Philemon
Chapter 1
Greeting from Paul and Timothy
1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ [Christ” means “Anointed One”.] Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker,
2 to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philemon’s Love and Faith
4 I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,
5 hearing of your love and of the faith which you have towards the Lord Jesus and towards all the saints,
6 that the fellowship of your faith may become effective in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus.
7 For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
Paul’s Appeal for Onesimus
8 Therefore though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate,
9 yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
10 I appeal to you for my child Onesimus [Onesimus means “useful”.], whom I have become the father of in my chains,
11 who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me.
12 I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,
13 whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News.
14 But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will.
15 For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while that you would have him forever,
16 no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much rather to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
Confidence in Your Obedience
17 If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.
18 But if he has wronged you at all or owes you anything, put that to my account.
19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to 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 beyond what I say.
22 Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.
Paul’s Final Greetings
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,
24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
Philemon Overview
The Book of Philemon is a short letter found in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It is a personal letter written by the Apostle Paul to Philemon, a Christian believer, regarding a slave named Onesimus. This letter serves as a plea for forgiveness, reconciliation, and a demonstration of Christian love and unity.
The letter begins with Paul expressing his gratitude to God for Philemon and his faithfulness in the Lord. Paul acknowledges the love and faith that Philemon has demonstrated towards fellow believers and commends him for it.
Paul then introduces the main subject of the letter: Onesimus, a runaway slave who had encountered Paul during his imprisonment. Paul describes his encounter with Onesimus as an opportunity for his conversion to Christianity and his subsequent transformation into a valuable fellow believer and servant of Christ.
Paul acknowledges that Onesimus is Philemon's slave and that he had run away from his master. However, Paul appeals to Philemon to receive Onesimus back not as a mere slave but as a beloved brother in Christ. Paul expresses his deep love for Onesimus and declares his willingness to personally repay any debts owed by Onesimus.
In making his plea, Paul emphasizes the principles of Christian love, forgiveness, and reconciliation. He highlights the change that has occurred in Onesimus, both spiritually and in character, and appeals to Philemon to receive him with open arms. Paul affirms that he is sending Onesimus back to Philemon, hoping that he would be received not as a runaway slave but as a fellow believer and brother.
Furthermore, Paul mentions his confidence in Philemon's willingness to do what is right and even anticipates that Philemon will go beyond his request and welcome Onesimus back as a partner in the faith.
The letter concludes with Paul expressing his hope to visit Philemon and acknowledging the greetings from fellow believers who are with him. Paul urges Philemon to prepare a guest room for him, indicating his intention to visit.
The Book of Philemon provides a powerful demonstration of the principles of forgiveness, reconciliation, and the transformative power of the Gospel. It highlights the equality and unity found in Christ, irrespective of social status, and emphasizes the importance of Christian love and compassion. The letter serves as a timeless example of how believers should treat one another and how the principles of the Christian faith should be reflected in personal relationships.
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Philemon 1
Renew, Refresh and Recharge
(Spoken words vary sightly from the Edge Life Bible)
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