Forgiveness shines like a brilliant light throughout the bible, and one of its brightest spots is the tiny book of philemon. The book claims that the apostle paul was its writer vv. This book was written by paul while he was in prison around a. Philemon is actually the average length of ancient letters. Title philemon, the recipient of this letter, was a prominent member of the church at colosse vv. Now he indicates that he has subordinated his personal wishes to the good of philemon, so that philemon might have an opportunity to do a good act to agathon sou freely. One of his slaves, onesimus, had apparently stolen from him cf. The book is a very personal letter sent from the apostle paul see philemon 1,9,19 to his friend and son in the faith philemon. The key personalities of philemon are paul, philemon, and onesimus. The apostle paul was in rome preaching in his own hired house.
Bartsch, 2 b3 pauls desire to put onesimus to work in the ministry 1214 c1 his having sent onesimus back to philemon despite his emotional attachment to the slave 12 c2 his prior resolve to keep onesimus. It deals with the themes of forgiveness and reconciliation. Moule, colossian and philemon studies christian literature crusade, pp. Book of philemon overview insight for living ministries. Paul has clearly and fully expressed his desire to keep onesimus. Today, as we look at the book of philemon, we are going to see forgiveness in action. Nov 28, 2016 watch our overview video on the book of philemon, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Once we have an informed understanding of slavery in the ancient world we. One of pauls shortest and the most explosive letters, the book of philemon demonstrates the gospel through action. These small group studies of philemon contain outlines, crossreferences, bible study discussion questions, and applications. During the time of pauls ministry in ephesus, philemon had likely journeyed to the city, heard pauls preaching and became a christian. Summary of the book of philemon story of the bible. The depiction of philemon as a spirit guide comes from the writings of carl jungs red book, or liber novus.
Jan 17, 2019 the purpose expressed by hina, in order that of pauls desire is that onesimus might serve diakone paul on philemons behalf hyper sou. Philemon bible study lesson 1 historical backgrounds of. Apr 11, 2019 forgiveness shines like a brilliant light throughout the bible, and one of its brightest spots is the tiny book of philemon. Please help me send bibles to poor people throughout the world. Paul urged philemon to receive onesimus no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a brother beloved v. The epistle to philemon is the fiftyseventh book in the christian bible, and the eighteenth in the new testament.
The slave onesimus robbed his master, philemon, and ran away, making his way to rome and to paul. The epistle to philemon is one of apostle pauls prison letters, and is also the shortest of all the pauline epistles. Support link the new testament contains a short book called philemon. It is directed to philemon, which means kisses or one that is affectionate, in behalf of onesimus, which means profitable or usefulness. Philemon was a slave owner who also hosted a church in his home. This attitude models the concern for the good of others that paul has seen in philemon previously v. The book was written around 62 ad during paul first imprisonment in rome. This short letter is a masterpiece of tact and psychology. It consists of only one chapter that was written by paul while he was in jail. Paul clearly writes as a prisoner in philemon 1,9,10,23. Summary of the book of philemon author, date and place of writing recipient, background and purpose now he was willing to return to his master, and paul writes this personal appeal to ask that he be accepted as a christian brother see v.
Philemon, a wealthy christian at colossae, and all future readers of the bible. The letters paul writes like romans and corinthians are extremely long for ancient letters. The book of philemon demonstrates the gospel in action. Its written to philemon whose slave onesimus ran away and became a believer under pauls teaching. The book of philemon is one of the most interesting, yet neglected books of the bible. Because believers in jesus are equal partners in the new humanity, paul asks philemon to forgive his runaway slave onesimus. It was written to philemon as a plea to request forgiveness for his runaway servant onesimus, who was a new believer in jesus christ. Galatians, philippians, and philemon summary galatians. Jupiter, the roman king of the gods, had heard of the virtuous couple, but based on all his previous experiences. In the bible book that bears philemons name, paul addressed his beloved brother as a fellow worker, a title given to those who served for a time alongside paul. The book is unique for the social impact it has exercised. But onesimus met paul and through his ministry became a christian see v.
Paul wrote this book to his friend philemon who lived in colosse, and this letter was probably sent to him along with the letter to the church there. The epistle was intended for philemon, who may have been an elder in the church at colossae. As a reward, they were saved from a flood that drowned the rest of the country. Philemon was the master of onesimus, a runaway slave.
Background commentary on the book of philemon regarding cultural and historical evidence. It is a prison letter, coauthored by paul the apostle with timothy, to philemon, a leader in the colossian church. It appears that he was a slave holder before he was saved. The letter suggests that paul was in prison at the time of the writing. This is especially true when speaking about southern history and culture, and also whenever people are talking about the american civil war or war for southern independence, as some people want it called. There were millions of people in asia minor, and philemon was just one of the men who came to know the lord jesus. One of the most important things to understand about philemon the is background of slavery in the ancient world. One of the visitors converted under pauls teaching was a man named philemon, a slaveowner from the nearby city of colossae philemon 1. So if you have your bibles with you today, open up to the book of philemon. To ask philemon of colossae to not only pardon his slave onesimus, but to give him a warm welcome as a fellow believer. The book of philemon as well as the book of colossians were written by paul and delivered at the same time. Essay on the book of philemon in order to comprehend and gleam the theological insights of philemon, or any biblical scripture, it is imperative that, at least, a basic understanding of the historical and cultural principles be present in the mind of the reader. Philemon was an inhabitant of colosse, a person of some note and wealth, and a convert under the ministry of st.
Paul to a christian living in the area of colossae and included as a book in the new testament see bible table. Paul wrote this letter to philemon, a believer in colosse who, along with others, was a slave owner cf. Paul continues by saying that he is confident that philemon will do what is right and receive his former servant as a brother in the faith verses 2021. It is striking that paul comments on how onesimus might have acted on philemons behalf, even though philemon was a master who had slaves to serve him. He did what most runaway slaves apparently didhe moved into a great metropolis. Onesimus made it to rome, where paul was imprisoned at the. The book of philemon is a prison epistle letter written while in prison, which paul wrote circa 61 a. Since colossians was written from rome during pauls first imprisonment 62 ad. Almost everyone agrees that letter was written by the saint paul to philemon. When paul sits down to put pen to parchment to write to his friends in galatia, hes not exactly feeling the warm fuzzies for them. By using this website, i acknowledge that i am 16 years of age or older, and i agree to the terms and conditions and. To indirectly request of philemon to send onesimus back to paul so that he can go on helping paul as he had already begun to do.
Visit our library of inductive bible studies for more in depth inductive studies on this and other books of the bible you can use in your small group. Paul urged philemon to receive onesimus no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a. Fee in his book how to read the bible for all its worth lays out the form of. Philemon is a perfect example of what ancient letters were typically like in the grecoroman world. What he meant is truethat this little book beautifully illustrates the salvation that every believer enjoys.
Paul is strongly affirmed to be the author of philemon. It is one of the prison epistles, along with ephesians, philippians, and colossians. The epistle of paul to philemon, known simply as philemon, is one of the books of the christian. Gordon fee in his book how to read the ible for all its worth lays out the form of ancient letters as follows with examples from philemon added. Background study on the book of philemon christopher l. The book of philemon author of the book of philemon. To indirectly request of philemon to send onesimus back to paul so that. The book of philemon is as several authors have said, like looking over the shoulder of philemon as he reads his personal mail. Whatever onesimus took from philemon, paul says he will repay verses 1819. This is a personal letter from the apostle paul to philemon, a wealthy christian from colossae. Onesimus took a chance one day, as any slave would have done, and made a run for it. Philemon is an important recurring character in the shin megami tensei.
Study in philemon by edgar pierce exposing the word. Philemon chapter 1 is a brief letter from the apostle paul to philemon. Essay on analysis of the book of philemon christianity. Paul wrote this letter to the slave owner philemon regarding onesimus, a slave who had robbed his master and run away from him.
Philemons slave onesimus run away and came to paul and sought refuge. It was also intended for reading to the entire church that met in philemons home. He is often depicted as a young man wearing a butterfly mask, but appears in later games only in the guise of a butterfly. Jan, 2014 philemon is an awesome story of community, redemption, salvation, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Philemon intro to philemon biblica the international bible society. The book of philemon was written in approximately a. Jupiter, the roman king of the gods, had heard of the virtuous couple, but based on all his previous experiences with humans, he had serious doubts as to their goodness.
The apostles joy and praise for philemons steady faith in the lord jesus, and love to all the saints. Among its 27 books are selected recollections of the life and acts and sayings of jesus in the four gospels. Sep 28, 2009 one of the most important things to understand about philemon the is background of slavery in the ancient world. Martin luther wrote, we are all the lords onesimi cited by h. Epistle to philemon simple english wikipedia, the free. The apostles joy and praise for philemon s steady faith in the lord jesus, and love to all the saints. Galatians, philippians, and philemon summary shmoop. Diarmaid macculloch, in his a history of christianity, described the epistle as a christian foundation document in the justification of slavery. In this letter, paul helps his friend philemon to reconcile with his. According to ancient roman mythology and ovids metamorphoses 8. Philemon bible study lesson 1 historical backgrounds of philemon. Philemon and baucis, in greek mythology, a pious phrygian couple who hospitably received zeus and hermes when their richer neighbours turned away the two gods, who were disguised as wayfarers. Now i suspect that philemon may be a difficult book for you to find. The book of philemon is about a personal appeal to a prosperous christian slave owner to receive his slave back as a brother in christ.
Philemon is an awesome story of community, redemption, salvation, forgiveness, and reconciliation. The letter to philemon is the shortest of all pauls writings and deals with the practice of slavery. Its been described as the application of the highest principles to the most common affairs, but at the time it happened it was just two people at odds with each other being reconciled by a common love for the lord. Philemon definition is a friend and probable convert of the apostle paul. This summary of the book of philemon provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of philemon. Titus philemon hebrews 1 all the books in the bible pauls greeting to philemon paul began this letter by greeting philemon, a wealthy householder. The epistle of paul to philemon, known simply as philemon, is one of the books of the christian new testament. Watch our overview video on the book of philemon, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Use highlighting, underlining, and take notes while you study the bible. Intro to philemon biblica the international bible society.
It has been said that no document in the history of the world has so altered humanitys attitude toward the institution of slavery as has this letter. In this short personal letter, the apostle paul asks his friend philemon to extend forgiveness to a runaway slave named onesimus. To ask philemon of colossae to pardon his slave onesimus. Throughout the next four weeks, well be studying the book of philemon. Onesimus was still the property of philemon, and paul wrote to smooth the way for his return to his master. Once we have an informed understanding of slavery in the ancient world we will be able to make better sense out of what paul is writing to philemon regarding his slave and christian brother onesimus. The apostle paul introduces himself as a prisoner of jesus christ. The letter of paul to philemon epistle by saint paul britannica.
Ephesians philippians colossians philemon is pauls only one chapter book. Pauls letter to philemon historical background kingdom. Activity read the parts of the letter and let them identify it in the letter 1. The book of philemon illustrates that principles like these can and should profoundly affect the lives of believers.