One of the visitors converted under pauls teaching was a man named philemon, a slaveowner from the nearby city of colossae philemon 1. Nuggets from the book of philemon by wayne jackson colossae was a bustling city in phrygia, in the southwest region of asia minor. Its canonicity was widely recognized in the early church, particularly by ignatius, tertullian, origen, eusebius, marcion, and in the muratorian canon. It deals with the themes of forgiveness and reconciliation. Paul wrote his letter to the colossians at the same time he wrote to philemon. Paul wrote philemon to implore his friend, and fellow believer, philemon to forgive his runaway slave, onesimus. The author of the book of philemon was the apostle paul. Watch our overview video on the book of philemon, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Titus is a pastoral epistle and philemon is a prison epistle, both are written to godly men, offering valuable instruction. Forgiveness and reconciliation are spotlighted in the life of onesimus and the book of philemon. Pauls convert and fellowworker who lived in colossae and ministered to. This lucas is the same as luke the physician, who wrote the books of acts and the book of luke and possibly was the writer who wrote down the words of paul for the book of hebrews. For one thing, slavery is not even in the context of the book of philemon. In his letter to philemon, paul, who wrote from rome, informed philemon, a church leader of collosae in asia minor, about one onesimus, a runaway slave, whom.
In the time of the apostles it had seen its better days. Well, hes actually not mentioned anywhere in scripture outside of this epistle. It is a prison letter, coauthored by paul the apostle with timothy, to philemon, a leader in the colossian church. It was written to philemon as a plea to request forgiveness for his runaway servant onesimus, who was. One of his slaves, onesimus, had escaped and converted to christianityand paul wrote an impassioned plea to philemon to welcome onesimus back as a brother in christ, and. What is known as the book of philemon in the bible, is actually a letter from the apostle paul to a christian brother named philemon, regarding a runaway slave named onesimus, who had since. In fact, to be a little more honest, i had said to my brother that there is nothing in the book of philemon. Paul, writing from prison, expresses affection for the newly converted onesimus and asks that he be received in the. Pauls letter to philemon is the eighteenth book in the new testament. Paul clearly writes as a prisoner in philemon 1,9,10,23.
In the bible book that bears philemon s name, paul addressed his beloved brother as a fellow worker, a title given to those who served for a time alongside paul. Paul wrote the books of colossians, philemon, ephesians, and philippians during his first imprisonment in rome. The books of ephesians, philippians, colossians, and philemon are often called the prison epistles. Paul is one of the most important authors of the bible. It is a prison letter, coauthored by paul the apostle with timothy, to philemon. The author of the book of philemon was the apostle paul philemon 1. If the book of philemon was written after 2 timothy then it appears that demas has been restored, there is no way of actually knowing.
Although paul could command philemon to do so, he urges him instead, hoping that philemon will be willing without coercion. Because believers in jesus are equal partners in the new humanity, paul asks philemon to forgive his runaway slave onesimus. Because of their brevity titus and philemon have been combined. Philemon was a slave owner who also hosted a church in his home. They were written by the apostle paul during his first imprisonment in rome. Book of philemon overview insight for living ministries. Once we have an informed understanding of slavery in the ancient world we will be able to make better sense out of what paul is writing to philemon regarding his slave and christian brother onesimus. Background to p auls prison letters christian inconnect.
There is little doubt that paul wrote this epistle, since he refers to himself at least three times in verses 1, 9 and 19. The title of this letter is the name of the addressee, taken from verse 1. The prison epistles generally refer to four letters written by the apostle paul while he was under house arrest in rome. And so, what does the apostle paul say about this man philemon in this book written to him. In this letter, paul helps his friend philemon to reconcile with his. According to the majority interpretation, paul wrote this letter on behalf of onesimus, a runaway slave who had wronged his owner.
Paul was writing philemon as a brother in christ about his slave, onesimus, and now that onesimus had trusted in christ, paul wanted philemon to consider him as a brother in christ. The letter of paul to philemon, brief new testament letter written by paul the apostle to a wealthy christian of colossae, asia minor, on behalf of onesimus, philemon s former slave. Each letter ephesians, philippians, colossians, and philemon is addressed to a specific church or, in the case of philemon, an individual, and while paul penned each epistle to address specific needs of firstcentury christians and the church, the message of. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
The book of philemon is addressed in the first 35 pages or so, but that is all. Dearly beloved first, philemon is our dearly beloved. Paul wrote this letter to philemon, interceding for onesimus a runaway slave and presenting strong reasons why he should be graciously restored to his masters favour. Philemon, a wealthy christian at colossae, and all future readers of the bible. He uses philemon and his relationship with onesimus as a springboard to discuss grace in the nt and how gods grace through christ permeates every area. It was written to philemon as a plea to request forgiveness for his runaway servant onesimus, who was a new believer in jesus christ. One of his slaves, onesimus, had apparently stolen from him cf. Listen to chuck swindolls overview of philemon in his audio message from the classic series gods masterwork. Instead of a masterslave relationship, it should now be a brotherly relationship. Paul wrote this letter to philemon, a believer in colosse who, along with others, was a slave owner cf. Paul chose to take the role of mediator between the two and even offered to personally cover the debts of the recently converted slave.
The key personalities of philemon are paul, philemon, and onesimus. So, we have to gather our facts about this man from this short book that bears his name. One of the most important things to understand about philemon the is background of slavery in the ancient world. Now that we understand the purpose of genesis, we need to consider the question concerning the human authorship of the book. The law of moses the first five books of the bible are known by various names. What is known as the book of philemon in the bible, is actually a letter from the apostle paul to a christian brother named philemon, regarding a. Like many people who lived in the roman empire, philemon was a slave owner. The book of philemon demonstrates the gospel in action. Stay connected amidst social distancing receive weekly scripture encouragement to share with family and friends.
There is little doubt that paul wrote this epistle, since he refers to. If the roman hypothesis is accepted, then it is likely that paul wrote philemon early 12 in his first roman imprisonment i. This book was written by paul while he was in prison around a. The letter of paul to philemon, brief new testament letter written by paul the apostle to a wealthy. The apostle wrote this letter to philemon, asking philemon to reinstate onesimusthis time as a dear brother v. In the bible book that bears philemons name, paul addressed his beloved brother as a fellow worker, a title given to those who served for a time alongside paul. As the shortest of pauls letters 335 words, it is situated at the end of the pauline corpus, which has been traditionally arranged not by date but from the longest to the shortest romans through philemon. The letter to philemon is the shortest of all pauls writings and deals with the practice of slavery. Philemon intro to philemon biblica the international bible society. The letter of paul to philemon epistle by saint paul. The book of philemon is one of the most interesting, yet neglected books of the bible.
He is most famous for the thirteen books of the new testament that he wrote, which are referred to as the pauline epistles. Paulwas definitely the author and nothing needs to confirm that. The book of philemon is a prison epistle letter written while in prison, which paul wrote circa 61 a. The epistle of paul to philemon, known simply as philemon, is one of the books of the christian new testament. Letter from paul to philemon, paul, a prisoner of jesus christ, and timothy our. The letter suggests that paul was in prison at the time of the writing.
The book of philemon was written in approximately a. Philemon letter essay the letter of philemon was written by paul the apostle along with timothy. The lord jesus brought paul to rome to complete the mission strategy that jesus gave to his disciples just before his ascension into heaven. Paul gave both letters to tychicus and onesimus to carry back to philemon colossians 4. In that letter, paul mentioned that onesimus would be coming home. It appears that he was a slave holder before he was saved. It was written, according to the text, by paul the apostle and timothy to the church in colossae, a small phrygian city near laodicea and approximately 100 miles 160 km from ephesus in asia minor. The letter of paul to philemon epistle by saint paul britannica.
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