General Information | |
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| Name | This Epistle is named for Philemon, the letter’s main recipient. |
| Author and Date | Three times in the letter Paul identifies himself as the author of Philemon (1, 9, 19). Philemon bears an unmistakable similarity to Colossians in style, vocabulary and content. Paul uses the same phrases in the two works, and many of the people who send greetings to Philemon are the same as those in Colossians. In addition, early church fathers, such as Origin, Tertullian and Eusebius all assumed Pauline authorship. It was also included in the Muratorian Canon. Philemon was probably written during Paul’s first imprisonment, and sent with the Epistle to the Colossians, since Philemon lived in the city. Hence, the date of Philemon is around A.D. 60. |
| Audience | Although the main recipient of the letter is Philemon, Paul also addresses the letter to Appia, Archippus, and the church that was meeting in Philemon’s house. Paul calls Philemon “our beloved friend and fellow laborer.” It is often assumed Appia is Philemon’s wife and Archippus was his son. Tradition holds that Philemon lived in or near Colosse, and was a fairly wealthy individual, since he could afford slaves, and his house was big enough to host a church. |
| Message and Occasion | The message of Philemon is a plea by Paul to Philemon to accept back and forgive Onesimus. Paul even offers to pay any debt incurred by Onesimus against Philemon. Onesimus had run away from Philemon before he became a Christian. At some point, he ended up in Rome and, by providence, met Paul and came to faith in Christ. Although he assisted Paul for a time, Paul felt compelled to send him back to Philemon. However, under Roman law, runaway slaves could be punished with death. Although as an Apostle, Paul says he could command Philemon to forgive Onesimus and accept him back, or even keep Onesimus with him in Rome. But Paul does not exploit his apostolic authority, so that Philemon would not feel compelled, but accept Onesimus “voluntarily.” |
Key Information | |
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| Key Verses | 4-6 “I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.” 17 “If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me.” 21 “Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.” |
| Key People | Philemon As the recipient of the letter, Philemon is the central figure of the letter. He was probably wealthy, and must have had a good reputation, since Paul assumes he will “do even more than I say.” Onesimus The runaway slave Onesimus is the subject of the letter. Although Paul found him useful, he felt it was his duty to send him back to Philemon in the hopes Onesimus might be received back “as you would me.” He hopes Philemon will perhaps even make him “no longer as a slave, but more than a slave – a beloved brother” (15-16). |
| Key Events | Onesimus Meeting Paul in Rome Having become a Christian, it is likely Onesimus shared Paul’s desire to set things right, since from all evidence, Onesimus was voluntarily going back to Philemon, knowing the law allowed Philemon to put him to death if he wanted. Assumed Reconciliation between Philemon and Onesimus It has been argued that the two men were reconciled, although this is not for certain. It does not seem likely Philemon would have shared the letter if he had not heeded Paul’s plea, and the letter never would have made it into the canon. |
Important Theology in Philemon | |
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| Forgiveness | Philemon was instructed, basically, not to hold Onesimus’ sin against him and forgive him. |
| Substitution and Imputation | It wasn’t necessarily Paul’s intention, but he gives us a human example of the deep theological doctrines of substitution and imputation. Paul says to accept Onesimus “as you would me.” This is the same concept of Christ’s death on the cross. God accepts this sacrifice in the place of the sinner. Paul also says to put on his “account” anything Onesimus owed Philemon. This is an example of the doctrine of imputation. Rom 5:15-18 teaches that Adam’s sin is imputed (put in the account) to all people. In turn, when a sinner comes to faith in Christ, their sin is imputed to Christ, and Christ’s righteousness is imputed to believers. |
General Outline | |
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Gracious Greetings (1-3)
Thanksgiving and Prayer for Philemon (4-7)
Paul’s Plea for Onesimus (8-20)
Paul’s Plans (22)
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Used by permission. ©2017 H. Wayne House, Charting the New Testament. All Rights Reserved.