Philemon#02

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Philemon

September 21, 2015

Philemon#01

January 24, 2010

RETURN TO THE LIST OF LESSONS

PHILEMON
Lesson #02
AN APPEAL FOR LOVE

• Memory Verse: Philemon 1:18

 

• Read Philemon 1:1-7 The Greeting
• The letter is addressed to Philemon, his wife, Apphia, and his son, Archppus.
  • This is a wealthy Christian family living in the city of Colosse.
    • We learn much about Philemon.
      • His name means = friendship. In fact, this was the characteristic of this man’s life.
      • He had a good reputation in the city and in the church. (5)
      • He was a loving man of strong faith. (5)
      • He had a heart for hospitality. (5)
        • He had a church group meeting in his home. (2)
        • He had a strong ministry to others. (7)
• Read Philemon 1:8-17 The purpose of the letter – the appeal

• Based on Philemon’s love for Christ and for other believers, Paul appeals to Philemon on behalf of Onesimus, the runaway slave.
  • Paul is quick to tell Philemon that his slave is now a Christian with a new life in Christ.
    • He became a Christian under Paul’s influence in prison.
      • Therefore, we can assume that Onesimus was captured by the Roman Government and put in prison for either being a runaway slave or most likely for robbery.
      • Onesimus is about to be released from prison and sent back to his owner Philemon.
• Paul’s appeal:
  • Onesimus has the potential to be a profitable servant to Paul and to Philemon. (11)
    • This opportunity to be profitable is contingent on how Philemon receives Onesimus back into his household.
      • What profit can Onesimus provide?
        • Paul has in mind spiritual profitability. This slave is now a believer with a new life in Christ. He can help Philemon with the ministry in his house. He can help Paul by carrying Paul’s words to other churches.
  • Paul was a master at making an appeal to someone that had authority. In this way we can learn this art of appeal from Paul.

PRINCIPLES FOR MAKING AN APPEAL TO AUTHORITY	SCRIPTURES
=1= Base your appeal on an existing relationship and recall any existing debt	Philemon 1:1,17,19
=2= Base your appeal on the other person’s reputation.	Philemon 1:6-7
=3= Base your appeal on the other person’s ultimate goals.	Philemon 1:21
=4= Make time for your appeal when you are willing to sacrifice for it.	Philemon 1:18
=5= Make your appeal based on your godly attitudes of love and sincerity.	Philemon 1:9, 14
=6= Give accurate information when making an appeal.	Philemon 1:11, 16
=7= Express confidence that the other person will do the right thing.	Philemon 1:21
=8= Choose your words of appeal very carefully.	Philemon 1

• Paul says he could be bold and insist that Philemon do the right thing, but instead he requests that he do the right thing based on love and not vengeance. (8-10)
  • Read Col 3:13-14
  • Read Col 3:22-4:1
• The slave, Onesimus would also read these scriptures.
• Paul calls Onesimus “his son” (10)
  • He means that this man is a son in the Lord. In other words, Paul led Onesimus to the Lord in prison.
• Notice that Paul also knows the meaning of the name, Onesimus, for he refers to this opportunity to be “profitable”.
  • Phrygian slaves had a reputation for being unreliable and unfaithful.
  • Because Onesimus was now a Christian, his old life of unprofitability has passed away. There is new potential through Jesus Christ.

• The significance of the delivery:
  • Paul is sending this letter of appeal back to Philemon with this runaway slave.
    • Onesimus’ options and Philemon’s options:
      • Out of fear of retribution, Onesimus could refuse to go back..
      • Once Onesimus is again in Colosse, he could again run away.
      • By faith Onesimus could trust God to straighten out this relationship with Philemon.
        • Philemon could punish him for his past robbery and his departure.
        • Philemon could receive him as a slave and return him to his life as a slave.
        • Philemon could have mercy and set him free.
  • Paul’s options:
    • Paul could have kept Onesimus with him for his own benefit without permission from Philemon, however, that would have been illegal. (15)
      • Illegal according to Roman law
      • Unethical according to Christian ethics.
  • Freedom in the balance
    • Is Paul asking that Philemon give Onesimus his freedom?
      • In a very subtle way, yes, though Paul does not come out and tell Philemon to give Onesimus his freedom. Paul tells him to “do the right thing”!
      • Why did Paul not plainly ask for complete freedom from slavery for Onesimus?
        • That which matters most in life is to be content with where God places you, to accept God’s call on your life and to follow Him no matter what the cost and in spite of the pain. (1Cor 7:21-24)
      • Paul is trusting the Holy Spirit in Philemon to cause this believer to do the right thing. In fact, Paul says that he knows Philemon will do even more than Paul asks.
    • The perspective of the appeal:
      • Paul asks Philemon to receive Onesimus as a brother in Christ rather than as a slave.
      • Paul extends the force of the appeal by asking Philemon to receive Onesimus as though he were receiving Paul.
        • While Philemon may never have met Paul, Paul’s reputation as an apostle was a strong, persuasive argument.
        • Philemon’s reputation of love for fellow Christians is put in the balance.

• Read Philemon1:18-22 The promise and closing appeal
  • What does Paul promise Philemon?
    • Paul puts into writing that he will repay any loss or damage that Onesimus has done.
  • What is Paul’s closing appeal?
    • Paul expected to be freed from prison and intended to visit Colosse. He, therefore requested lodging in Colosse.
• Read Philemon1:23-25 The closing salutation
  • Paul sends greetings to fellow workers.
  • What happened to Philemon and Onesimus?
    • We do not actually know the outcome of this story. However, because this letter is preserved in scripture, we assume that Philemon did the right thing and maintained a true Christian relationship with Paul and with Onesimus.

• Application:
  • This story is a good example of what Jesus Christ does for us, his children. Like Paul, Jesus Christ intercedes for us before God. We are like the runaway slave, Onesimus, rebellious against the will of God who owns us. However, like Paul, Jesus Christ paid for our debt and the damage that our rebellion caused. He forgives us and raises us to a new and higher level of a relationship.
  • This story is a demonstration of the Biblical principle: What Satan meant for evil, God meant it for good!
    • We see the sovereignty of God working in the life of Onesimus.
  • In this short book we find that the principles we studied in Colossians are put into practice and that Paul lives out what he preaches.
    • Principles in Colossians:
      • Let peace rule in your heart and in your relationships (Col 3:11-15)
      • Do all as unto the Lord. (Col 3:17)
      • Reconciliation requires love (Philemon 1:9)
        • Reconciliation is a one on one family matter. (Philemon 1:15-16 Col 3:11,15)

May your Christian life be a testimony of godly principles in yourheart!
The End