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. Pauls convert and fellowworker who lived in colossae and ministered to the saints a. His travels somehow brought him to rome where, in the providence of god, he came in contact with paul. Slavery was widespread in the roman empire according to some estimates, slaves constituted one third, perhaps more, of the population and an accepted part of life. It is possible that he was one of pauls own converts 19. It is directed to philemon, which means kisses or one that is affectionate, in behalf of onesimus, which means profitable or usefulness. Philemon did not yet know that the slave who had run away with his goods was now his brother in christ. The epistle of paul to philemon, known simply as philemon, is one of the books of the christian. A couple years ago i wrote a series of blog posts about the apostle paul and how he displayed. He also was a slaveholder whose slave onesimus had escaped, had later encountered the apostle paul, and had responded to the gospel message about jesus.
What philemon tells us about leadership article produced by tow project weighing in at one mighty chapter, philemon is the shortest book written by paul and one of the shortest in the entire new testament. The background to the book of philemon is the story of a slave. Because believers in jesus are equal partners in the new humanity, paul asks philemon to forgive his runaway slave onesimus. To ask philemon of colossae to pardon his slave onesimus. In this letter, paul helps his friend philemon to reconcile with his. To ask philemon of colossae to not only pardon his slave onesimus, but to give him a warm welcome as a fellow believer. Also, paul asks philemon to accept onesimus as a fellow christian rather than as a slave. Book of philemon overview insight for living ministries. A slave named onesimus had escaped from his owner, philemon, and had run. As a reward, they were saved from a flood that drowned the rest of the country.
Philemon in the picture study bible the book of philemon. During his flight, onesimus encountered paul in rome, and through his ministry came to faith in christ. A believer in colossi to whom paul addressed a beautiful cameo of knightliness the man whose slave came back. There is a book in the new testament which has been described as. Philemon, the rich, influential and pious colossian was doubtless led to christ by paul, who therefore had power in his appeal for the return of onesimus, philemons runaway slave, another convert of the apostle. Much more than simply theology or a word study, the bible knowledge background commentary opens a window to transport the reader back into the setting of the new testament to see. Philemon intro to philemon biblica the international bible society.
Paul tries to convince philemon to make the right decision. Forgiveness shines like a brilliant light throughout the bible, and one of its brightest spots is the tiny book of philemon. In the bible book that bears philemons name, paul addressed his beloved. Paul is strongly affirmed to be the author of philemon. The book of philemon was written in approximately a. The slave onesimus robbed his master, philemon, and ran away, making his way to rome and to paul. That book is pauls epistle to philemon, the shortest of all of pauls letters 3.
This is a personal letter from the apostle paul to philemon, a wealthy christian from colossae. The epistle was intended for philemon, who may have been an elder in the church at colossae. The letter to philemon is the shortest of all pauls writings and deals with the practice of slavery. Since colossians was written from rome during pauls first imprisonment 62 ad. Background of the epistle philemon was a member of the church at colosse cf.
Volume three zondervan illustrated bible backgrounds commentary book 3 kindle edition by zondervan, author, clinton e. Now philemon owned slaves, and he had a slave named onesimus. Book of philemon bible survey what are the prison epistles. It was also intended for reading to the entire church that met in philemon s home. Philemon bible study lesson 1 historical backgrounds of philemon information useful to understand before a study of the letters contents slavery in the grecoroman world one of the most important things to understand about philemon is the.
Fellowworker philemon is not only dearly beloved, but is associated with paul and timothy in proclaiming the gospel. Philemon was a slave owner who also hosted a church in his home. Fee in his book how to read the bible for all its worth lays out the form of. In christ he was pauls dear friend and fellow worker 2. The book of philemon as well as the book of colossians were written by paul and delivered at the same time. It was written to philemon as a plea to request forgiveness for his runaway servant onesimus, who was a new believer in jesus christ. He did what most runaway slaves apparently didhe moved into a great metropolis. Gordon fee in his book how to read the bible for all its worth lays out the form of ancient.
The book of philemon is about a slave onesimus who ran away from his master philemon. In this short personal letter, the apostle paul asks his friend philemon to extend forgiveness to a runaway slave named onesimus. This powerful reference tool is a bookbybook, chapterbychapter, detailed look at the historical, geographical, cultural, and economic background of acts and the pauline epistlesactsphilemon. Philemon was a citizen of colossae and an upright leader in that church. 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. One of the most important things to understand about philemon is the background of slavery in the ancient world. Philemon in the picture study bible the book of philemon with. There were millions of people in asia minor, and philemon was just one of the men who came to know the lord jesus. Philemon paul, a prisoner for christ jesus, and timothy. Intro to philemon biblica the international bible society. The bible knowledge commentary says onesimus, a slave of philemon, had run away, having evidently robbed his master phile. Onesimus, a slave belonging to philemon, had fled from his master, possibly stealing money in.
Philemon provides valuable historical insights into the early churchs relationship to the institution of slavery. In order to better comprehend the concepts depicted in the book of philemon it is important to gain an understanding of its historical and cultural context. Philemon was written by the apostle paul in approximately 60 62 a. The epistle to philemon introduction to philemon author. Philemon bible study lesson 1 historical backgrounds of. This letter to philemon is an appeal for him to receive onesimus now as a. What are the most commonly asked questions about the book of philemon. The historical and cultural context of the book of philemon. The letters paul writes like romans and corinthians are extremely long for ancient letters. Though pauls letter to philemon is very brief, it is packed with rich nuggets of truth that. Philemon is actually the average length of ancient letters. Author, date, and recipients this is a personal letter from the apostle paul to philemon, a wealthy christian from colossae.
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. The book claims that the apostle paul was its writer vv. Philemon ceb greeting from paul, who is a prisoner. The key personalities of philemon are paul, philemon, and onesimus. Home content index books of the bible philemon questions about philemon. Apparently philemon was welltodo, for his home was large enough to accommodate the church assemblies, and he was a slave owner. Watch our overview video on the book of philemon, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Picture study bible with maps and background information. During the time of pauls ministry in ephesus, philemon had likely journeyed to the city, heard pauls preaching and became a christian.
Onesimus fled to rome where he came in contact with paul and was saved. 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. Onesimus took a chance one day, as any slave would have done, and made a run for it. The book of philemon illustrates that principles like these can and should profoundly affect the lives of believers. Philemon was a christian from the colosse congregation. Philemon was the master of onesimus, a runaway slave. The apostles joy and praise for philemons steady faith in the lord jesus, and love to all the saints. After his dramatic conversion on the road to damascus, pauls singular purpose was to prove that jesus is the christ acts 9. How to study the book of philemon philemon is one of the shortest books in the bible, but it contains a powerful lesson of leadership, discipleship and forgiveness. To philemon our dearly loved coworker, 2 apphia our sister, archippus our fellow soldier, and the church that meets in your house.
The book was written around 62 ad during paul first imprisonment in rome. In pauls day, slavery had virtually eclipsed free labor. The book of philemon as well as the book of colossians were written by paul and delivered at the same. This epistle is the story of three main characters, onesimus, philemon and paul and their interaction. The epistle to philemon a model of christian courtesy 1.
By using this website, i acknowledge that i am 16 years of age or older, and i. Paul now sends onesimus back to philemon with a letter which asks the master to forgive his former slave who is now his brother in christ. Onesimus was still the property of philemon, and paul wrote to smooth the way for his return to his master. The book of philemon is a prison epistle letter written while in prison, which paul wrote circa 61 a. One of his slaves, onesimus, had apparently stolen from him cf. Pauls letter to philemon historical background kingdom living. Philemon bible study lesson 1 historical backgrounds of philemon. The book of philemon demonstrates the gospel in action. The letter suggests that paul was in prison at the time of the writing.
One of the most important things to understand about philemon the is background of slavery in the ancient world. It is also plausible that apphia was his wife, and archippus his son 1,2. Though this little book is only twentyfive verses in the english bible, it is. Onesimus, a slave in colossae, had evidently robbed philemon, his master verse 18, and run away. As a background to his specific plea for onesimus, paul clarifies his intentions and circumstances. How to study the book of philemon the philemon effect. Philemon 2025 20 yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the lord.
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