KNOW YOUR BIBLE IN 50 DAYS:
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CHAPTER 57 – Philemon: Approx. 62 A.D.

The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Philemon is the fifty-seventh book of the Bible. The title of the book in Greek is Pros Philemona meaning “To Philemon.” The title in the English Bible is “The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Philemon.”

Authorship

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, is the author of the book, The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Philemon. It was probably written about 62 A.D.

Summary

The book of Philemon is actually a letter (epistle) that was written by the apostle Paul to Philemon, a Christian who was probably a member of the Christian church in the city of Colossae in ancient Asia Minor, in what is modern-day Turkey. It was probably written during Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome in approximately 62 A.D.

The book opens with greetings from Paul and Timothy to Philemon. Paul then expresses his approval and praise of Philemon’s love and faith toward the Lord Jesus and toward all saints. He next states that for love’s sake, he, Paul, beseeches Philemon for Onesimus, who has been converted to Christ through Paul’s ministry, and whom Paul regards as his son.

Onesimus, Paul says, had been unprofitable to Philemon in the past, but he is now profitable to both Paul and Philemon. Paul then states that he has sent Onesimus again to Philemon and he, Paul, asks Philemon to receive Onesimus kindly, as Onesimus has a place in Paul’s affections. Paul notes that he would have kept Onesimus with him to minister to him, Paul, in his imprisonment but he, Paul, would not do so without Philemon’s consent.

For, Paul says, Onesimus had departed from Philemon for a time that Philemon should now receive Onesimus forever, not as a servant, but as a beloved Christian brother, just as Paul regards Onesimus in this way. Paul asks Philemon to receive Onesimus as he would receive Paul himself, and if Onesimus has wronged him and owes him anything, to charge it to him, Paul. For I will repay it, Paul says, although you, Philemon, owe your conversion to Christ and your resultant hope of eternal life to me, Paul.

Next, Paul asks Philemon to give him joy in the Lord Jesus by Philemon’s reception of Onesimus. Paul says he writes to Philemon because he has confidence that Philemon will grant Paul’s request and do even more than Paul is asking. Prepare me a place to stay, Paul asks Philemon, for I trust that through your prayers I will soon be released from prison and come to you. Paul closes his letter by asking Philemon to greet fellow Christian workers on Paul’s behalf and he, Paul, blesses Philemon.

Themes

• Christian respect, love, and tact.
• A Christian leader’s converts to Christ.
• A runaway servant.
• The duty of obedience of servants to masters.
• The duty of Christian masters to treat their servants as beloved, fellow Christians.
• The duty of the wronged to forgive the sins of those who have sinned against them.
• The generous, loving act of a Christian to take upon himself the debt of a fellow Christian.
• Christian hospitality.
• The love of Christians for all others.

God as Revealed in the Book

• God who gives grace and peace to humanity.
• God who causes Christians to have joy in each other.
• God who causes Christians to love all others.

Connections with the Rest of the Bible

God had rejected king Saul of Israel from being king because of Saul’s disobedience to God and had chosen David to become the new king in due time. Now Saul had a son named Jonathan “and it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was [closely] knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul… Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle [belt].” 1 Samuel 18:1-4.

Now Jonathan informed David of his father Saul’s intent to kill David. “And…David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they [David and Jonathan] kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded [with David weeping the most].

And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, The LORD be between me and thee, and between my seed [descendants] and thy seed [descendants] for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.” 1 Samuel 20:41, 42.

Such was the love between Jonathan, an heir to the throne of Israel, and David who would be crowned king instead of him. Here is an example of the love that God can put in human hearts. “For all the law [God’s law of love] is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Galatians 5:14.

Spiritual Applications

Pray to God sincerely and ask God to help you to do His will, believing that God will help you, and thus you will be enabled to make the spiritual applications noted below:

• Have Christian respect, love, and tact, in all circumstances.
• Make converts to Christ through your God-given Christian ministry.
• Forgive the sins of those who have sinned against you.
• As a Christian, be generous and loving, and help fellow Christians who are in need financially.
• Practice Christian hospitality.
• Have love for all others and encourage others to do likewise.
• Be obedient and serve wholeheartedly those who have rule over you, as long as this does not conflict with God’s law of love.
• Do not steal.
• Rule over those in your charge with love.
• Do not receive God’s grace (God’s unmerited favour in blessing humanity) in vain so that you are not saved to eternal life by God.
• Do not run away from your duties and responsibilities.
• Be a blessing to the world in your daily life.
• Pray for the Christian church and for the world, that God would overrule Satan, and that God’s will prevails in all circumstances.

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