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Paul's letter to Philemon

(Automatic translation from Portuguese, still to be edited)

Introduction

This Epistle is a particular letter of the Apostle Paul to his friend Philemon, in favour of a slave, called Onesimus, who had fled to Rome. There he met with Paul, who converted him to Christ, and sent him again to Philemon, bringing this letter.

It is not only a private Charter; part of the apostolic teaching to be received by the whole Church. The Epistle is divided easily into three parts:

Greeting and praise.

a) Paul the prisoner (v. 1). Believes that the letter was written at the same time as the Epistle to the Colossians, while Paul was expected to appear before the Emperor, who had appealed in Caesarea (acts 25: 11). Timothy also was with him, along with the brothers mentioned in verses 23 to 25.

b) Church in house (1-3). Philemon was a member of the Church in Colossae and had meetings in his home. It seems that was converted by Paul (v. 19), who calls him "our developer"; Áfia was probably his wife and his son Archippus maybe, which had a special "Ministry" of the Lord (Colossians 4:17).

c) Philemon, man appreciated (4-7). How many people and churches Paulo remember in your prayers! See Romans 1: 9, 1a. 1 Corinthians, Philippians 4: 1: 3-4; Colossians 3: 1; 1st Thessalonians 1: 2; 2nd Timothy 1: 3 ... Here's a service that every believer can do in their private prayers. Philemon was man lover of believers (v. 5) and Paul in their prayers roga that those who are helped by Philemon, recognise that these good works are the fruit of faith in Christ (6-7).

Intercession in favour of Onesimus

a) Paul, as Apostle, could send the Philemon that forgiveness and receive the Onésimo as brother. However, it does not have, but yes, calls this as a personal favor to Philemon, share with him, "Paulo, the old" and "prisoner of Christ" (v. 9). Says Onésimo is your "own heart" (v. 12), very dear, and that I would like to make it there in Rome to serve him as representative of Philemon, while he (Paul) was suffering imprisonment for love of the Gospel; So Onésimo would "useful" for the two (such was the meaning of the name Onésimo). But this would only be with the consent of Philemon, whom the slave belonged legally (11-14).

b) "my son Onesimus, I generated between handcuffs" (v. 10). We do not know how they met. Perhaps the slave fled, finding themselves hungry and without resources in big business, surrendered to Paul (who already had met in the House of Philemon), asking her help. In any case, Paul directed to Christ and Onésimo became a believer; then the Apostle sent him back to Philemon, but to be received as "beloved brother" and "Companion", as if it were Paul same (15-17).

c) Paul promises to pay personally the Philemon, any damage caused by Onésimo-although Philemon owed the Apostle more-even your own conversion. Now Paul wants to be indebted to know that his son in the faith, Philemon, will forgive and receive the Onésimo as brother in Christ, being Onésimo now a spiritual son of Paul (18-21).

Personal Details.

a) Paul has confidence that will be released and that soon will visit Philemon and the Church at Colossae. Many churches were praying for him, while awaiting the decision of the Supreme Court. In fact, was released shortly after writing this Epistle.

b) Various companions are mentioned here. Epaphras was believer colossense that helped a lot to Paul (Colossians 1: 7; 4:12); Marcos, nephew of Barnabas, has already been reconciled with Paul and restored at the service of the Lord (Colossians 4:10); Lucas is the "doctor amado" of Colossians 4:14 and 2a. Timothy 4:11; Aristarchus is macedonicus (19:29 Acts); Demas is the "cooperator" which later has forsaken the Apostle (2a. Timothy 4:10).

With the Apostolic Benediction Paul finishes the letter, which was carried over by the hands of Onesimus, Philemon, which returned the Colossi along with Tíquico (Colossians 4: 7-9).

Note: -This Epistle offers us a good illustration of the Gospel:

a) Philemon, the owner who was stolen, represents God, against whom we all sin.

b) The fugitive slave, Onesimus, is the figure of us, sinners, without means of saving ourselves from the divine justice.

c) Paul, the intermediary friend, represents the Lord Jesus, who tells every sinner who trusts in him: "I have already paid your debt, with my own blood" (Colossians 1:13 -14 and 1a. Peter 3:18).

 

Richard Dawson Jones (1895-1987)

1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer,
2 to the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers,
5 hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints,
6 that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
7 For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.
8 Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting,
9 yet for love's sake I rather appeal to you—being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ—
10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains,
11 who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me.
12 I am sending him back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,
13 whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel.
14 But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary.
15 For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever,
16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave—a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
:17 If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me.
18 But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account.
19 I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. I will repay—not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides.
20 Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord.
21 Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.
22 But, meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you.
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,
24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers.
25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Philemon