Philemon

Teacher: Rusty Kennedy
​Series: Philemon

Rusty's Notes

What we know from studying Colossians:

• This letter to Philemon by is concerning his runaway slave named Onesismus.
• The Church seems to be a satellite church of Ephesus.
• It was not started by Paul, but by Epaphrus (v 23).
• Epaphras is in prison in Rome with Paul when this letter is written and sent with Tychichus along with the letters to the Church at Colossae and Ephesus.
• Paul has never visited the Church at Colossae.

 
GREETING
PHILEMON
1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother:
To Philemon our dear friend and coworker,

• He may only know Philemon through the connection of Onesimus.
• But vs. 19 seems as if Paul actually led Philemon to his faith in Jesus.

2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier,

• Archipus was mentioned in Colossians as possibly the current elder of the Church of Colossae.
• Some will connect him as the son of Philemon and Apphia, but we are not sure.

and to the church that meets in your home.

• The Church at Colossae met in the home of Philemon and his wife, Apphia.

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

• Grace first… so then you can have peace.
• Imagine if our world could figure just that much out in their lives.

 
PHILEMON’S LOVE AND FAITH
4 I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love for all the saints and the faith that you have in the Lord Jesus.

• This is the priority and why Paul starts here.

6 I pray that your participation in the faith may become effective through knowing every good thing that is in us for the glory of Christ.

• Participation in faith
• That covers from the beginning of grasping your initial faith to the deepness of knowing God through His Word and Creation.
• Michelle and I crossed the Mississippi River twice last week… I was in awe.
• The Mississippi River begins as a trickle flowing out of Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota.
• From there the river flows 2,348 miles until it pours into the Gulf of Mexico below New Orleans.
• The Mississippi River drains 33 states and its watershed covers one-half of the nation.
• If I were to compare one’s faith journey in Jesus with the Mississippi River, I’d say the majority of the people are somewhere in the state of Minnesota
• In this room, and even outside this room, I participate in my faith.
• But most of my participation in faith is focused on the simple Gospel of Jesus… and meeting the needs of people… spiritual people.
• I can’t get caught in the weeds!
• I can’t get so far downstream that I lose focus on the intent of the Gospel.
• I’ve got people who are struggling with anxiety, depression, addiction, sexual identities and even just buying groceries.
• And in the meantime, people are wanting to consume my time with political and theological discussions.
• Paul is literally encouraging Philemon who is a leader in the community to remain steady in his participation of faith.

7 For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

• Refreshed… not confused, not agitated, not demanded, not controlled… not agenda driven… but refreshed.
• As compared to the Jewish legalists that were always demanding expectations of the rules/laws.

AN APPEAL FOR ONESIMUS

• Estimates suggest that there were 60 million slaves in the Roman Empire, men and women who were treated like pieces of merchandise to buy and sell.
• The average slave sold for 500 denarii (one denarius was a day’s wage for a common laborer), while the educated and skilled slaves were priced as high as 50,000 denarii.
• A master could free a slave, or a slave could buy his freedom if he could raise the money (Acts 22:28).
• If a slave ran away, the master would register the name and description with the officials, and the slave would be on the “wanted” list.
• Any free citizen who found a runaway slave could assume custody and even intercede with the owner.
• The slave was not automatically returned to the owner, nor was he automatically sentenced to death.[1]

8 For this reason, although I have great boldness in Christ to command you to do what is right,

• The struggle between flesh and Spirit.

9 I appeal to you, instead, on the basis of love. I, Paul, as an elderly man (probably around 60 years old) and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus,

• Paul could have easily appealed on the status of his apostleship and leadership, but he chose humbleness.

10 appeal to you for my son, Onesimus. I became his father while I was in chains.

• Paul, led Onesimus to faith in Jesus and now views him as his disciple.

11 Once he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me.

• The name Onesimus actually interprets as “profitable”.
• He was a pagan runaway slave, but now he is considered a friend and a soldier for the Lord.

12 I am sending him back to you—I am sending my very own heart.

• Paul deeply loves this man.
• I remember how hard it was to always say goodbye to my parents when I leave to return home.
• I do the same thing when Chloe leaves.
• It is this kind of love Paul is referring to.

13 I wanted to keep him with me, so that in my imprisonment for the gospel he might serve me in your place. 14 But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent, so that your good deed might not be out of obligation, but of your own free will.

• Paul, wants the services of Onesimus with him but he is giving his friend Philemon a choice.
• What do you want to do with your rebellious slave that you could kill, but has now transformed his life in Christ Jesus?

15 For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a brief time, so that you might get him back permanently, 16 no longer as a slave, but more than a slave—as a dearly loved brother.

• Paul is only giving Philemon something to consider, to think about.

He is especially so to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

• Onesimus is encourager through faith (which is what Paul wants) but he is also able to serve physically (which is what Philemon originally contracted with him).

17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would me.

• Paul is encouraging Philemon to view Paul as a redeemed man.
• No matter what evil Philemon has done… he has been made perfect through Jesus Christ.
• Had Onesimus’ behavior changed?
• We don’t know… but it surely has been impacted.
• Paul could not leave the prison to visit Colossae, but he could send representation through Onesimus.
• Even inside of Leavener (our community), there are struggles to truly redeem people who fail (over and over).

18 And if he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account.

• Not a physical account… but an understanding.
• I owe you one.
• But this also moved them into a partnership so as to give Philemon the aspect of not being a pushover when it came to owning slaves.

19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it—not to mention to you that you owe me even your very self.

• This implies that Philemon heard about Jesus initially from Paul and came to faith because of Paul’s contact with him.

20 Yes, brother, may I benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.

• Philemon’s name actually translates to “affectionate” or “one who is kind”.
• Paul would love to have Onesimus back as his own personal slave/friend/ministry partner.

21 Since I am confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.

• The persuasiveness of Paul comes out here through encouragement.
• “See what he did there”.

22 Meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, since I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.

• Paul’s desire comes from his missionary heart.
• Of course he wants to go back and visit all the churches and encourage them.
• His heart never changed although his circumstances changed.
• This also added a little pressure to Philemon if Paul was going to be face to face with him later.

 
FINAL GREETINGS
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings, and so do 24 Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my coworkers.

• John Mark was with Paul (Col. 4:10), the young man who failed Paul on his first missionary journey (Acts 12:12, 25; 15:36–41).
• Paul had forgiven Mark and was grateful for his faithful ministry (see 2 Tim. 4:11).
• Aristarchus was from Thessalonica and accompanied Paul to Jerusalem and then to Rome (Acts 19:29; 27:2).
• Demas is mentioned three times in Paul’s letters: “Demas … my fellow worker” (Phile. 24), “Demas” (Col. 4:14), “Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world” (2 Tim. 4:10).
• John Mark failed but was restored. Demas seemed to be doing well but then he fell.
• Luke, of course, was the beloved physician (Col. 4:14) who accompanied Paul, ministered to him, and eventually wrote the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts.[2]

25 The grace of the Lord, Jesus Christ be with your spirit.[3]

[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 270). Victor Books.
[2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 273). Victor Books.
[3] Christian Standard Bible (Phm 1–25). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.