The key personalities of philemon are paul, philemon. Throughout the next four weeks, well be studying the book. The book of philemon is one of the most interesting, yet neglected books of the bible. A summary, synopsis or recap is a shortened version of the original.
Jan 02, 2020 the story of onesimus and philemon is a beautiful picture of the distinction between law and grace. Philemon is an awesome story of community, redemption, salvation. Paul and philemon may have had what is known as a patronclient relationship. Intro to philemon biblica the international bible society. Onesimus was still the property of philemon, and paul wrote to smooth the way for his return to his master. It was written to philemon as a plea to request forgiveness for his runaway servant onesimus, who was a new believer in jesus christ. Philemon is an awesome story of community, redemption, salvation, forgiveness, and reconciliation.
Philemon is a perfect example of what ancient letters were typically like in the grecoroman world. As a reward, they were saved from a flood that drowned the rest of the country. The book of philemon demonstrates the gospel in action. This summary of the book of philemon provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of philemon. The slave onesimus robbed his master, philemon, and ran away, making his way to rome and to paul. Due to ministry changes at my church and lack of teachers i have a combined class of newly promoted 4th. The story of onesimus and philemon is a beautiful picture of the distinction between law and grace. By using this website, i acknowledge that i am 16 years of age or older, and i agree to the terms and. Click here to see the next lesson on the book of philemon. Paul continues by saying that he is confident that philemon will do what is right and receive his former servant as a brother in the faith verses 2021. To win philemons willing acceptance of onesimus, paul writes very tactfully and in a lighthearted tone, which he creates with a wordplay see note on v. The story of baucis and philemon begins with the couple living in a simple cottage but ending their long life in a marble palace. There were millions of people in asia minor, and philemon was just one of the men who came to know the lord jesus. The book of philemon is as several authors have said, like looking over the shoulder of philemon as he reads his personal mail.
In philemon, we see the essence of the gospel reflected in pauls life as he imitates his lord in offering himself as a righteous substitution for onesimus before the wronged philemon vv. Apr 11, 2019 forgiveness shines like a brilliant light throughout the bible, and one of its brightest spots is the tiny book of philemon. So, in the company of his son mercury, the wingfooted messenger god, jupiter went about, disguised as a worn and weary traveler, from house to house among the neighbors of philemon and baucis. Philemon and baucis, in greek mythology, a pious phrygian couple who hospitably received zeus and hermes when their richer neighbours turned away the two gods, who were disguised as wayfarers. To indirectly request of philemon to send onesimus back to paul so that he can go on helping paul as he had already begun to do. Summary of the book of philemon story of the bible. The book of philemon is a true story which touches the heart. May 28, 2015 the story of baucis and philemon begins with the couple living in a simple cottage but ending their long life in a marble palace. Onesimus, a runaway slave, somehow while on the lam, came in contact with the imprisoned apostle paul.
An application of philemon for the modern day bryan hodge. The key personalities of philemon are paul, philemon, and onesimus. The book of philemon was written in approximately a. In this letter, paul helps his friend philemon to reconcile with his. Paul had warned slave owners that they had a responsibility towards their slaves. Visit our library of inductive bible studies for more in depth inductive studies on this and other books of the bible you can use in your small group. Watch our overview video on the book of philemon, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Philemon is pauls shortest and most personal letter, written during his first imprisonment in rome. But there is a book in the new testament which is consistently passed over in most childrens curriculum. Paul asks philemon in a letter to forgive onesimus and to accept him as a fellow christian and as a beloved brother verses 1516 paul then sent onesimus back to philemon. The book of philemon teaches about forgiveness and good interpersonal relationship.
Well, during the past week, i have been reading the life story of h. It appears that he was a slave holder before he was saved. This lesson continues the process of introducing students to inductive bible study. Its been described as the application of the highest principles to the most common affairs, but at the time it happened it was just two people at odds with each other being reconciled by a common love for the lord. The epistle to philemon is a plea from the apostle paul to receive his slave as a brother, as christ had received philemon. Because believers in jesus are equal partners in the new humanity, paul asks philemon to forgive his runaway slave onesimus. May 17, 2012 teaching children the book of philemon in past posts about teaching difficult scriptures to children, ive been concentrating on old testament books.
The apostle paul introduces himself as a prisoner of jesus. The book of philemon in the new testament is one of the shortest books, at only 355 words. Philemon 1 niv paul, a prisoner of christ jesus, and. Philemon 1 niv bible paul, a prisoner of christ jesus. One of the visitors converted under pauls teaching was a man named philemon, a slaveowner from the nearby city of colossae philemon 1. Jupiter was about to destroy mankind but was willing to give it one final chance before starting over again. Apparently, onesimus stole from his master then ran away to rome where he met paul and became a believer. Paul helps his friend philemon to reconcile with his escaped former slave onesimus, and shows that they are equals because of jesus. During his flight, onesimus encountered paul in rome, and through his ministry came to faith in christ. This short letter is a masterpiece of tact and psychology.
The letter to philemon is the shortest of all pauls writings and deals with the practice of slavery. I write this letter to you, philemon, my good friend and companion in this workalso to our sister apphia, to archippus, a real trooper, and to the church that meets in your house. This epistle is the story of three main characters, onesimus, philemon and paul and their interaction. Gordon fee in his book how to read the ible for all its worth lays out the form of ancient letters as follows with examples from philemon added. One of pauls shortest and the most explosive letters, the book of philemon demonstrates the gospel through action. Philemon bible study lesson 1 historical backgrounds of. The book of philemon is a prison epistle letter written while in prison, which paul wrote circa 61 a. Their story begins with small portions of food and milk on the table but concludes with a fountain of overflowing milk from a miraculous pitcher. They even lugged in more of their precious firewood to make a greater blaze. Following are questions our class used copies of the questions without the answers were printed out for groups of students to work on. I read it a few times but always seemed to struggle with what i could take out of it for my life. The epistle of paul to philemon, known simply as philemon, is one of the books of the christian.
Another view reads pauls letter to philemon as a story of estrangement between two brothers, philemon and onesimus. Here are some fun colossians activities you can do with your kids to. Onesimus had run away and may have stolen some money from his master. Nov 28, 2016 watch our overview video on the book of philemon, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Philemon summary we have detailed a brief summary of the book of philemon for bible study or sunday school lessons. To ask philemon of colossae to pardon his slave onesimus. Onesimus took a chance one day, as any slave would have done, and made a run for it. Paul does not identify himself as an apostle with authority. As such, the letter offers a model for christian reconciliation and speaks of the challenging implications of christian life and the imperative of christian justice. Stay connected amidst social distancing receive weekly bible studies to share with family and friends. Philemon, a wealthy christian at colossae, and all future readers of the bible.
Its canonicity was widely recognized in the early church, particularly by ignatius, tertullian, origen, eusebius, marcion, and in the muratorian canon. The letter suggests that paul was in prison at the time of the writing. Whatever onesimus took from philemon, paul says he will repay verses 1819. 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. Jul 28, 2015 in philemon, we see the essence of the gospel reflected in pauls life as he imitates his lord in offering himself as a righteous substitution for onesimus before the wronged philemon vv.
It is a prison letter, coauthored by paul the apostle with timothy, to philemon, a leader in the colossian church. Apparently philemon was welltodo, for his home was large enough to accommodate the church assemblies, and he was a slave owner. Please help me send bibles to poor people throughout the world. In this short personal letter, the apostle paul asks his friend philemon to extend forgiveness to a runaway slave named onesimus. The apostle paul introduces himself as a prisoner of jesus christ. Philemon and baucis were pleased to have visitors and insisted that their guests rest before their little hearth fire. Paul taught the gospel to onesimus, who then became a christian as well as a servant to paul. The new testament contains a short book called philemon. Now philemon owned slaves, and he had a slave named onesimus.
Nathaniel hawthorne repeated the story of baucis and philemon in the miraculous pitcher, a story in a wonderbook for girls and boys, 1851. Pauls letter to philemon is the eighteenth book in the new testament. As the students study philemon they will combine 2 steps overview, closer look. The book of philemon illustrates that principles like these can and should profoundly affect the lives of believers. The book is a very personal letter sent from the apostle paul see philemon 1,9,19 to his friend and son in the faith philemon. This book was written by paul while he was in prison around a. 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. It contains only one chapter and its verses are seldom quoted or are its verses included in weekly church. Diarmaid macculloch, in his a history of christianity, described the epistle as a christian foundation document in the justification of slavery. Study in philemon by edgar pierce exposing the word. It is a book every believer in christ should study thoroughly. Its written to philemon whose slave onesimus ran away and became a believer under pauls teaching. It deals with the themes of forgiveness and reconciliation.
These small group studies of philemon contain outlines, crossreferences, bible study discussion questions, and applications. To indirectly request of philemon to send onesimus back to paul so that. The epistle of paul to philemon, known simply as philemon, is one of the books of the christian new testament. Feb 12, 2012 paul taught the gospel to onesimus, who then became a christian as well as a servant to paul.
Onesimus, a slave belonging to philemon, had fled from his master, possibly stealing money in the process vv. But onesimus met paul and through his ministry became a christian see v. Pauls letter to philemon brings up the question of slavery, an emotionallycharged and controversial subject that most are not willing or. Introduction philemon paul, imprisoned for the sake of christ, along with timothy, greets philemon and others in his house church with an expression of their mutual bond of grace and peace that comes from god the father and the lord jesus christ. I had never heard a sermon from the book of philemon, nor had i ever heard any teacher say now please turn with me in your bibles to the book of philemon. Support link the new testament contains a short book called philemon. 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. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me. Throughout the next four weeks, well be studying the book of philemon. Most of the people mentioned in this letter for example, apphia, archipus, and others, including philemon and onesimus, are also mentioned in colossians, a fact which implies a close relationship between the two letters. Dec, 20 the book of philemon is a letter written by the apostle paul while in prison, to philemon in regards to his slave, onesimus. There is little doubt that paul wrote this epistle, since he refers to himself at least three times in verses 1, 9 and 19. One of his slaves, onesimus, had apparently stolen from him cf. Teacherbefore class prepare questions for your students to discover from the passage of scripture.
The book of philemon is a letter written by the apostle paul while in prison, to philemon in regards to his slave, onesimus. Onesimus, a slave in colossae, had evidently robbed philemon, his master verse 18, and run away. Philemon was a slave owner who also hosted a church in his home. Forgiveness shines like a brilliant light throughout the bible, and one of its brightest spots is the tiny book of philemon. One day two travelers showed up at their shack and poverty casa paupertatemque they did not know that the guests were actually mortal mortali forms of jupiter and mercury, but as baucis and philemon were a very kind and pious pia couple, they invited the travelers inside. To ask philemon of colossae to not only pardon his slave onesimus, but to give him a warm welcome as a fellow believer. These verses state what the story of philemon and onesimus illustrates, that god changes every person whom he saves through the gospel. But the covenant of grace through the lord jesus allowed both master and slave to fellowship in love on an equal basis in the body of christ. During the time of pauls ministry in ephesus, philemon had likely journeyed to the city, heard pauls preaching and became a christian. They did not have much, but loved each other greatly. Teaching children the book of philemon people of the book. Jonathan swift wrote a poem on the subject of baucis and philemon in 1709. Unasked, philemon and baucis then served their presumably starving guests, fresh fruits, olives, eggs, and wine.