Philemon 1-3

Introduction:

Philemon seems to be a neglected letter. Most Christians have never studied Philemon; or have it heard it taught or preached either.

In the NT there are only 2 other books shorter, 2 and 3 John. We are familiar with Paul’s letters to the different churches in: Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, and Thessalonica.

We also know that Paul would write other letters to different church such as Laodicea:

Colossians 4:16 ESV

16 And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea.

That isn’t the only letters we have from Paul either. We have some very personal letters to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. Philemon seeming to be the most private letter Paul would send, and this private letter was inspired and placed within our canon of authoritative Christian Scripture.

[[Read The Letter]]

Context:

Authors: Paul and Timothy are explicitly named as the authors in verse 1. It becomes apparent through the use of the first person singular “I” that Paul is the principal author.

Title: As the title indicates this is a person letter to Philemon; nevertheless, Paul clearly intends it to be read to the entire Church that meets in Philemon’s home.

Date: The letter was probably written sometime between 61-62 AD. Paul may have written it at roughly the same time that he wrote Colossians and Ephesians.

All three letters were sent with Tychicus and Onesimus. During Paul’s imprisonment in Rome (Acts 27-28).

What is the theme?

Theme: The theme of Philemon is the power of the gospel to transform lives and to impact human relationships.

What are your initial thoughts on the purpose and occasion of this letter?

Purpose, Occasion, and Background:

Philemon was a wealthy slave-holding Christian who lived in the city of Colossae, about 100 miles inland from Ephesus. Apparently during Paul’s three-year ministry in Ephesus, Philemon heard the gospel and was saved. He began serving the cause of Christ in the Colossian community, opening his home for a group of Christians to meet there regularly.

At some point, Onesimus, one of Philemon’s slaves, fled to Rome. Possibly having stolen money or property from Philemon and now a fugitive slave, Onesimus was living in the most populated city of the Roman Empire, hoping to escape detection. In a rather remarkable set of circumstances- not recounted in the letter but certainly reflective of God’s sovereignty- Onesimus somehow came into contact with Paul and became a Christian. As he grew in Christ, he spent much time and effort helping Paul, who was severely constrained by his imprisonment.

Roman imprisonment was different then what we have today. It was house arrest, but the prisoner needed to provide for themselves. Hence the dependency on others.

As much as Paul would like to have retained the service of Onesimus, he knew that this fugitive slave’s severed relationship and wrongdoing against his master needed to be addressed.

Paul thus wrote this letter as an appeal to Philemon to appreciate the transformation that has occurred in Onesimus’ life and to receive him back not merely as a slave but as a “beloved brother” (v.16)

It is difficult to know if Paul was seeking Onesimus’ full emancipation and freedom. It is clear, however, that he was seeking a transformed relationship between slave and master–a new relationship that would defy all the ingrained status distinctions of the surrounding Greek and Roman culture.

There is no doubt that it would have been difficult for the institution of slavery to survive in the atmosphere of love created by the letter, and in fact the elements of Paul’s appeal found in this letter helped lay the foundation for the abolition of slavery.

How does Philemon fit with the history of salvation?

Christians’ treatment of one another in Christ is to be transformed in the light of his grace toward them.

vv 1) The writer and the recipient

Paul was imprisoned in Rome as described in Acts 28:30-31

Acts 28:30–31 ESV

30 He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.

What are the implications of Paul’s title here?

Paul didn’t consider himself a prisoner of Rome. of circumstances, or of the religious leaders who started his legal troubles. He was a prisoner of Jesus. In the service of Jesus.

They were not depressing shackles but a badge of honor.

Timothy: Native of Lystra, 300 miles east of Ephesus. He could become one of Paul’s companions. He is a third-generation Christian. His name is a combination of two Greek word: (timē) meaning “honor, reverence,” and θεός (theos), meaning “God. He was the son of a Jewish woman and a Greek father. Acts 16:1-2

Acts 16:1–2 ESV

1 Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium.

Timothy’s mother is identified as Eunice and his grandmother as Lois- both believers: 2 Timothy 1:5

2 Timothy 1:5 ESV

5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.

Timothy was Jewish due to the fact that he had a Jewish mother. Paul chose Timothy to accompany him on his second missionary journey. He was likely selected due to his outstanding character. Because Paul and Timothy’s area of ministry were heavily influenced by Jewish practices and beliefs and people would know Timothy’s father to be Greek, Paul could not present Timothy as a full Jew without having him circumcised. Which he did.

What is important about Timothy here is the fact that he is a vital member of Paul’s inner circle, as seen in the number of references to him throughout Paul’s letters.

This is the only place in the NT where Philemon is mentioned by name, but we do know that he was a good friend of Pauls.

There is something here that alludes to their friendship, what is it?

The friendship is shown by something significantly missing in his greeting. Of the 13 letters written by Paul, 9 of them have Paul calling himself an apostle. In this letter, Philippians, and 1 and 2 Thessalonians, Paul appealed to his reader more as a friend.

vv 2-3)Greetings to the household

Apphia (Apfia or Affia) could be Philemon’s wife and Archippus his son. Archippus seems to have a significant ministry in Colossae: Colossians 4:17

Colossians 4:17 ESV

17 And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”

This address to family members is unique among the letters of Paul, but it makes sense considering the content of the letter to Philemon. In this letter Paul will appeal to Philemon regarding Onesimus. In the customs of that day, Philemon’s wife was the supervision of the slaves in the household, so the letter concerned her too.

Because of the political status of Christianity, there were no building dedicated to Christian services. The early Christians met in private homes. The Christians of a city would be gathered into different “house churches” with a city “bishop” overseeing the different house churches.

“Up to the third century we have no certain evidence of the existence of church buildings for the purpose of worship; all references point to private houses for this. In Rome several of the oldest churches appear to have been built on the sites of houses used for Christian worship.

Philemon opened His home and in a neighboring town someone named Nympha hosted the church in Laodicea. Which we will see more about in our study of Revelation.

Spurgeon makes a great point about the application of home churches. Suggesting that believer’s homes should also be a church, and that each home can have the characteristics of a healthy church:

Consisting of converted, saved people

Worshipping together

Together having a bond of unity

Supplied with oversight

Teaching always present

With a heart to minister to those on the outside

[3] Verse 3 gives us the classic Pauline greeting of grace and peace. It is only through grace is anyone able to receive peace with and from God.

This is only one sample of numberless letters which must have been written to his friend and disciples. Again don’t let this short book fool you.

“This is a notable Epistle, and full of wroth; each word having its weight, each syllable its substance. From an abject subject, the receiving of a runaway servant, St. Paul soars like a heavenly eagle, and flies a high pitch of heavenly discourse.” - John Trapp

Ephesians 3:17–19 ESV

17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.