philemon 7 January 2018

characters Paul – author Timothy –co-worker of Paul Onesimus –runaway slave Philemon – recipient of letter, slave owner Apphia Archippus – part of the church at Colossae Epaphras – Epaphroditus – probably the person Paul called “my brother, co- worker, and fellow soldier” in Phil 2:25 Aristarchus – accompanied Paul on his journey as a prisoner to Rome in Acts 27:2 Demas – likely the same person mentioned in  Col 4:14 and 2 Tim 4:10 Mark & Luke – fellow workers [CLICK] each name

phileomon

why read | study Philemon Slavery has immediate connections to our world. [CLICK] each statement

How Philemon treats his slave Onesimus puts the gospel and Christian ethics on the line.

Philemon 1:16 No longer a slave, better than a slave, a brother or a sibling.

why read | study Philemon Slavery has immediate connections to our world. Power is perennially a problem.

Power is not Christian until it is power-for power-with power-unto

why read | study Philemon Slavery has immediate connections to our world. Power is perennially a problem. Reconciliation is the message. [CLICK] each statement

reconciliation Paul wanted Philemon to welcome to embrace to forgive to restore to reconcile

Philemon 1:16 No longer a slave, better than a slave, a brother or a sibling. To start over again

why read | study Philemon Slavery has immediate connections to our world. Power is perennially a problem. Reconciliation is the message. Decision is the implication.

How gospel-shaped will your household be?

why read | study Philemon Slavery has immediate connections to our world. Power is perennially a problem. Reconciliation is the message. Decision is the implication. The way of the empire is not the way of Christ.

The way of the empire was & is the way: of punishment of beatings & diminishment of permanent scarring of life-long shackles & capital punishment. The way of Christ is: conversion & gospel advocacy for the runaway by the apostle, confession & forgiveness & embracing & reconciliation. [CLICK] the way of Christ

why read | study Philemon Slavery has immediate connections to our world. Power is perennially a problem. Reconciliation is the message. Decision is the implication. The way of the empire is not the way of Christ. The church is the location of kingdom realities taking form. [CLICK] each statement

Philemon 1:16 No longer a slave, better than a slave, a brother or a sibling.

kingdom space taking root In tangible ways In concrete realities In real relationships In turning the way of the empire into the way of Christ. The kingdom of God becoming visible.

Philemon 1:16 No longer a slave, better than a slave, a brother or a sibling.

Paul persuades he pushes into Philemon’s presence backs off a bit pushes again he gets emotional I’m an old man, I’m in prison then says Don’t do this because I say so but out of love Do this willingly and not out of duty and then Confident of your obedience

How gospel-shaped will your household be? Paul wants Philemon to act on the gospel

Philemon 1:16 No longer a slave, better than a slave, a brother or a sibling.

Philemon 1:10 I appeal to you to show kindness to my child, Onesimus. I became his father in the faith while here in prison. Paul is in jail, because of preaching the gospel

Philemon 1:11 Onesimus hasn’t been of much use to you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us.

Philemon 1:12  I am sending him back to you, and with him comes my own heart.

Philemon 1:13-14 I wanted to keep him here with me while I am in these chains for preaching the Good News, and he would have helped me on your behalf. But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent. I wanted you to help because you were willing, not because you were forced.

It doesn’t really matter what I want

Philemon 1:15-16 It seems you lost Onesimus for a little while so that you could have him back forever. He is no longer like a slave to you. He is more than a slave, for he is a beloved brother, especially to me. Now he will mean much more to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.

confessional living functional living

In the Garden of Gethsemane

philemon