1. Little Books… BIG MESSAGE
Session Two:
The Book of Philemon

2. Last Week How Lutherans Interpret Difficult Texts
Law and Gospel
The Bible Reveals Christ
Scripture Interprets Scripture
“Plain Sense”
The Faithful Community Interprets Scripture
“I Don’t Know” is a Valid Response
A 5-Minute Crash Course in Ancient Near East History and Geography

3. Last Week Read Obadiah Commentary Why Does Obadiah Matter?
Does God condone violence to respond to violence? If so, when?

4. Comments, Questions or Smart Remarks?

5. This Week Introduction to Paul’s Letters Reading Philemon
“7 Undisputed Letters of Paul”
Customary Form of a Letter
Reading Philemon
Questions & Comments
Why Philemon Matters

6. Introduction to Paul’s Letters

7. The Apostle Paul What We Know About Paul
Greek name was Paul. He also had a Jewish name, Saul.
Born in Tarsus (modern-day Turkey)
From line of Pharisees
Likely had formal education
Active persecutor of the early Christian movement

8. The Apostle Paul What We Know About Paul
Became a Christian (and apostle) after dramatic revelation of the risen Jesus Christ (ca. 35)
Don’t know much of his early Christian career
Later career, was a vigorous missionary, especially to the Gentiles

9. The Apostle Paul What We Know About Paul In the mission field, he
Worked with other colleagues
Supported himself by tentmaking
Often was imprisoned
Traveled far and wide
Major project = collection for the poor in Jerusalem

10. The Apostle Paul What We Know About Paul
Eventually appealed to Caesar Festus for his release from prison
Was brought to Rome and martyred in early 60’s

11. The Letters of Paul
Many letters in the New Testament are attributed to Paul:
Romans
1 & 2 Corinthians
Galations
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 & 2 Thessalonians
Titus
1 & 2 Timothy
Philemon
(Hebrews?)

12. The Letters of Paul UNDISPUTED Letters DISPUTED Letters Romans
1 & 2 Corinthians
Galatians
Philippians
1 Thessalonians
Philemon
Ephesians
Colossians
2 Thessalonians
Titus
1 & 2 Timothy

13. How do they know which are “authentic” and which aren’t?

14. Which Sermon was Written by Pastor Tim?
Excerpt #1
Excerpt #2

15. Which Sermon was Written by Pastor Tim?

16. Paul’s Letters Paul’s writings are distinctive for many reasons:
Trained in rhetoric
Distinctive tone and vocabulary
Knowledgeable about Hebrew Scriptures (but quotes from LXX) and Jewish customs
Theology remains fairly consistent

17. Customary Letter Format
Much like in formal writing today, letters in the first century had a typical format that Paul (usually) followed quite closely.

18. Customary Letter Format
Salutation
Sender
Recipient
Greeting
Thanksgiving
Body of Letter
Paranesis (Instructions)
Closing
Greetings
Parting Word

19. Reading Philemon

20. Take Notes! Questions? Words / Phrases Things you like / don’t like
Reading Philemon
Take Notes!
Questions?
Words / Phrases
Things you like / don’t like

21. Comments, Questions or Smart Remarks?

22. Philemon Basics
Date
The date of this book largely depends on where it was written. There are three possibilities based on places where Paul was known to be imprisoned (or under house arrest):
Rome (most likely), then it would be written in 61.
If written at Caesarea (least likely), then around 58.
If written in Ephesus, then around 55.

23. Philemon Basics Audience
The list of names given at the end of the letter are people that were well associated with the area around Colossae in central Asia Minor (modern day Turkey). Unlike other letters of Paul, this was not addressed to a church per se, but to an individual named Philemon (a very common name).

24. Commentary & Notes on the Text

25. Commentary & Notes Paul follows the letter format very closely
His talent at rhetoric shines in this letter
Paul is a “prisoner of Christ Jesus,” not an “apostle.” Why?

26. Commentary & Notes Verse 8 – “Command you to do your duty”
Paul – as a Roman citizen – could have used his citizenship status to advocate for this runaway slave OR advocate on the basis of his credentials as an apostle, but he doesn’t. How does he appeal to Philemon?

27. Commentary & Notes
Note the frequency of the use of “family” words (e.g., child, father, etc.)
Useless
Historical interpretation
Useful
Play on Onesimus (which means “useful” in Greek)

28. Commentary & Notes
Paul artfully puts the onus on Philemon to make this right
But he doesn’t deny the possibility that Onesimus could have done something wrong (v. 18)
“Own hand”
Paul wrote his letters using an amanuensis

29. Why Does Philemon Matter?

30. Why Does Philemon Matter?
Why do you suppose this letter which seems so personal in nature is included in the Bible?
It speaks a word to the transformative power of the gospel on lives of all believers.
The letter is all about reconciliation and hope within the family of Christ.

31. Next Week: 2 John