Philemon Chapter 1
This letter was also written by Paul to a man who was serving a church that Paul had started. Philemon was a wealthy man who had been led to Christ and now allowed the church to hold services in his home. Philemon previously had a bond servant, but the servant had escaped. Paul knew this servant personally and wrote to Philemon on his behalf.
This letter was written during the same time period that Paul wrote his other letters. It was written just a short time before Paul was executed by the Romans. In each case Paul addressed his letter to the leader of the church, in this letter he writes more of a friendship letter. But Paul also intended for it to be read by the church at large. And so, this letter to Philemon and the church at Colosse is preserved forever in the pages of the Bible, the preserved Word of God.
Let's Reflect
1. Paul addressed this letter to a woman named Apphia who was possibly the wife of Philemon and also in charge of the bondservants of the household. Archippus was possibly their son. We are not sure if this is a physical family, but they certainly were a part of the family of God. What had Paul heard about them?
2. What had Paul personally experienced in his relationship as a brother in Christ with Philemon? We could ask ourselves the question; how do our brothers and sister in Christ feel about us after being in our presence?
3. Paul was a prisoner while writing this letter, but he understood his purpose in life so well that he called himself a prisoner of whom?
4. Onesimus was the bond servant who had escaped from Philemon. Paul apparently shared the gospel with him and probably discipled him in the faith. Paul thought of Onesimus like what?
5. Onesimus had become useless when he had run away. But he is a changed man now, and Paul is going to send him back to Philemon. Demonstrating how close Onesimus and Paul were, Paul said he was sending his what?
6. Paul indicated that Philemon should extend mercy to Onesimus based on the fact that he was now a beloved brother (a fellow believer). Paul fully expected that Onesimus would be a help to Philemon with the ministry of the gospel at Colosse. Paul was willing to do what on Onesimus’s behalf?
7. Paul thought a lot of this man and he hoped to be released from prison to come and visit. What did he ask Philemon to do for him in the meantime? This is something we can ask of fellow believers with every situation in life that is difficult.
