Philiemon

Philemon

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[a] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

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.

6 I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ.

7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.

Paul’s Plea for Onesimus

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,[b] 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.

13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel.

14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor 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.

20 I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.

21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

22 And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to berestored to you in answer to your prayers.

23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings.

24 And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.

25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Footnotes:

• Philemon 1:3 The Greek is plural; also in verses 22 and 25; elsewhere in this letter “you” is singular.
• Philemon 1:10 Onesimus means useful.

Observation Questions

Who is this letter from? (verse 1)

Who is this letter to? (verse 1-2)

How does Paul refer to Philemon? (verse 1)

How does Paul refer to himself? (verse 1, 9)

How does Paul refer to Timothy? (verse 1)

How does Paul refer to Appia? (verse 2)

How does Paul refer to Archippus? (verse 2)

Where is the church that Paul is writing to meeting? (verse 2)

Who does Paul extend grace and peace from? (verse 3)

Thanksgiving and Prayer

What does Paul do when he remembers them in his prayers? (verse 4)

What does Paul hear about that causes him to be thankful? (verse 5)

What does Paul pray for concerning those he is writing? (verse 6)

What has given Paul great joy? (verse 7)

Paul’s Plea for Onesimus

How does Paul appeal? (verse 9)

What change had come about in Onesimus? (verse 10-11)

How does Paul refer to Onesimus? (verse 12, 16)

Why would Paul have liked to keep Onesimus with himself? (verse 13)

Why did Paul not want to do anything without consent? (verse 14)

What does Paul think the reason for Onesimus' separation could have been? (verse 15-16)

How does Paul say Onesimus should be welcomed? (verse 17)

Who does Paul say any wrong Onesiumus has done should be charged to? (verse 18)

"I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. ____ will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self." - verse 19

"I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; _________ my heart in Christ." - verse 20

Why does Paul know that they will do even more than he asks? (verse 21)

Why does Paul ask them to prepare a guest room? (verse 22)

Who also sends greetings? (verse 23-24)

How does Paul close this letter? (verse 25)

Thoughts

I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. - verse 6

Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people. - verse 7

What does verse 19 infer?