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Recap:
In the NT only 2 other letters shorter, 2 & 3 John.
Philemon is a unique letter because of how personal it is.
[[Read the letter]]
Author: Paul with Timothy.
Audience: Philemon and Paul clearly intends it to be read in their home church.
Date: 61–62 AD.
Probably written around the same time as Colossians and Ephesians.
Theme: The power of the gospel to transform lives and to impact human relationships.
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
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
vv 4-7) Thanksgiving and prayer
[4] Some believe that Paul is trying to butter up Philemon, but that ascribes an unworthy motive to Paul.
I’m of the opinion that Paul would not have said it if he did not sincerely meant it.
What sticks out to you about Paul’s opening line here?
Whenever Paul prayed for Philemon, he thanked God for this noble brother.
He was the kind of man you would like to have as a friend and brother.
Speaks a lot of Philemon’s character.
How does this verse teach us about prayer?
Paul prayed often, and with thanksgiving to God.
In Paul’s letters, four times he says, he makes mention for people:
And here in Philemon 4.
What stood out for me in studying is the fact that making mention means that Paul didn’t alway pray long, intricate prayers.
but he prayed often for the people on his heart.
This is something that I’ve started to implement too.
[5] What are the two qualities in Philemon’s character that gave Paul great joy?
The love and the faith he had toward the Jesus and toward all the saints.
The NT describes every true Christian as a saint, not just a few exceptional Christians.
His faith in Christ showed he had the root of divine life and his love towards all the saints showed that he had the fruit as well.
His faith was productive.
There is something intriguing about this verse too.
Paul expressed similar thanks for the saints to whom those Letters were addressed.
However, in those places he put faith before love.
Here he puts love before faith.
Why the difference?
“The order here is the order of analysis, digging down fro manifestation to cause.
In the other passages it is the order of production ascending form the root to the flower.”
– Maclaren
Paul does another interesting thing too in his arrangement.
He divides the expression “Love toward all the saints” by inserting faith… toward the Lord Jesus after love.
When dissecting this verse the object of faith is the Lord Jesus.
The object of love is the saints.
But Paul wraps the faith clause with the love clause, as if to forewarn Philemon that he is about to have a special opportunity to manifest the reality of his faith by showing love to the slave Onesimus.
Thus there is special emphasis in the word all- all the saints!
[6] What this verse does is it discloses the nature of the Paul’s prayer for him.
Desiring that the sharing of his faith would become effective as Philemon understood the work God did in him.
This is the foundation for all effective evangelism I believe: The overflow of a life touched and changed by God.
God had done every good thing in the life of Philemon.
Now, it was a matter of it being acknowledged by both Philemon and those he shared the faith with.
When these good things were understood, others would come to Jesus.
The reason why some sharing of the faith is not effective is because we don’t know or cannot communicate every good thing God has done for us.
It is possible that Paul means the sharing of material things, was shared through the prompting of faith.
We can share our faith not only by preaching Christ but also by feeding the hungry, clothing the destitute, comforting the bereaved, relieving the distressed—yes, even by forgiving a runaway salve.
Paul’s prayer for Philemon’s life was that his benevolence would lead many to acknowledge that all his good deeds came from Christ.
There is tremendous power and influence in a life where the love of God is manifest.
It is one thing to read about love in a book, but how compelling it is to see the Word become flesh in a human life!
[7] News of Philemon’s overflowing generosity and self-sacrificial love traveled from Colosse to Rome, bringing much joy and comfort to Paul in prison.
It had been a great privilege for Paul to lead Philemon to the Lord, but now how rewarding it was to hear that his child in the faith was going on well for the Lord.
How assuring it was to know that the hearts of the saints were being refreshed by this godly man.
No one lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.
Our actions affect others.
We cannot measure the range of our influence.
We have limitless potential for good or evil.
good hospitality and service refreshing the saints.
[Valley of Vision]
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