Philemon-Colossians

Philemon Intro

Philemon was a leader in the church at Colossae

We know Philemon was from Colossae because Colossians indicates that Onesimus was a resident of that city

Colossians 4:9 “and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.”

Since Onesimus was Philemon’s slave, we can safely conclude that Philemon lived in the same place.

The two letters share multiple connections:

Colossians refers to Onesimus

both have Timothy as co-sender

both mention Epaphras and Archippus

and both include Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke among Paul’s companions.

Many scholars conclude that these similarities suggest the letters were written at the same time and place and sent together to Colossae.

It was never mentioned that Paul visited Colossae so it is likely that Philemon visited Paul in Ephesus.

Chapter 1

v. 1-3

v. 1

Paul mentions he is in prison.

He is with Timothy. Timothy was likely helping to attend to Paul’s needs. Remember prison was not punitive, it was a holding place for upcoming trial.

v. 2

Addressing this to Philemon, but also including the names of the couple that are hosting the church in their house.

He is including the eldership in his request.

This is done so that the overseers

are aware of the situation

welcome Onesimus

Work with Paul the Apostle to resolve the issue between these members of the local church.

v. 3

Grace to you

His typical greeting

He is stating that the grace and favor of God is going to flow to them through the writing of this letter.

Those that read it, believe it, and obey it, will be blessed and highly favored by God.

The letter ends with his stating, now “grace is with you”

Philemon 25 “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”

v. 8-22

v. 8-9

He knows he is speaking with the authority of Christ, and in doing so, he is choosing to make a request rather than a demand.

When in a position of authority given by God, we have the opportunity to show love by operating and God does.

God doesn’t force us to follow Him

God doesn’t demand our obedience.

God requests that we do. However, His will, will be done. His request is out of love giving us the opportunity to partner with Him in His work.

We can do this with our kids.

We can do this in the church.

When we are truly operating under the authority of God, we have the ability to operate as His authority. However we need to be sure to do so in love, as he would.

v. 10-11

It’s clear that Philemon loves and respects Paul. Paul is stating that Onesimus is his “son” to indicate anything done to him will be done to Paul and anything done by him, Paul is taking responsibility for.

He is also showing his confidence in the true repentance of Onesimus.

The name Onesimus means “useful”

Names were used to highlight something about the person.

Saul was named after King Saul which would have been a regal name. He began to be addressed by his Latin name, Paul, which meant, “little”.

Simon’s was called Peter which meant “rock” referring tot he foundation of the church.

Barnabas was named Joseph, but the Apostles called him “Son of Encouragement”

Paul is using a play on words to indicate to Philemon that he has been given this name for a reason.

v. 12-16

Paul wanted to do nothing without Philemon’s consent

The importance of being in agreement is continually stressed throughout the NT.

1 Corinthians 1:10 “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.”

Philippians 2:2 “complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.”

2 Corinthians 13:11 “Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.”

If Paul had “kept” him, it could be perceived as Paul taking this other person’s property. That would not maintain brotherhood with Philemon.

If there is any division among the church, it is our duty to resolve it. It needs to be called out, discussed, and middle ground needs to be found. We should be willing to compromise our positions. However, we should not compromise the word of God, in our stance. That is the foundation on which we find agreement.

If someone decides not to agree with the word of God, they are in sin and we should not be yoked with them.

2 Corinthians 6:14–16 “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols?...

The example of the Host having a dress code. red vs. black

v. 16

Paul is stating that having Onesimus as a brother will be more “useful” to him than a bondservant, because he will actually be “useful” for the Lord, which Paul knows is Philemon’s heart.

v. 17-22

Put it on my tab

Paul is holding both Onesimus and Philemon accountable and taking responsibility for their relationship.

Titus 3:10–11 “As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.”

Addressing division is a duty of an overseer.

In the Church, the overseer is the Elder.

You are overseers in relationships around you.

While this is a duty of an Elder, this is not only the duty of the elders. You may need to get elders involved to stomp out division, but you can also work to bring people together.

V. 22

He is stating that he plans to visit. There is no record of Paul Ever visiting Colossae. He probably did plan to visit, but this statement is actually more about holding Philemon accountable.

V. 23-25

Mark

Acts 13:13 Mark leaves Paul and Barnabas.

Acts 15:37, Paul refuses to take Mark because of the previous abandonment.

At some point Mark has joined him in Ephesus and Paul has reconciled with him.

Possible lack of repentance earlier. Barnabas disciples him through this. He later repented to Paul and Paul accepted him as a brother.

Luke

Luke is also with him. Argument for this prison time in Rome because we know Luke went with him there and Luke recorded that prison time.

Acts was completed in late 70 AD about 15-20 years after this. Possible he was only in Ephesus for a short time and did not record the prison time. Luke is only mentioned in Philemon, Colossians, and 1 Timothy which was written later.

Colossians Intro

Written around 55AD along with the letter to Philemon

Colossae was about 110 miles inland from Ephesus

Ephesus was the main port city closest to Colossae and the Colossians would have made regular trips there.

Colossae was famous for wool and textile dying specifically a red wool they produced called colossinum

Was a major trade route to both Pergamum and Ephesus.

City went into decline when trade began to be rerouted through Laodicea

Earthquake around 61 AD destroyed the city and many moved to Laodicea and Hieropolis.

There was a large Jewish population in Colossae.

This church is likely the church in Laodicea later written to in Revelation.

Revelation 3:14–22 ““And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. “ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, “I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing,” not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ””

That is this church about 40 years later.

Chapter 1

V. 1-8

V. 1-2

Typical opening to Paul’s letters

Timothy is still with him

Grace to you through this letter.

4:18 Grace is with you

V. 4-6

“we heard of you”

This is the first church we have heard of that was not planted by Paul.

Of course, many were, but we see the beginnings of the grass roots work that God is doing in building his church.

v. 6 The gospel is “bearing fruit”

V. 7-8

They learned of the gospel from Epaphras

He planted this church.

He delivered this letter along with the letter to Philemon.

V. 9-14

V. 9

We have not ceased to pray for you.

Ephesians 1 and 3 — Paul reports that he does not cease giving thanks and praying for the Ephesians, asking that they receive spiritual wisdom and revelation to know God more fully, along with enlightened hearts to understand their calling and inheritance.

Philippians 1:3–11 — Paul thanks God while praying for the Philippians with joy, and prays that their love will grow in knowledge and discernment, making them pure and blameless.

Colossians 1:9–14 — Paul states he has not ceased praying for the Colossians since hearing of their faith, asking that they be filled with knowledge of God’s will and walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 1 and 3 — Paul gives thanks constantly while mentioning the Thessalonians in his prayers, remembering their faith, love, and hope.

2 Thessalonians 1:11–12 — Paul states he always prays that God will make the Thessalonians worthy of their calling and fulfill their good works.

Romans 1:8–10 — Paul thanks God for the Romans and mentions them constantly in his prayers, asking to visit them.

2 Corinthians 13:7–9 — Paul prays that the Corinthians will do what is right, with their restoration being the focus of his intercession.

He is constantly in prayer for all of these people.

What prevents us from being constantly in prayer for the church?

Life

Phones

Tv

Work

We all agree that is bad. We need to follow Paul’s example. We need to continually remove distractions, and spend more time praying and specifically praying for others.

The Lord will bless this work as we see he blessed Paul and his prayers.

V. 13

He has delivered us from darkness

And has transferred us to the kingdom

The Kingdom is here and we are in it.

We currently have the inheritance of the King and all of the power and authority that comes with it.

Hebrews 12:28 “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,”

V. 15-20

Poem that celebrates the universal lordship of Jesus over all the powers of the world.

Remember, Paul is in prison, and the economy in Colossae is declining.

He is inviting them to imagine a different world than the one they see around them. A world in which God rules and rescues.

Read in NLT

He is speaking to a Jewish people that for thousands of years:

Knew God created all things in his divine wisdom

Hoped for being the in very presence of God

V. 15

Christ is the image of God

All of the stories of people encountering God (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, David) were encountering Christ. (Christophony)

V. 16

God didn’t just create everything, he did it through Christ

V. 18

Christ is the head of the church. Not one of his disciples, he alone.

V. 20

God reconciled everything to himself.

He changed the legal status

Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death…”

That reconciliation was made possible through the cross.

That reconciliation is not automatic. It is available to everyone that chooses to die to the world and be reborn in Christ.

John 3:16 ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

This poem is the gospel message spoken in way that Jews would deeply understand.

V. 21-23

This includes all of you.

V. 23

Don’t drift.

Just because you have been saved doe not mean you are always saved. You must continue to walk in the truth:

loving God with all you are

loving others as yourself

walking in repentance for the times you fail to do those 2 things.

V. 24-29

V. 25

Stewardship

This is not just a term related to finances.

Being a good steward requires 2 things:

Treating that which is given to me like it is mine.

Knowing it is not mine, and I will be held accountable for it.

Matthew 25:14–30 Parable of the talents

5, 2, and 1 according to their ability

We have been given that which God knows we are able to handle.

He gave he servant 1 knowing he could do well with 1. However, the servant decided to squander what he was given

“If I had a million dollars I would build a new church.”

Are you giving to the renovations from what you have now?

“If I had kids I would raise them to know the Lord.”

Are you discipling the people in your life now?

“If they put me on stage to preach, I would be the best teacher of the word.”

Are you even reading your Bible now?

Know that all you have is from the Lord and in some way it is meant to be used to bring more people to know Christ and his love.

V. 28

Warning and teaching everyone.

Every person they interact with hears about the love of Christ.

Their goal is not to spout all of their wisdom, but to share the wisdom of God so that all might be mature in Christ.

I can’t teach all of Grand Rapids area what I know about the word of God. But I can teach those around me so that they can teach those around them so that the church can reach the world.