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A Tale of Two CitiesPhilemon 1-25
Chapter 13By Warren W. Wiersbe
Paul in Rome and Philemon in ColossaeHuman link between them was Onesimus, the runaway slaveThe law permitted a master to execute a rebellious slave, but Philemon was a Christian.Dilemmas!Letter of Philemon was carried by Tychicus and Onesimus (Col. 4:7-9)
Paul, The Beloved Friend (1-7)•Paul didn’t found the church in Colossae nor visited it (Col. 1:1-8; 2:1)•Church in Colossae started in a result of his ministry in Ephesus.– Epaphras was the founding pastor (23)– Met in the home of Philemon and his wife,
Apphia, & Archippus, their son?
•New Testament churches met in homes (Rom. 16:5, 23; I Cor. 16:19)
• Paul won Philemon to Christ (19) and Philemon became a blessing to other Christians (7).
• Paul opened the letters with word of thanks and praise to God except Galatians
• Philemon as a man of love an faith, both toward God and God’s people.– His love was practical– He “refreshed” the saints through his word and
work
• Paul prayed for Philemon to have effective witness and deeper understanding of all he had in Jesus Christ.
Paul, the Beseeching Intercessor (8-16)• 60 million slaves in Roman Empire– The average slave sold for 500 denarii (one
denarius was a day’s wage for a common laborer)– Educated and skilled slave was high as 50,000
denarii.– The master could free a slave or a slave could buy
his freedom (Acts 22:28).
• If a runaway slave, he is on a “wanted” list. Many masters were humane and reasonable although some were cruel.
• Appeals to Philemon1.Philemon’s reputation as a man who brought
blessing to others (8)2.Paul wanted to give him an opportunity to
refresh the apostle's heart since Philemon was a “refreshing” believer– Paul appealed in Christian love (9)
3. Onesimus’ conversion (10)– No longer a slave– Paul’s son in the faith– Philemon’s Christian brother– Doesn’t altered Onesimus’ legal position as a slave
4. Onesimus was valuable to Paul in his minstry in Rome (11-14)– “Onesimus” means profitable while Philemon
mean an affection or one who is kind.
5. Providence of God (15-16)– Onesimus departed so he can come back– God is in control
Paul, The Burdened Partner (17-25)– Partner-koinonia: to have in common• Communication (6) means fellowship
– “Receive him as myself”– “Put that (whatever he stole from you) on my
account”– “The way you treat Onesimus is the way you treat
me”
– He is to me as my own heart
• An illustration of what Jesus Christ has done for us as believers– “We are accepted in the beloved” (Eph. 1:6)– “Clothed in His righteous” (2 Cor. 5:2)
• Receive in Philemon 17 means to receive in one’s family circle.
• Love must pay a price and God– Grace is love that pays in price
• Doctrine of imputation: putting in an account.– When Christ died on the cross, my sins were put
on His account– His righteousness was put on my account when I
trusted Him as my Savior
• Being accepted in Christ and acceptable to Christ– In for salvation and to Christ in daily life (Rom.
12:2; 14:18; 2 Cor. 5:9; Heb. 12:28)
• Philemon 19 – Paul led Philemon to faith in Christ
– Philemon and Onesimus were spiritual brothers, and had the same spiritual father – Paul
• Paul didn’t condemn slavery in any letter– First; the message of Christianity is primarily
individuals and only secondarily to society– Second; it acts on spiritual and moral sentiments,
and only afterwards and consequently on deeds and institutions
– Third; it hates violence, and trust wholly to enlightened conscience
– Alexander Maclaren
• Difficulty of crusade against slavery – Christian are the salt of the earth and light of the
world (Matt. 5:13-16)• Joseph in Egypt• Esther and Nehemiah in Persia• Daniel in Babylon
– Political government structure• Change from within
– You: plural; visit (22)
• Epaphras – pastor of the church– Dedication to Christ and Paul
• John Mark (Col. 4:10)– Paul was grateful and forgave (2 Tim. 4:11)
• Aristarchus from Thessalonica • Demas – my fellow worker (24)– Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present
world (2 Tim. 4:10)– John Mark failed but was restored
• Luke – beloved physician (Col. 4:14)• Paul’s benediction – Grace of God