PHILEMON VERSES 1-7
PRISONER PAUL’S FRIEND PHILEMON
Philemon 1 (BSB) Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker,
SUSIE: Paul was under house arrest in Rome. Why did he call himself a prisoner of Jesus?
SUSAN: It was because of his preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ that he was arrested.
QUESTION: Before you read ahead in our discussion, do you see a purpose in Paul’s imprisonment? Could even imprisonment be for Paul’s good and especially for God’s glory?
We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.
Romans 8:28 (AMPC)
SUSAN: Christ was on a mission through Paul to give the gospel to the Gentiles. His imprisonment, rather than stopping him in his mission, was God’s plan and design to spread the gospel and encourage the believers. Paul could cover much more ground via letters than traveling on foot. Sometimes, when the Enemy is speaking in my ear, I feel imprisoned in my cerebral palsied earth-suit. Satan tries to make me believe that my situation could not possibly be by God’s design. He attempts to make me think I could accomplish more if I experienced a modern-day healing of biblical proportions (i.e., new legs and complete healing from CP). But then, someone comes up to me and tells me how much my life, my example, has encouraged them. And God himself has impressed upon me that healing is mine, but the timing is His. The moral of this story is, “Tune out the Enemy’s voice and listen only to God and the godly people He places in your life.” Sometimes the temporary can seem awfully permanent, but I cling to this promise:
For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal glory that is far beyond comparison.
2 Corinthians 4:17 (BSB)
SUSIE: While he was imprisoned, Paul had plenty of time to pray, hear from the Holy Spirit, and dictate letters to his helper(s). There were, also, guards, Roman soldiers, who converted to Christianity while assigned to guard Paul. Who was Timothy?
SUSAN: Timothy was the son of Eunice and grandson of Lois, both of whom were believers in Christ and godly women. They gave him the name Timothy which means “one who honors God.” Godly faith spanned generations of Timothy’s family. Each person’s own salvation is by God’s grace through faith and cannot be inherited. Timothy surrendered his life to Jesus on his own. However, his young faith was nurtured by his mother and grandmother.
I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am convinced is in you as well.
2 Timothy 1:5 (BSB)
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (BSB)
ACTIVITY: Spend some time with or send a letter to a young person in your life—a child, grandchild, niece or nephew, or teenager at church. Encourage that young believer by telling them how you see the Lord working in their life. Urge them to continue in faith and press on to grow in the wisdom of the Lord. Perhaps consider a mentoring (discipleship) relationship with that young believer.
SUSIE: Timothy’s father was Greek and had probably passed away by this time.
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.
Acts 16:1 (BSB)
SUSAN: Paul mentioned Timothy in several letters to give him credibility with the body of believers as a successor to him. Timothy would eventually be one of only three people to receive a divinely inspired personal letter from Paul—the others being Philemon and Titus.
SUSIE: Now on to the recipient of the letter. Philemon was a wealthy man having a large house and at least one slave.
SUSAN: He lived in the city of Colossae and would have been one of the people receiving the letter to the Colossians as well as this personal letter. He was a member . . .
SUSIE: . . . and possibly a leader (Paul calls him a co-laborer) . . .
SUSAN: . . . of the congregation at Colossae that met in his home. Paul had led Philemon to the Lord years earlier.
Philemon 2 . . . to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets at your house:
SUSIE: Apphia was Philemon’s wife, and Archippus was either his son or an elder in the church that met in his home. If he were an elder, Paul may have addressed the letter to him as well as Philemon; so that Philemon would be held accountable for considering Paul’s advice.
SUSAN: Paul’s letters were a way to spread the gospel, teach new believers, and sometimes to handle problems/conflicts that arose in the congregations. The conflict between Philemon and Onesimus is the main purpose of this letter . . .
SUSIE: . . . but it served the purpose of teaching believers about forgiveness among the Messianic community as well since it was to be read to the entire congregation.
Philemon 3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
G5485 Charis – . . .graciousness of manner or act: lit. fig., or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life . . .
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
G1515 εἰρήνη eirḗnē, i-ray’-nay; probably from a primary verb εἴρω eírō (to join); peace (literally or figuratively); by implication, prosperity:—one, peace, quietness, rest, + set at one again.
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
“5485 cháris – (III) (B) Of the grace, favor and goodwill of God and Christ as exercised toward men: where cháris is joined with eirḗné (1515), peace, éleos (1656), mercy, and the like in salutations, including the idea of every kind of favor, blessing, good, as proceeding from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor 1:3; 2 Cor 1:2; Gal. 1:3). Also, in the introduction to most of the epistles (Eph 1:2; Phil. 1:2; Col. 1:2; 1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 1:2; 1 Tim. 1:2, Titus 1:4, Phile. 1:3; 1 Pet. 1:2, 2 Pet. 1:2; 2 John 1:3; Rev. 1:4).”
The Complete Word Study Dictionary, Spiros Zodhiates Th.D. ed.
SUSIE: Paul used the greeting of “grace” in all thirteen of his letters. We are saved by grace. Faith produced by God’s grace through Jesus is the only way to the Father.
SUSAN: Peace is the result of trusting Jesus as one’s personal Savior, the One who brought you out of a life of sin. It is not a human peace that depends on self-effort, self-will, and good circumstances. This is a peace from God that passes all understanding— peace in the middle of trouble, in the very eye of the storm.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
SUSIE: Paul’s inclusion of both God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ points out the deity of Jesus as equal to God.
For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form.
Colossians 2:9 (BSB)
Philemon 4 I always thank my God, remembering you in my prayers, . . .
SUSAN: Paul continually exhorts us to pray with thanksgiving. and here he follows his own advice by thanking God for those who would read this letter. It is evident that Paul is an eager, consistent intercessor for those under his leadership.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Philippians 4:6
Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18
PONDER THIS: How often do you pray with thanksgiving? Every time you pray? Once a day? Once a week? Make a point to thank God every time you pray for the next few days. Then come back and report whether your attitude changed as a result of making a conscientious effort to be more thankful.
Philemon 5-6 . . . because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. I pray that your partnership in the faith may become effective as you fully acknowledge every good thing that is ours in Christ.
SUSIE: Paul commends the character of Philemon, that the new nature is evident in him.
Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
2 Peter 1:4 (BSB)
SUSAN: He may have been commending the character of the congregation as a whole, too. He praises their love and faith toward the Lord Jesus and to one another as believers. The body at Colossae is a personification of discipleship because of this love for God and each other, for Jesus said:
A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.
John 13:34-35 (BSB)
SUSIE: Philemon’s love for other believers was a manifestation of his love for Jesus . . .
SUSAN: . . . and evidence of the fruit of the Spirit in his life. The Voice translation helps with verse 6:
I pray that as he goes and tells his story of faith, he would tell everyone so that they will know for certain all the good that comes to those who put their trust in the Anointed One.
Philemon 6 (VOICE)
SUSIE: Paul prayed and believed that Philemon’s testimony . . .
SUSAN: . . . of being saved by grace resulting in a changed heart . . .
SUSIE: . . . would help others to understand the full benefit of a relationship with Jesus Christ.
WORSHIP ACTIVITY: This reminds me of the challenge of one of my favorite hymns of my youth. You can listen to it and sing along here:
Philemon 7 I take great joy and encouragement in your love, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.
SUSIE: Paul was encouraged and comforted to know of Philemon’s love for God, other believers, and for Paul.
For your love has given me much joy and encouragement. Brother, you have refreshed the hearts of God’s people.
Philemon 7 (CJB)
SUSIE: Why did Paul address Philemon as “brother?”
SUSAN: Paul had been the one to introduce Philemon to Jesus which made him one with Christ, one of the “familyship” of believers. Therefore, Paul and Philemon were brothers in the family of God. The relationships in our spiritual bloodline are more powerful than any natural bloodline.
QUESTION: If Paul were to write a letter to you, what positive characteristics in your life might he commend? Would he be able to praise you for your relationships in the body of Christ and your witness to others? Is your love for other believers evident to everyone?