PHILEMON LESSON 1


     The letter from Paul to Philemon was of a very personal nature.
The letter was probably written while Paul was in Rome.

     We know from this letter, that Philemon was probably a man who
had some wealth. At least he had a nice home, and it was believed it
was large enough that the church had been held in his home.

     Philemon had obviously been saved under Paul's ministry. He felt
that he was indebted to Paul. It appears that Onesimus had been
Philemon's servant and had run away.

     We will now begin in Philemon 1:1 "Paul, a prisoner of Jesus
Christ, and Timothy [our] brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved,
and fellowlabourer,"

     Philemon was a Greek Christian. He was thought to be from
Colosse. Paul calls himself, prisoner of Jesus, perhaps to remind
Philemon that he is a prisoner of Jesus, as well. He is about to make
a plea for a servant of Philemon's. We are all a prisoner of someone.
Perhaps, this is the point Paul is making in the opening of this very
personal letter to his friend. Paul calls him fellowlabourer, which
means that Philemon is a minister, as well.

     Philemon 1:2 "And to [our] beloved Apphia, and Archippus our
fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:"

     This verse leaves no doubt that the church was meeting in
Philemon's house. Apphia was either Philemon's wife, or sister, who
was living in the house with Philemon. Archippus denotes service of
some kind. Perhaps, the soldiering was in the warfare that all
Christians are involved in. We are soldiers of the cross. This would
mean, then, that Archippus was someone who was a Christian, and
possibly, was associated with the church there.

     Philemon 1:3 "Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and
the Lord Jesus Christ."

     This is a typical greeting from Paul. Grace, mercy, and peace are
all gifts from God to the believer.

     Philemon 1:4 "I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my
prayers,"

     Paul prayed for the people who were saved under his ministry, and
for the churches he had started regularly.

     Philemon 1:5 "Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast
toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;"

     Philemon was spoken of highly by the other believers. It seems
that he was a very unselfish man, in the fact that the church met in
his home. When you love the believers, you are loving the Lord. Inas-
much as you have done it to the least of these, you have done it unto
me, was His statement.

     Philemon 1:6 "That the communication of thy faith may become
effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in
Christ Jesus."

     If I understand this correctly, this is the world looking toward
Philemon and seeing Christ Jesus in the things Philemon does. Matthew
5:16  "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good
works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."  It appears the
life Philemon lived, was communicating to the world the love that
Philemon had for Christ Jesus. It, also, means that Philemon was not
taking the credit for the good things he did, but was giving the Lord
Jesus all of the credit for his life.

     Philemon 1:7 "For we have great joy and consolation in thy love,
because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother."

     It seems that Philemon was a wealthy man, and had used that
wealth to help the other workers for Christ. Paul is filled with joy,
when he hears of the nice things Philemon is doing for the other
saints who are in need. It seems he is a very generous man when it
comes to other's needs. Paul speaks to Philemon as a brother. You
remember, he spoke of Titus and Timothy as his sons. Philemon could
have been older, or he could have been more mature.

     Philemon 1:8 "Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to
enjoin thee that which is convenient,"

     He is saying, knowing that you are a caring man, then I will ask
you boldly as an apostle of Christ to do something that is not the
usual thing to do.

     Philemon 1:9 "Yet for love's sake I rather beseech [thee], being
such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus
Christ."

     Paul reminds him that he loves him, and that he is speaking to
him
from prison himself. Paul is feeling old at this point. He loves both
men and feels that he can be a peacemaker. Paul has suffered much for
the gospel and Philemon had great respect for him.

     Philemon 1:10 "I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have
begotten in my bonds:"

     Onesimus was not Paul's son in the flesh. It seems that Onesimus
had been saved while Paul was in prison. This Onesimus, of course, was
the servant, or slave, belonging to Philemon. He had run away, and we
know that Philemon has to be a little disturbed by that. Philemon
would probably not have listened to this from anyone else, but Paul.

     Philemon 1:11 "Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but
now profitable to thee and to me:"

     Notice, that Paul was not taking sides with Onesimus. In fact, he
says what Onesimus did was wrong. Onesimus had become a Christian
since he left Philemon's house. Paul wants Philemon to realize the
value of a soul won to Christ.

     Philemon 1:12 "Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive
him, that is, mine own bowels:"

     Paul is going to send Onesimus back to Philemon, but not in
bonds. He is sending him back as a brother in Christ. Paul reminds
Philemon, again, that Onesimus has been saved.

     Philemon 1:13 "Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy
stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:"

     Paul was saying to Philemon, that he could not be with him so,
Onesimus could have stayed and ministered to Paul in the place of
Philemon.

     Philemon 1:14 "But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy
benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly."

     Paul sent him back to Philemon to give him the opportunity to
decide the fate of Onesimus himself. If Onesimus came back to minister
to Paul, it would be at the blessings of Philemon.

     Philemon 1:15 "For perhaps he therefore departed for a season,
that thou shouldest receive him for ever;"

     Paul is saying, that perhaps, it was God's will for Onesimus to
leave. He had been unsaved when he left and now was a believer. Now he
would be Philemon's Christian brother forever.

     Philemon 1:16 "Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a
brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in
the flesh, and in the Lord?"

     Perhaps, Onesimus had left with anger in his heart toward
Philemon. Now the forgiveness from Onesimus to Philemon would be
obvious. He would not have been willing to go back, if there had not
been a change in Onesimus. Paul asks Philemon to receive Onesimus back
not as a servant, but as a Christian brother. It seems he was very
dear to Paul.

     Philemon 1:17 "If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him
as myself."

     Paul is really asking a favor of Philemon here. Paul is saying,
if you love me, think of him as my friend, instead of your servant.

     Philemon 1:18 "If he hath wronged thee, or oweth [thee] ought,
put that on mine account;"

     Paul does not go into the offence that Onesimus had committed.
Since he was like a slave to Philemon, just the fact that he ran off
would have been a loss to Philemon. It appears, however, that he had
possibly stolen something. We must remember that Onesimus was not a
Christian when this happened. Whatever the offence was, Paul says to
put it to his account.

     Philemon 1:19 "I Paul have written [it] with mine own hand, I
will repay [it]: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me
even thine own self besides."

     Paul reminds Philemon that he would have died and gone to hell,
if Paul had not ministered to him. He, in that sense, owes his life to
Paul. This is a little sharp to say, but we do not know the details.

     Philemon 1:20 "Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord:
refresh my bowels in the Lord."

     Paul, in so many words, is saying don't disappoint me. I would be
very happy, if you forgive Onesimus.

     Philemon 1:21 "Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto
thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say."

     Paul is mentioning the fact of his authority over Philemon in
this sentence. He is sure that Philemon will do just as he says,
because of Paul's authority over the Christians.

     Philemon 1:22 "But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust
that through your prayers I shall be given unto you."

     Paul stays in Philemon's house, when he is in the area it seems.
Paul has confidence that he will return there to minister. Paul wants
to come back here, and prays that he will be able to.

     Philemon 1:23 "There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in
Christ Jesus;"

     Epaphrus was mentioned in the book of Collosians. It seems that
Paul was in prison with him. Nero was jailing as many Christians as he
could locate.

     Philemon 1:24 "Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my
fellowlabourers."

     Marcus was the same person as Mark who had abandoned Paul at one
time. Aristarchus had travelled to Rome with Paul. Demas was spoken of
by Paul in another letter as having left the faith. Lucas, has to be
Luke the Physician who stayed with Paul in Rome.

     Philemon 1:25 "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with your
spirit. Amen."
     Grace means a great deal in this letter, since that is what Paul
is asking Philemon to have for Onesimus.


     Thank you for taking the time to read and study these lessons.


                                       Your Friend in Christ,


                                       Louise Haney











































                        Philemon 1 Questions


1.  What kind of letter did Paul write to Philemon?
2.  Where was Paul when he wrote the letter?
3.  Where was the church held?
4.  What was the servant of Philemon's name?
5.  What did Paul call himself in verse 1?
6.  What nationality was Philemon?
7.  What did Paul call Philemon?
8.  What point is Paul making, when he called himself prisoner?
9.  How do we know they had church in Philemon's house?
10. Who was Apphia?
11. What was the blessing Paul spoke?
12. What good things had Paul heard about Philemon?
13. Quote Matthew chapter 5 verse 16.
14. Who did Philemon give all the credit to?
15. What was Philemon using his wealth for?
16. Why did Paul speak of Philemon as brother, and Timothy and Titus
    as son, when they were all saved by Paul's preaching?
17. Why does Paul mention his age here?
18. Why did Paul call Onesimus his son?
19. When had Onesimus been saved?
20. Was Paul taking Onesimus' side?
21. Why did Paul not keep Onesimus with him to minister to him?
22. What did Paul say was probably God's will?
23. Would Onesimus still be Philemon's servant?
24. Paul asked Philemon to receive him as whom?
25. In verse 19, Paul reminds Philemon of what?
26. What, in verse 21, shows Paul's authority?
27. Where will Paul stay in this area?
28. Who was Paul's fellowprisoner?
29. Who were named as Paul's fellowlabourers?