The Epistle to Philemon

Chapter 1

This short letter was written by the Apostle Paul while he was in a house prison in Rome awaiting a trial before Emperor Nero. He was expecting to be released because of all the false charges against him, of which he was set free. The time of this writing was about 62 A.D. This letter was addressed to Philemon who was probably the pastor of the church at Colossai; however, we do know that the church was hosted by Philemon and conducted in his home. Philemon was a man of means who had a slave named Onimisus, which having slaves in the 1st century Asia Minor was commonplace. We do not know whether Philemon was a tough master of his slaves; however, we do know that Onesimus ran away from Philemon and took off to Rome. While in Rome, Onesimus encountered the Apostle Paul and his ministry team and became born-again. He then joined the apostle's ministry team and became a great help to the Apostle Paul. 

Shortly before this letter was written, the apostle received a visitor from a man named Epaphras from Colossai of Asia Minor. Extremely concerned for his church back in Colossai, Epaphras told the Apostle Paul that strange heritical beliefs had entered into the church and the congregation was being pulled away from the truths of the Word of God.

The heretical belief of the Colossian church became known as the Colossian heresy, combining extreme laws of Judaism, mysticism of paganism and Gnosticism added to Christianity. For more information, click below.
This letter was sent to confront a cultic heresy that had entered into the church at Colossea / Colossians (Epistle) / Bible Study - Old & New Testament / Believers Bible School

The Roman law at that time in history was that if a run-a-way slave was found, he or she must be returned to his master. The Apostle Paul was now in a position to use this Roman law for the glory of God by returning Onesimus back to his owner Philemon of Colossai which was tucked in the mountains in Asia Minor, but do so in a manner that would glorify God, free Onesimus, while sending him back to his owner.

Returning Onesimus was the purpose of this short letter to Philemon, which accompanied another letter written to the church at Colossai confronting the heresy that had taken over their church. Since the Apostle Paul was in prison, and unable to bring Onesimus personally back to Philemon, he would send Tychicus, one of his ministry partners to take Onesimus back to his master Philemon. The plea, however, would be that Philemon take Onesimus back not as his slave, but as a brother in the Lord to help him in his ministry in the church that was in his home in Colossai. That is what this letter to Philemon is all about.

To receive a full understanding of this letter, please read the Epistle to the Colossians along with this letter.
Bible Study - Old & New Testament 

Having this knowledge, let's now examine the letter the Apostle Paul sent to Philemon as we go to verse 1 of the Book of Philemon.

Greetings

¹ Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer, ² to the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: ³ Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

As typical of the Apostle Paul when writing any of his letters, he begins with a greeting. The recipient of this letter is Philemon, the probable pastor of the house church in Colossai in Asia Minor. The apostle of Jesus Christ was well known among all of the churches throughout Asia Minor; however,  the apostle never went to or ministered to the church in Colossai.

As he begins his letter, he announces that he is a prisoner in chains because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. While he is claiming himself as the author, as well as including Timothy as part of his greeting. Timothy, a Gentile believer and close friend to the Apostle Paul in ministry was with him in Rome in prison as a constant visitor and probaby penned this letter while the apostle dictated the words to him.

This letter was also addressed to Apphia who could have been Philemon's wife or else someone influential in the church at Colossai. In addition, this letter included Archippus, who is also referred to in Colossians, chapter 4 as a fellow believer whom the apostle was encouraging to grow in his faith. Here in Philemon, Archippus is listed as a soldier for the Lord and probably influential in the church.

The Apostle Paul sends his greetings as he extends spiritual blessings and peace from his heart as he represents God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

The Apostle's Thanksgiving and Prayer

⁴ I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, ⁵ hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, ⁶ that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. ⁷ For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.

The apostle wrote to say that when he prayed and  thanked God, he mentioned them in his prayers, believing and claiming their love and commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ. In this positive confession for them, Paul was praying that they understand and experience all the good things they have in Christ and are putting into action the generosity that comes from their faith. 

As he continued, the apostle prayed that their love for the Lord would be shared with others, received, recognized and appreciated within the hearts of God's people. 

A plea for Onesimus

⁸ Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting, ⁹ yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you—being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ— 

The apostle now boldly writes, asking Philemon for a favor. He was saying that he could use his authority of Christ, because it is the right thing to do, but he preferred simply to ask him as a favor to consider his request as a brother in Christ, reminding him that he is now old and in chains in prison.

¹⁰ I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, ¹¹ who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me. ¹² I am sending him back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, ¹³ whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel. ¹⁴ But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary.

The apostle now begins his plea for Onesimus and his freedom. The apostle went on to say that he met Onesimus while he was in prison and while he did not say how, he led this run-a-way slave to the Lord. As a result he took him on as a son, becoming like a father to him in the faith.

The apostle went on to say that as a run-a-way slave Onesimus was of no value to Philemon, but now by sending him back, Onesimus can be of use to both of them. As much as he wanted to keep Onesimus in Rome to assist him in his prison ministry, the apostle didn't want to do anything without Philemon's consent. While he preferred to have Onesimus stay with him, he was sending him back so they both could benefit by Onesimus, if Philemon took him back - not as a run-a-way slave returned, but as a brother in the Lord who could work side-by-side with him. That way the Gospel could continue through him both as a man and a brother in the Lord. In this, the apostle was beseeching Philemon for mercy for Onesimus and a favor back to him. As such, the apostle wasn't trying to force him, but call upon him to voluntarily take Onesimus back as a brother in the Lord.

¹⁵ For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, ¹⁶ no longer as a slave but more than a slave—a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

The apostle went on to say that perhaps God had a plan in Onesimus running away - in that he became born-again to Christ Jesus, and now he could be returned as a brother in the Lord and not a slave - partnering with him for the Gospel to the end. 

Philemon’s Obedience Encouraged

¹⁷ If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me. ¹⁸ But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account. ¹⁹ I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. I will repay—not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides. ²⁰ Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord.

Now the apostle is leaning on his position as an apostle of Jesus, whom he was highly respected throughout Asia Minor, as well respected as a brother in the Lord. Using his position, he is asking  Philemon to take Onesimus back, but only as a brother in Christ. And if Onesimus has wronged Philemon in any way or owes him anything, charge it to Paul's account. 

Just as the Apostle Paul did in the letter he wrote to the church at Colossai, he wrote in his own handwriting to prove the letter was from him. As was mentioned earlier, Timothy could have penned the bulk of the letter as it was dictated to him by the apostle, but we know the apostle penned the salutation at the end of this letter as well as the letter to the church at Colossai in his own handwriting to validate the letters were from him. The apostle reminds Philemon that while he would repay any of Onesimus' debt, he owes his very soul to Paul for sharing the Good News of Jesus around Asia Minor in which masses of people came to believe in Jesus Christ.Those words of truth eventually was heard by Philemon through a follower of Jesus who then passed it on to Philemon. 

We can see that the apostle goes in and out using his authority as an apostle, but still calling upon the mercies of Philemon to grant him favor for Onesimus - for the Lord's sake and as an encouragement for Paul.

Paul's final greeting

²¹ Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. ²² But, meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you. Farewell

The apostle was confident that Philemon would do as he asked and even more, because it was the Apostle Paul asking him for a favor.

Then he asked one more favor - prepare a guest room for him, for he was hoping to be set free by Emperor Nero very shortly, of which he was, and that he would be coming to see him in Colossai.

There is no biblical record of the apostle going to Colossai upon his release from prison; however, there is historical record stating that he did go back to Asia Minor, which tells us he probably did fulfill this promise to visit Philemon and Onesimus in Colossai.

²³ Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, ²⁴ as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers.

Just as the Apostle Paul did his salutations in his letter to the church at Colossai, he briefly mentions these fellow laborers at a final ending to his letter.

Please refer to The Epistle of Colossians, chapter 4 for more detail on this salutation.
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²⁵ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

As was customary with the Apostle Paul, he always closed with the closing salutation of "grace and peace" be with your spirit. As was the heart of his message to the Gentile world, it was through Christ Jesus was this possible - let it now rest in their spirit. 

Amen - let it be so!

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