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

Purpose of Philemon

Paul wrote Philemon requesting a transformed relationship between him and Onesimus

Main point of Philemon 4-7

Philemon's gospel-transformation has led to the hearts of the saints being refreshed

Philemon 4-5 - Philemon’s Character

Philemon 4–5 (ESV)

4 I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints,

Colossians 1:1–14 (ESV)

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

2 To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven.

Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant.

He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf 8 and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers,

I thank my God always

Thank

② to express appreciation for benefits or blessings, give thanks, express thanks, render/return thanks

Always

1. always — at all times; all the time and on every occasion.

When I remember you in my prayers

Remember

1. mention (memory) — a remark concerning someone called into recollection; especially a statement made to God in prayer.

13. to do for oneself — to perform an action or course of action; especially as for one’s own benefit.

Prayers

① petition addressed to deity, prayer

Because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints,

Chiastic structure

Love… for all the saints

Faith… toward the Lord Jesus

Because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have

I hear

③ to receive news or information about someth., learn about someth.

Your love

① the quality of warm regard for and interest in another, esteem, affection, regard, love

Faith

1. trust (faith) — strong confidence in, and reliance upon, someone or something; often with the object of trust understood.

You have

The present tense of echō (you have) demonstrates the continuous nature of Philemon’s concern for the Lord.

His unwavering faith gave Paul confidence in his willingness to forgive.

Toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints

Lord Jesus

All the saints

2. holy one (person) — a person who is morally pure; though possibly not to the exclusion of ritual purity.

Philemon 6 - Paul’s Prayer

And I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective

Sharing

1. participation fellowship — the act of sharing in the activities or privileges of an intimate association or group; especially used of marriage and churches.

Koinōnia (fellowship) is difficult to render precisely in English.

It is usually translated “fellowship,” but it means much more than merely enjoying each other’s company.

It refers to a mutual sharing of all life, and could be translated “belonging.”

■ 6* The thanksgiving leads directly into the petition:18 that the κοινωνία “of the faith” of Philemon might also be effective in the future.

The Greek word κοινωνία, therefore, does not mean fellowship here, but participation.

Philemon shares in the common faith.20

Faith

2. trust in the gospel — trust in Jesus as contained in the content of the Gospel.

Effective

1. effective — producing or capable of producing an intended result.

For the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us

For the full knowledge

1. personal recognition — coming to understand something clearly and distinctly or as true and valid; often with a personal acquaintance that necessitates a positive or negative reaction.

Of every good thing

1. good (moral concept) — moral excellence or admirableness.

That is in us

For the sake of Christ.

1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV)

31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Philemon 7 - Saints Refreshed

Philemon 7 (ESV)

7 For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.

For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother,

Derived

⑦ to experience someth., have

1. to have — to have or possess, either in a concrete or an abstract sense.

Much joy

5. much (quantifier) — (quantifier used with mass nouns) great in quantity or degree or extent.

① the experience of gladness

Comfort

③ lifting of another’s spirits, comfort, consolation

3. consolation (source) — a source of comfort a person feels when consoled in times of disappointment.

Because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.

Hearts

1. compassion ⇔ bowels — a deeply felt compassion; characteristic of the psychological feature understood as the bowels.

Saints

2. holy one (person) — a person who is morally pure; though possibly not to the exclusion of ritual purity.

Refreshed

① to cause someone to gain relief from toil, trans.

(mid.: ApcEsdr 1:12 p. 25, 5) cause to rest, give (someone) rest, refresh, revive