Philemon

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Philemon

• Appeal for Acceptance
• Written by Paul from prison about 60-62 A.D.
• Coauthored by Timothy
• Key Verses 10-11
• Myron G. Heavin

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Philemon Occasion and Purpose

• Paul wanted to restore a right relationship
  between Philemon (a slave owner) and Onesimus
  (his slave)
• Letter was evidentially successful for it exists
  today

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Philemon Similarities to Colossians

• Very similar to Colossians
• Greetings at end have common names
• Slavery a theme in both books
• See Colossians 322-41
• Probably written at the same time
• Probably distributed at same time by Onesimus and
  Tychicus

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Philemon - Features

• This is the most private epistle of Paul
• No major doctrines are addressed
• Says much about interpersonal relationships
  between Christians
• Glimpse of 1st century Roman Empire culture
• Slavery similar to an employee today

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Philemon Interesting Facts

• Immediate Audience
• Somewhat Immature Christians (60-62 A.D.)
• Gentiles Jews
• Rampant Demonology, spirits, Jewish Mysticism
  etc.
• Written from a prison in Rome
• Small town in Lycus river valley in Turkey
• A letter circulated to all the churches,
  especially Colossae

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Who Was He?

• Philemon
• Slave Owner (Phil 11, 15-16 Col 41)
• Hosted a house church (Phil 2)
• Onesimus
• Ignatius (an early church leader) wrote a letter
  to the church at Ephesus clearly echoing the
  language of Philemon.
• He mentioned Onesimus was Bishop of Ephesus.
• So if Onesimus ran away at age 16-18 in 60 AD, he
  would have been in his 70s as Bishop of Ephesus
  (110 A.D.)
• Is this the same person?

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The Prison Epistles of Paul
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Colossae Located in Turkey
Colossae was located 12 miles from Laocidea, and
about 100 miles east of Ephesus in the Lycus
river valley.
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Philemon New Testament Time Line

• 38-41 AD Anti-Jewish Upheaval Alexandria ,
  Palestine, Judea
• 49 - 54 AD Claudius expels Jews from Rome
• 49 AD Church struggles, meets about Jews
  Gentiles
• Acts 15, Gal. 21-15
• 54 68 AD Nero becomes emperor, welcomes Jews
  back
• Claudius poisoned by Neros Mother
• Nero murdered Mother possibly half-brother
• Nero allows Jews back into Rome
• 57 AD Paul writes Romans
• 60-62 AD Paul arrested, writes Colossians
• 64 / 65 AD Rome burns Nero blames Christians
• 68 AD Siege in Jerusalem begins after Jewish
  rebellion
• 70 AD Rome burns Jerusalem, temple destroyed

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Philemon Basic Outline (F.F. Bruce)

• Prescript (1-3)
• Thanksgiving for News of Philemons Liberality
  (4-7)
• Pauls Request (8-14)
• The Request Reinforced (15-20)
• Promise of a Visit (21-22)
• Greetings from Pauls Companions (23-24)
• Final Benediction (25)

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Bibliography

• Bruce, F. F. The Epistles to the Colossians, to
  Philemon, and the Ephesians. The New
  International Commentary on the New Testament.
  Grand Rapids Eerdmans, 1984.
• Garland, David E. Colossians /Philemon. The NIV
  Application Commentary. Grand Rapids Zondervan,
  2000.
• Gundry, Robert H. A Survey of the New Testament.
  Grand Rapids Zondervan, 2003.
• Holman Bible Dictionary. Nashville Holman Bible
  Publishers, 1991.
• Baugh, S. M. Philemon. Zondervan Illustrated
  Bible Backgrounds Commentary Vol. 3. Grand
  Rapids Zondervan, 2002.
• Martinez, Ted. Talbot New Testament Survey
  Lectures, Talbot Theological Seminary, Summer
  2003.

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