Class Notes, Philemon

• Background:
• Inhabitant of Colossae (Col 4:9)
• Wealthy.  Some disagreement.  Owned slaves.  Room for Paul to stay on a future trip
• Came to Christ through Paul's ministry, but not clear where
• Some suggest they met in Ephesus
• Others believed Paul actually did visit Colossae at some point in his travels
• Most estimate that as many as one-third of inhabitants of urban areas were slaves
• Roman slave law accepted the dual status of slaves: they were persons and they were property.  They had opportunity for social advancement.  They could buy their freedom
• The Jewish system treated slaves as contracted servants.  The later American system treated them as property
• Onesimus is (or was) his servant
• He was "unprofitable" either by theft or his escape (which would also be theft if a contract existed) or by his work ethic
• Colossians 3:22-24 makes it very clear how a slave should live his life -- as serving the Lord and not men; not when their eye is upon you but with sincerity (wholehearted effort)
• Paul meets Onesimus in Rome
• Paul leads Onesimus to the Lord
• Onesimus experiences a changed heart and life (some suggestion that Onesimus wants to return)
• The laws of Phyrgia allow a master to punish a runaway slave without applying to a magistrate
• The letter is written at the same time as Colossians due to the similarity of the people mentioned with Paul
• Time of writing: most estimate 62 AD
Philem 1-3 (NIV) Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,
To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker, 2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church that meets in your home:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
• What do we learn from these verses?
• The greeting is similar to Colossians (again, they were probably written and sent at the same time).  In Colossians, Paul emphasizes his apostleship but here he emphasizes his status as a prisoner (most likely in Rome)
• The letter is personal.  Paul knows Philemon
• The Colossae church meets in Philemon's home (suggests he was wealthy ; the early church was dependent upon the hospitality of its wealthy members who would furnish their house for that purpose; larger cities might have multiple assemblies)
• Apphia -- most likely a family member, possibly his wife
• Archippus -- also a family member, possibly his son (or his brother) and also pastor/elder of the church
• Fellow soldier
• Col 4:17 (NIV) Tell Archippus: "See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord."
Philem 4-7 (NIV) I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. 6 I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. 7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.
• What do we learn from Paul's prayer?
• Philemon's faith was strong
• Philemon loved the saints and he was a refreshment to them
• Paul prays that he might be active in sharing his faith, which suggests that it is a weakness.  But why does sharing your faith allow a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ?
• One, it is an action of obedience.  God gives more to those who use what he gives them
• Two, you learn of the incredible joy in leading another person to Christ
• Three, in helping a convert to be a disciple, we need to be growing in the Lord as well.  Discipling pushes us farther in our faith
• E.g. effect of being a Commander on personal appearance standards
Philem 8-11 (NIV) Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9 yet I appeal to you on the basis of love. I then, as Paul — an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus —  10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
• Now we get to the heart of the letter, it is a personal appeal.  Why does Paul say could "order" him?
• His authority as an apostle
• Because he is his spiritual father (vs 19)
• Because his request is the right thing to do
• He could appeal as an old man (his elder)
• He could appeal as a prisoner (his suffering in the gospel for their sake)
• He appeals on the basis of love versus an order.  Why is that characteristic of the New Covenant (NC)?
• The Old Covenant was based on the law, and even more specifically, the letter of the law
• The NC focuses on the heart and the spirit of the law, which is sometimes in opposition to the letter
• Onesimus became Paul's son while Paul is a prisoner.  His name literally means useless, so Paul is using a play on words
• Why is Onesimus going back and what is the basis of Paul's argument for Philemon to accept him?
• Onesimus has an obligation, a contractual obligation.  His faith does not change that status
• Philemon has an obligation to listen to Paul as his spiritual leader
• In both cases, something is owed which must be paid back
• APPLICATION:  In the Christian life, our obligations and debts are requirements not optional
Philem 12-16 (NIV) I am sending him — who is my very heart — back to you. 13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced. 15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good— 16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.
• The Christian view of slavery is much different than is often painted by critics.  While Paul does accept the social convention of slavery (different from what America would implement), here he argues that as a believer a slave's status changes to that of a brother in the Lord
• Does Onesimus want to go back?
• It is not clear, but Paul could have hardly forced him to go back
• It is the right thing to do, so I believe Onesimus chooses to go back
Philem 17-21 (NIV) So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back — not to mention that you owe me your very self. 20 I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. 21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.
• What does it mean to be a partner?
• The root of the Gr. word is to share or to have certain things in common
• Philemon and Paul, would have common interests, common feelings, common work, and a common brother (Heibert)
• Paul challenges Philemon to welcome Onesimus as he would welcome Paul.  This puts Onesimus on the same level as Philemon and Paul (Deibler)
• Why does Paul ask to pay for any expense or wrong?
• Once again, this is an issue of obligation.  Our status as believers does not negate our obligations, commitments, or promises
• Also, it is possible that Onesimus stole before he ran away.  In either case, some transaction of money was involved in his service
• Usually, Paul let someone write out his letters.  Verse 19 suggests that Paul wrote the entire letter by hand or at least the statement in verse 19.  Since Paul was around 60 years old, it is possible that he could not see well to write or that he had an eye affliction (as some have suggested)
• The statement, "not to mention that you owe me your very self," is a paraleipsis.
• A pretended or apparent omission; a figure by which a speaker artfully pretends to pass by what he really mentions. From <http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Paraleipsis>
Philem 22-25 (NIV) And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. 24 And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
• Paul didn't say for sure that he would be released, but it was his hope.  Many people believe that he was released.  In Acts 26:32, Agrippa's legal opinion was that he could have been released, having done nothing wrong, if he had not appealed to Caesar