Sermon Tone Analysis

Teaching Notes

Outline

Philemon 1-3 - Greetings

Philemon 1 - Author

Philemon 1-2 - Recipients

Philemon 3 - Grace & Peace

Philemon 4-7 - Philemon’s Character

Philemon 4-5 - Philemon’s Character

Philemon 6 - Paul’s Prayer

Philemon 7 - Saints Refreshed

Philemon 8-16 - Paul’s Request

Philemon 8-12 - Paul’s Appeal

Philemon 13-14 - Paul’s Vision for Onesimus’ Future

Philemon 15-16 - Slave to Beloved Brother

Philemon 17-22 - Paul Intercedes

Philemon 17-21 - Paul Intercedes on Behalf of Onesimus

Philemon 22 - Paul’s Travel Plans

Purpose of Philemon

Paul wrote Philemon requesting a transformed relationship between him and Onesimus

Main point of Philemon 17-22

Paul, inserting himself as an intercessor, is confident that Philemon will forgive Onesimus

Philemon 17-21 - Paul Intercedes on Behalf of Onesimus

So if you consider me a partner,

Consider

A partner

Receive him as you would receive me.

Receive

④ to extend a welcome, receive in(to) one’s home or circle of acquaintances

If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything,

Wronged

② to cause damage to or mistreat

Owes

① to be indebted to someone in a financial sense

Charge that to my account.

Charge - Account

to charge with a financial obligation

I, Paul, write this with my own hand:

I will repay it — to say nothing of your owing me even your own self.

Repay

to make compensation, pay damages

Owing

owe besides, still owe (POxy 101, 42 and oft.

pap) τινί τι someth.

to someone of debts outstanding

Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord.

Want some benefit

Æ 1. Voluntative Optative (a.k.a Optative of Obtainable Wish, Volitive Optative)

a. Definition

This is the use of the optative in an independent clause to express an obtainable wish or a prayer.

It is frequently an appeal to the will, in particular when used in prayers.

to be the recipient of a favor or benefit or to have someth.

for one’s use, have benefit of, enjoy.

The word translated “benefit” (the verb onaimēn) is somewhat similar to the name “Onesimus” (Onēsimos), and a number of interpreters suggest therefore that Paul might intend another play on words (as in v. 11): “You, Philemon, will truly be ‘Onesimus’ (“useful”) to me.”

It is argued, to the contrary, that the verb is not all that unusual.143

But, in fact, the verb is found only here in the New Testament and only once in the LXX, so it is unusual enough.

Paul may well intend the pun.

Refresh my heart in Christ.

Refresh

① to cause someone to gain relief from toil,

Heart

② as often in the ancient world, inner body parts served as referents for psychological aspects

Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.

Confident

② The 2 pf.

(w.

plpf.) has pres.

mng.

(B-D-F §341; Rob.

881), to be so convinced that one puts confidence in someth.

Obedience

① a state of being in compliance, obedience (one listens and follows instructions)

• of obedience to God’s chosen representatives, the apostle and his emissaries

Philemon 22 - Paul’s Travel Plans

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.

Prayers

① petition addressed to deity, prayer

Theology in Action

The Gospel Working in Action

Paul’s willingness to meet Onesimus’s debt to restore his relationship with Philemon is a marvelous picture of Christ’s work.

Philemon, like God, had been wronged.

Onesimus, like the sinner, stood in need of reconciliation.

Paul offered to pay the price to bring about that reconciliation.

That is the same role Jesus plays in the relationship between the sinner and God.

Paul, like Christ, was willing to pay the price of reconciliation.