Philemon | A Bird’s Eye View: The Epistles
Though there is much in our Christian faith that is easy to understand, there is so much that we find hard to live out.
Series Goals:
1. Grow our confidence in being able to read the Bible faithfully
2. Grow our understanding that the gospel speaks to every area of life
Roadmap
· Read Philemon
· The Background to Philemon
· The Purpose and Flow of Philemon
· Gospel Truth Applied from Philemon
Philemon 1:1-2
The Background to Philemon
o Author(s): Paul and Timothy (1st Person Paul)
o Audience: Philemon, Apphia, Archippus, the church in Philemon’s house
o Date and Place: About 62 AD while Paul is imprisoned in Rome
o Occasion: Paul wrote to Philemon after Onesimus, Philemon’s runaway slave, met Paul in prison and became a Christian.
Tip #1: Check if the book of Acts provides any helpful background for the letter
Philemon 1:1, 9, 10, 13, 23
Remember, when we study the Bible, we are digging into the living and inspired word of God, but it’s an ancient text, written to people who lived and followed God thousands of years ago in contexts very different than ours. The Bible does have something to say to Christians today, of course—but we need to discover what the text meant then before we can rightly discern what it means for us now. — Jon Nielson
The Purpose and Flow of Philemon
· Outline of the Letter
· Purpose of the Letter
Tip #3 Use a study Bible for help with the letter’s background, purpose and flow.
Outline
Opening Greeting (1-3)
Thanksgiving and Prayer (4-7)
Plea for Onesimus (8-22)
Final Greetings and Benediction (23-25)
Tip #2 Look in the letter for evidence of what motivated the author to write it.
Philemon 1:12-18
Purpose of Philemon:
Paul is sending back Onesimus hoping that he is received as a brother in Christ and forgiven of wrongs.
Paul commends Philemon for many things:
his love for Jesus Christ
his love for the saints
his faith toward Jesus Christ
his sharing of his faith
his refreshing of the hearts of the saints
— ESV Men’s Devotional
Philemon 1:16
Philemon 1:19b
Colossians 2:13-14
If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer. But our greatest need was forgiveness so God sent us a Savior.
— Hensworth Jonas
Being in Christ transforms the way we receive, forgive, and relate to one another.
Is there someone you’ve defined by their past? See them through the loving eyes of Christ not defining us by our past.
Is there a relationship where pride is keeping you from making the first move? Let Christ’s sacrificial cross shape your response.
Ask everyday:
Who can I receive today the way Christ has received me?