Philemon
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
Intro
Intro
This is a personal letter from Paul to Philemon, one of his converts and a good friend.
Philemon was a man of some standing. A group of local Christians regularly met in his home at Colossae. One of his slaves, a man named Onesimus, had deprived his master of his service by running away to the big city (Rome, or perhaps Ephesus) where he could easily escape detection. There he somehow came into contact with the imprisoned apostle, and through him became a Christian.
Paul loved this young man like a son, but he was Philemon’s legal property. It was hard for Paul, and hard for Onesimus - who was liable to terrible punishment for what he had done - but he must go back and make amends. Paul could not keep him without Philemon’s willing consent.
So he wrote this ‘covering note’ for Onesimus. And Tychicus went with him for company and moral support, taking the latest news and a letter from Paul to the Colossian church.
About Colossae:
About Colossae:
The Lexham Bible Dictionary Colossae
COLOSSAE (Κολοσσαι, Kolossai). A city of Phrygia on the Lycus River. The letter to the Colossians was addressed to the church located there.
Location and Archaeology
Colossae was a city in the province of Phrygia located in the Lycus Valley within Anatolia, or Asia Minor, about 120 miles east of the major port city of Ephesus (Arnold, Colossians, 73). Today this is part of southwestern Turkey. In the first century AD, Colossae was a small agrarian town. However, in the 5th century BC, Colossae was a thriving economy, known especially for its unique textiles and wool (Moo, Colossians, 26).
The first known reference to Colossae can be found in the writings of the Greek historian Herodotus, who mentions that Xerxes stopped briefly at the great city of Colossae during the Persian wars (Herodotus, Histories, 7.30).
Yet, the eventual demise of Colossae was linked to the construction of a trade route in the third century that went west of Colossae to Laodicea (Wilson, Biblical Turkey, 194). Eventually Laodicea became a prominent city, and Colossae turned into a rural community. Thus, in the first century Colossae was a rather insignificant city in the Roman world (Arnold, Colossian Syncretism, 4).
Colossae remains an unexcavated tell (or mound), although a few stone steps from a small theater are visible on the eastern side (Wilson, Biblical Turkey, 195).
Colossae is about as far away from Laodicea as Portales is from Clovis and as far from Ephesus as Amarillo is from Portales. That kind of helps us get a frame of reference for what we are looking at. A small rural town off the beaten path.
The Church
The Church
We have no record of how the church began. But it was probably during Paul’s three years in Ephesus (Acts 19) that two prominent men from Colossae - Epaphras and Philemon - became Christians. And they were active in spreading the Christian message in their home area.
When did Paul write?
When did Paul write?
Although Paul had never visited the group at Colossae, he had heard all about it from Epaphras. There was much to be thankful for, but some of the news was worrying. So he wrote to them from prison.
Where this was, is still subject to debate: there is no conclusive proof. If Paul was in custody waiting for his case to be heard in Rome (Acts 28) , the date would be about AD 61. (Later in the 60’s, Colossae was levelled by an earthquake.) If he wrote from Ephesus it would be the early 50’s (Ephesus is much closer to Colossae than Rome is, and much easier for Philemon’s runaway slave, Onesimus, to reach.)
Paul had a ready-made opportunity to send the letter with Tychicus (if he was travelling from Rome he may well have carried the letter to the Ephesians at the same time: the two letters are markedly similar) and Onesimus, whom he was sending home.
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved brother and fellow worker, and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:
“Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus”
Paul is writing this letter from a prison cell with the help of Timothy. It is likely that Paul is dictating it to Timothy as he writes. Later in the letter there is a portion where Paul emphasizes that he is writing that section with his own hands. But Paul is a prisoner either in Rome or in Ephesus, but Paul doesn’t identify himself as a captive of the empire. Paul is a prisoner of Christ Jesus. When we think about the life of Paul, how he spent his life before his conversion arresting and murdering Christians compared to how he is now, the contrast is significant. After Jesus confronted him on the road to Damascus Paul’s life revolved around serving Christ. Paul’s life was not his own. Paul worked hard to reflect Christ in everything he did.
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Paul’s life was not his own. He was a man in chains. He was free from his sin by the grace of God. But his life was bound to God and to the call that he had on his life to be an apostle and minister to the Gentiles. He even worked as a tent maker so as to make the Gospel free of charge to everyone he came in contact with.
What would it look like if we lived our lives as prisoners to Christ?
What are some characteristics of prisoners that carry over to how we live out our faith?
“and Timothy our brother,”
We see Timothy enter the story in Acts 16. He is the son of a Jewish woman and a Greek man. He was circumcised probably by Paul.
Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. And a disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek, and he was well spoken of by the brethren who were in Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted this man to go with him; and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
The relationship between Paul and Timothy was like a father and a son (1 Timothy 2). Paul loved Timothy and helped train him up in the faith. Timothy would go on to accompany Paul in his ministry before becoming the pastor in Ephesus. Timothy also examples this lifestyle of being a prisoner to Christ. He didn’t spend as much time in jail as Paul but even from that story I shared about his circumcision we can see how much he cared about being obedient to the call on his life. The story of his circumcision takes place in chapter 16 but one chapter earlier Paul had just gone to Jerusalem to participate in an early church council where he argued that circumcision was not necessary for salvation and shouldn’t be required of the Gentiles. The very next chapter after arguing that point he takes Timothy and circumcises him. Why? They do it so that Timothy could better reach people he was ministering to. It was a right that he surrendered to allow the ministry to be that much more effective.
Are there rights that we have that maybe God is calling us to lay aside for the sake of the Gospel?
What lengths would we go to in order to reach people for the Kingdom?
All of this is important because Philemon knows Paul and Timothy. He knows the sacrifices they made and the cost it had on them to minister. Philemon himself is a product of Paul and Timothy’s sacrifice. He likely was one of the Ephesian converts that Paul ministered to. He likely admired their example and sought to emulate that for his own community by hosting this house church in Colossae. Paul considers him a fellow worker in his labor for the Gospel. Philemon loved these men, and Paul was about to ask him to do a difficult thing. He was going to ask him to forgive a debt, to lay aside his rights, and to receive Onesimus as a brother.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
This greeting is typical of a Pauline epistle. In fact he uses it in every letter he writes. Paul’s attempt in addressing his letter this way is not to manipulate Philemon but to bless him and his family and remind him of the beautiful Gospel we share a part in. It was not Philemon’s hard work and determination that earned him favor with God but it was God’s grace that made Philemon free in Christ. In addressing the issue about this runaway slave Paul’s prayer for grace reminds us of our condition. While we were dead in our sins and trespasses Christ made a way for us to come home again. We were prodigal sons run away from our father but He has welcomed us home with open arms. Likewise Paul prays peace over Philemon. Not any kind of peace but a peace that comes from God our father and the Lord Jesus Christ. There was conflict between Philemon and Onesimus but Paul wanted to point them to peace. In Christ we have rest for our weary soul and peace that surpasses all understanding. The Lord is a refuge to us just like Paul would ask Philemon to be for his slave.
I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints; and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ’s sake.
Paul points out the power that exists in community. In an american context its easy to come to church and leave without having deep and meaningful interactions with other believers. Especially in a big church like ours its easy to come do our business and go. But Paul who didn’t really spend a lot of time with Philemon or at least hadn’t i a little while, but he communicates a deeper spiritual relationship with him than I have with most people I see everyday. He thanks God and prays for Philemon.
When was the last time you prayed and thanked God for the people who are serving and ministering around you?
He thanks God for Philemon’s love and faith to Christ and all the people in his church. He even prays for the success of his ministry in Colossae.
When was the last time you prayed for other churches?
Throughout this letter we are going to see a theme of usefulness come up often. Paul was effective in his ministry, Timothy was effective in his ministry, Philemon was effective in his ministry. This theme is going to build up to Paul finally telling Philemon why he is writing, but for now it begs the question.
What does it mean to be effective/successful?
“My biggest fear is not of failure but of succeeding at something that doesn’t really matter.” -D.L. Moody
What would it look like for us to be successful in our mission fields?
Do we live in a way that causes people to pray and thank God to have us in their lives?
For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
Do we bring people joy and comfort by the way we love them?
Are we refreshing to people?
The neighboring city of Laodicea struggled with these very questions. They were a very wealthy and comfortable community. When we are focused on being wealthy and comfortable it can be hard to see and care for the needs of others.
‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. ‘So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.
A lot of times we read this passage and we say successful and effective Christianity means being on fire and always being passionate about God and if we can’t be on fire we should just hate Jesus, but that isn’t what this passage is saying. Trying to be on fire all the time will either turn into us faking excitement or getting burned out. Laodicea was known for its aqueducts. They would pipe in cold water from Colossae up the mountains and hot water from Hieropolis and their hot springs. Cold water was refreshing and nice to drink on hot days and the hot springs were nice for bathing and relaxing. Both types of water had a purpose. Unfortunately it was a long way to Laodicea for the water and sometimes it would lose its temperature and be lukewarm. Then it is good for nothing. What Jesus is telling them isn’t to be on fire all the time but instead to fulfill a purpose. Be hot or be cold. Hot water is healing and comforting after a long day. Cold water is refreshing and satisfying when your thirsty. Lukewarm water is always gross. Be useful.
Philemon was like hot water and like cold water. He served his church well and Paul was appreciative.
How often do you communicate appreciation to spiritual leaders in your life?
I speak from first hand experience, doing ministry is exhausting and can be discouraging. I have spent 26 years watching my dad be a pastor and I have been doing ministry since I was 19. I think a lot of it is spiritual warfare some of it is dealing with difficult people, but everybody loves to be encouraged. Everybody wants to feel like what they are doing matters.
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.
Obviously this doesn’t mean pastors shouldn’t be held accountable for what they do. This doesn’t mean we have to blindly listen to everything they tell us. But pastors are remarkably human. I love difficult people and will serve and minister to difficult people but it is much easier to minister and serve people that aren’t the worst. I think we have all had to deal with people enough to understand that feeling.
Therefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is proper, yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you—since I am such a person as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus—
Paul is finally getting to the purpose of his letter. He knows that Philemon is a good guy who will do what is right but rather than use his authority as an Apostle, rather than demand this of Philemon, in love he gives him a choice.
I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment,
At first at hearing this I imaging Philemon was a little taken aback. Onesimus was his slave who ran away. How did he end up with Paul?
This story reminds me of the movie Ben Hurr. Judah Ben Hurr was arrested and forced to row warships for Rome. He was a slave and lived for 7 years on this boat where most people die in a year or two. But he saves his general’s life and ends up getting adopted and saved from death as a slave. Its a great movie. Its like 4 hours long. But the story of Onesimus feels Hollywood to me. Here is this slave who runs away from his master only to run into the Apostle Paul where he would hear the Gospel, give his life to Christ, and spend time serving Paul and making himself essential to Paul. Paul calls him his begotten son of his imprisonment. Imagine when Paul found out who he was and to whom he belonged. Its a small world.
Paul writes on behalf of Onesimus to Philemon. Onesimus was useless as a slave but has become useful to Paul and to Philemon as a believer in Christ and as a servant in ministry.
who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me.
Onesimus’ name actually means useful, and its funny how he has grown into that name. Not in a physical understanding but by grace, spiritually, Onesimus has much to contribute to Colossae, Philemon, and Paul in their ministries.
I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart, whom I wished to keep with me, so that on your behalf he might minister to me in my imprisonment for the gospel; but without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will.
Onesimus had become so useful to Paul that it pained him to send him back to Colossae. Paul shows integrity here. Nobody would have known. He could have played dumb and kept Onesimus with him to care for him while he was in prison. But he lays aside his comfort to do what was right.
What are the comforts that maybe God is calling you to lay aside for the sake of the Gospel?
Paul expresses to Philemon that Onesimus is a changed man. The slave you new is not the one that is returning. He is Paul’s very heart. If what we know about this is true, if Paul is writing this from Rome that means he would never get to visit the church in Colossae. He would be executed by Nero and Onesimus would be the closest thing the church in Colossae got to having Paul with them. That is kinda awesome. That’s a special story. To see how God was working to bring these things about. To see Onesimus at the right place at the right time to hear the Gospel, to have his heart transformed by grace, to be faithful in serving Paul, and to be obedient in returning home. In those days being a runaway slave could have gotten you crucified. The cost was high for this crime that he committed. But now he is a walking example of grace and of the gospel. Paul even takes notice of God’s providence in this circumstance.
For perhaps he was for this reason separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever, no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
Onesimus’ story is our story. We ran away from our master. We were disobedient and uselessly dead in our sin. But by grace Christ has made us useful and we return to our master changed from the inside out.
Paul’s plea to Philemon is that he wouldn’t receive Onesimus as a slave but as a brother in Christ.
Has someone ever wronged you? How hard is it to forgive someone that has hurt you?
Have you ever wronged someone? How hard is it to ask for forgiveness from someone you have hurt?
Forgiveness is fundamental to our identity as Christians. Several times in Scripture we are called to forgive others in the way Christ has forgiven us.
Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
“For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. “But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.
So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.
Paul asks Philemon to do something very difficult, to forgive.
If then you regard me a partner, accept him as you would me. But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account; I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand, I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well). Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.
Paul cares for both these men so much he puts his reputation on the line. Forgiving people can be difficult but it is helpful to remember grace. The sentiment that Paul says in defence of Onesimus is the same that Christ makes on our behalf with the Father. He is our intercessor.
who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.
Jesus says to the Father, anything that they have done to wrong you charge to my account. Any sin they have ever committed put that on me and receive them as you would me, righteous and blameless. Jesus doesn’t write this with his hand like Paul did but He writes it with His blood. He is our propitiation.
Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, since I know that you will do even more than what I say.
Paul is confident in what Philemon will do.
Who is God putting on your heart to ask or offer forgiveness to?
At the same time also prepare me a lodging, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given to you. Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow workers. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Paul is in chains but he has faith in the power of prayer. He tells Philemon to prepare a place for him.
How important is prayer in your daily life?
Do you pray expecting God to move?
What happens when the answer to our prayer is no?