Philemon 1:8-11 (NKJV) 8 Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting, 9 yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you—being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ— 10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have
Philemon 1:8-11 (NKJV) begotten while in my chains, 11 who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me.
Knowing God’s Word Philemon
Knowing God’s Word Last week we looked at Titus, Paul’s letter to the preacher Titus to encourage and instruct This week we move onto the book of Philemon Philemon is the 18th book in the NT and is the 13th of the Pauline Epistles (Romans through Philemon)
Knowing God’s Word Paul is the author of the book of Philemon with Timothy mentioned as well (1:1, 9, 19) This epistle, just as I & II Timothy and Titus, is not written to a congregation of people, but rather to Philemon Philemon is 1 of the 4 “Prison Epistles” written by Paul while in Rome (1:1)
Knowing God’s Word This is Paul’s shortest letter that he penned Philemon was a member of the church at Colossae (Col. 1:2; 4:7-9) Epaphras, Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke joined Paul in the greetings of both Philemon and Colossians (Phile. 23-24; Col. 4:10-14)
Knowing God’s Word If this letter was written at the same time as the other prison epistles, it would date between 61-63 AD Philemon was potentially a convert of Paul himself (v. 19) Onesimus, the subject of the letter, was a servant of Philemon and a messenger of these letters (Phile. 10, 16; Col. 4:7-9)
Knowing God’s Word Onesimus had run away, found Paul, and was a convert of Paul’s (v. 10, 15) He had become important to Paul as well as very useful to him (v. 11-13) Paul was now writing this letter and sending it back by the hand of Onesimus to Philemon in Colossae
Knowing God’s Word Paul wrote this letter to Philemon for these reasons: To ask him to receive Onesimus back again (10-12) To forgive Onesimus if he had done any wrong (18)
Knowing God’s Word Key Verses in Philemon: 8-12 14 16 18
Knowing God’s Word Outline of Philemon: Introduction (1-3) Thanksgiving & Prayer (4-7) Plea for Onesimus (8-21) Conclusion (22-25)