Philemon Study

Philemon Study

Core themes, fun facts and lessons.

Introduction

Summary of the message

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The implications of the Good News are personal, but never private; Jesus’ family is a new humanity of equal partners who share together in God’s healing mercy.

Authorship

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The Apostle Paul is typically credited as the author of the letter to the Philemon. It's probable that Timothy contributed to the letter's composition or at the very least was present when Paul dictated it. Timothy is mentioned in the greetings at the beginning of the letter, and he is referred to by Paul as "our brother" (1:1).

It is believed to have been written around 60-62 AD, during Paul's imprisonment in Rome. It is said to be one of the prison epistles, alongside Ephesians, Philippians and Philemon.

The letter was carried by Onesimus, and possibly Tychicus, since they delivered the letter to the Colossian church (Colossians 4:7-9).

Audience

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This personal letter is the shortest of what we have as Paul’s letters, and was addressed to Philemon, a rich Roman citizen who was possibly a leader in the Ephesian church, in whose house the church met.

Situational context

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What is clear from the letter is that Onesimus was a slave of Philemon, but he had run away from his master. We aren’t given all the details, but he had somehow met Paul, become a follower of Jesus, and served in the gospel alongside Paul. Onesimus wronged his master (Philemon), and Paul wrote this request letter to Philemon, pleading with him to not just forgive, but also take back his former slave; and this time with a new status as his brother in Christ on the basis of Onesimus’ conversion.

This letter should be taken as a reminder and personal application of the message of our unity in Christ which was expressed in the letter to the Colossians. Paul’s request was definitely counter-cultural (in Roman culture, Onesimus was deserving of punishment and maybe even execution), but clearly reinforces how our salvation and the lordship of Christ is expressed in our relationship with others; especially those who are Jesus followers also.

Book Outline

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  • 1-3: Letter opening
  • 4-7: Thanksgiving
  • 8-22: Letter Body
    • Body opening (8–17); states the request
      • “I am appealing to you concerning my child … Onesimus” (10)
      • “Receive him as you would me” (17)
    • Body middle (18–20); advances the request
      • “Charge this to my account” (18)
      • “Refresh my heart” (20)
    • Body closing (21-22)
      • Reference to writing (21b)
      • Expressions urging responsible action
        • “Confident of your obedience” (21a)
        • “Knowing that you will do even more than I am asking” (21c)
      • Travel plans
  • 23-25: Letter Closing
    • Greetings from (23-24)
    • Greetings to (absent)
    • Goodbye and/or health wish (25)

      • Linda L. Belleville and Jason C. Kuo, “Philemon, Letter to,” ed. John D. Barry et al., The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).

    • 1:1–2: Opening greeting
    • 1:3–14: Opening prayer and purpose
    • 1:15–20: Christ hymn
    • 1:21–23: Reconciliation in Christ

Related Books

Colossians

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Please see notes on the letter to Colossians

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