Letter To Problem Theme

Ephesians Church None Church Nature + Purpose

Colossians Church Extra for Salvation

Christ Supreme + All-Sufficient

Philemon Individual Division ex-slave+Master

Reconciliation to Slave as Brother

Philippians Church None Unity + Joy

Paul’s Prison Letters

Location

Verses 1 - 5 : Introduction(1) Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To

Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker--

(2) also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier--and to the church that meets in your home:

(3) Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

(4) I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers,

(5) because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus.

Verses 1 - 5 : IntroductionFrom : Paul in prison - Rome

With : Timothy

To : Philemon - in Colossae church

Philemon : Wealthy businessman, church leader, large home used for church meetings in Colossae

Style : Individual personal letter (only one with no doctrinal

teaching !)

Structure : Same as most letters of the time Intro. + thanksgiving +

message + final greetings

Verses 8 - 12 : Situation(8) Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you

to do what you ought to do,

(9) yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul--an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus--

(10) that 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.

(12) I am sending him--who is my very heart--back to you.

Verses 8 - 12 : Situation

About : Onesimus (Philemon’s previous slave)

Situation : Onesimus stole & escaped: Colossae to Rome

Connection : Paul became Father to him (discipling)

Decision : Send Onesimus back to Philemon

Verses 14 - 19 : Persuasion(14) But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so

that any favour you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary.

(15) Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever--

(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 fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.

(17) 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.

Verses 14 - 19 : PersuasionPersuades : Take Onesimus back – Reconcile

NOT as a slave -> AS a Brother in Christ !

Guarantee : Repay anything Onesimus owes him (Paul’s commitment to reconciliation)

Approach : Could Command Philemon as his Apostle / leader > Persuades – appealing to his faith > Empowering Philemon to decide: Reconcile

> More effective than force & pressure

Reminds : Debt Philemon owes to Christ through Paul. From Paul’s preaching, Christ saved him & forgave all sins. He is in debt to Christ for giving his life

Structure / Direction of Letter

Theme = Reconciliation

In Christ : from runaway slave to reconciled brother

Message : In Christ we are brothers

Message : from Slave to Brother

By Law – In the Roman Empire: Onesimus is bound as slave to Philemon In Christ – Onesimus has been transformed socially from a slave to brother

Message : In Christ we are brothers

In Roman empire - wealthy slave master at the top of society - slaves at the bottom of society, fully controlled by owner.

Paul changes Onesimus status from slave > to brother in Christ

Paul respects the work of Onesimus with him

Onesimus in Christ’s eyes is not a slave / thief – he is an equal brother

In a society of Oppression + slavery > this is a scandal !

Paul communicates with Philemon (rich + wealthy) as equal to Onesimus (the slave) =no favouritism / hierarchy in God’s family

Message : To Forgive & Reconcile

In Roman empire - wealthy slave master at the top of society - slaves at the bottom of society, fully controlled by owner.

Paul changes Onesimus status from slave > to brother in Christ

Paul respects the work of Onesimus with him Onesimus in Christ’s eyes is not a slave / thief – he is

an equal brother Paul communicates with Philemon (rich + wealthy) as

equal to Onesimus the slave (no favouritism or hierarchy in God’s family)

Message : To Forgive + Reconcile

Philemon is called to forgive + reconcile with his former thief + slave

Just as Christ has forgiven us of far greater debt & reconciled us to God from across the division of darkness into light

Paul’s great desire & efforts >> reconciliation in the body of Christ

Though with little money in prison – he quarantines to repay cost of all stolen by Onesimus - in order to get reconciliation.

> This is how much Paul is willing to lose personally to achieve reconciliation between believers

Personal Challenge We are commanded to FORGIVE :

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (Matthew 6:14-15)

We are commanded to RECONCILE with others :

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:18-19)

Personal Challenge Since Christ has adopted me into His family &

kingdom :Do I treat all believers as equal ?

(whether the richest in church or poorest from the street ?)

Since Christ has reconciled me to God out of the great divide between light (holiness) and darkness (sin)Do I forgive others ?

Since Christ has reconciled me to God out of the great divide between light (holiness) and darkness (sin)Do I reconcile to others, who’ve

repented ?