, but later it declined when the road through Sardis to Pergamum was resited farther W at the prosperous new foundation of Laodicea. The site is now uninhabited; it lies near Honaz, 16 km E of the town of Denizli.

Philemon 4-7 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. I pray that the faith you share with us may deepen your understanding of every blessing that belongs to you in Christ. I have had great joy and encouragement because of your love, for the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

Greatful for the demonstration of faith no matter the measure.

Paul practices encouragement first.

Philemon 8-11 So, although I have quite a lot of confidence in Christ and could command you to do what is proper, I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love—I, Paul, an old man and even now a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus. I am appealing to you concerning my child, whose spiritual father I have become during my imprisonment, that is, Onesimus, who was formerly useless to you, but is now useful to you and me. 

Onesimus (Ὀνήσιμος, Onēsimos, “useful”). A runaway slave who is the subject of the New Testament Letter of Philemon.

Biblical Events concerning Onesimus

Onesimus fled from his master, Philemon, and he met the Apostle Paul during his imprisonment. As a result of his connection with Paul, Onesimus became a believer (Phlm 10). Paul then sent Onesimus back to Philemon, whom he had also led to faith in Christ (ca. ad 60; Phlm 19). Onesimus accompanied Tychicus, apparently bearing the letter to Colossians (Col 4:7–9) and the letter to Philemon.

In the letter to Philemon, Paul entreated his friend to be lenient toward Onesimus. He did not base the appeal on opposition to slavery per se. Rather, Paul made his request on two bases:

Onesimus’ becoming a fellow brother in the Lord with both Paul and Philemon (Phlm 16)

Philemon’s spiritual debt to Paul, who had led Philemon to the Lord (Phlm 19)

Philemon 12-16 I have sent him (who is my very heart) back to you. I wanted to keep him so that he could serve me in your place during my imprisonment for the sake of the gospel. However, without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your good deed would not be out of compulsion, but from your own willingness. For perhaps it was for this reason that he was separated from you for a little while, so that you would have him back eternally, no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a dear brother. He is especially so to me, and even more so to you now, both humanly speaking and in the Lord.

Similarity to the send of Christ.

2 Corinthians 8:9 “9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although he was rich, he became poor for your sakes, so that you by his poverty could become rich.”