These are the original teaching notes from this passage.
A letter of forgiveness… (3 points)
- Introduction… (6 points)
- 1st – Who wrote the book…
- Paul the Apostle…
- Paul – the same Paul whose ministry is laid out in – Acts 13–28
- The same Paul who wrote 13 books of the NT (14 if you count Hebrews)
- THREE larger letters – Romans / I Corinthians / II Corinthians…
- SIX smaller – Galatians / Ephesians / Philippians / Colossians / I and II Thessalonians…
- THREE Pastors Epistles – I Timothy / II Timothy / Titus
- And PHILEMON – the ONLY personal letter we have from Paul!
- Internal evidence…
- Paul opens the letter with the greeting – “Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ…”
- Also – in verse 9 – “Paul the aged” – verse 19 – “I Paul am writing to you in my own hand…”
- The authorship of the book has been universally accepted from the early church!
- 2nd– Who was the book written to…
- Philemon – from the city of Colossae…
- Modern day city of Chonai – in the Lycus River valley is Southeast Turkey…
- It is close to the cities of Laodicea and Hierapolis – modern day Pamukkale…
- Pamukkale is a resort town – with natural hot springs – beautiful white cliffs…
- Colossae lies at the northern foot of Mount Cadmus – 2500m – highest peak in the area…
- Its snowcapped peak would provide cold – clear – mountain spring water!
- The water from Colossae and Hierapolis ran down into Laodicea…
- There they would mix and become lukewarm – not refreshing or relaxing – spit it out!
- Revelation 3:16 – “Since you are like lukewarm water, I will spit you out of my mouth!”
- We cannot live our lives with a divided heart – living for God and for the world…
- On Sunday we walk and talk like a Christian – but the rest of the week live for sin…
- We will find that we become lukewarm – and Jesus spits us out!
- The church in Colossae…
- Epaphras was the one who brought the Gospel to the city of Colossae – Colossians 1:7
- Who was NOW in prison with Paul – Philemon 1:23 – “Epaphras my fellow prisoner…”
- But – Paul had NEVER been to the city of – Colossians 2:1
- Though Paul was the one who shared the Gospel with Philemon – Philemon 1:19
- Who now had a church in his house – Philemon 1:2 – “the church in your house…”
- 3rd – When was the book written…
- Paul wrote this letter during his FIRST imprisonment in Rome – Acts 28
- Paul waited for two years in Caesarea – standing trial before Felix / Festus / and Agrippa…
- Eventually being shipped off to Rome – when he appealed to Caesar!
- Where he was under house arrent for TWO more years – at the Praetorium guard house…
- His SECOND imprisonment – would be at the Mamertine prison before his execution!
- While waiting to stand before Caesar…
- It is thought Paul wrote this letter around 61 A.D – during his incarceration…
- Making this one of the PRISON letters written while he was in Rome – Philemon 1:1
- Paul wrote FOUR letters there – Ephesians / Philippians / Colossians / Philemon!
- 4th – The theme of Philemon…
- The theme of the book is FORGIVENESS…
- Though the word is never mentioned in the book – it is definitely the key theme…
- Onesimus – a runaway slave – STOLE from his master Philemon – Philemon 1:18
- He fled the city of Colossae – and ran away to Rome – where he met Paul…
- He accepted Jesus as his savior and wanted to make things right – Philemon 1:10
- Paul asks Philemon to FORGIVE Onesimus – and receive him back!
- But not as a SLAVE – instead to receive him now as a BROTHER in Christ!
- Key verse – based on FORGIVENES…
- Philemon 1:15-16 – “Perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, 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.”
- 5th – Why is the book important…
- FIRST – It teaches us about forgiveness…
- Onesimus – a slave / employee – STOLE something from his employer – then ran away…
- Paul writes the letter asking Philemon to FORGIVE and RECEIVE Onesimus back…
- FORGIVENESS is a HUGE issue for us as believers – because it is REQUIRED…
- Peter asked Jesus how MANY times must I FORGIVE – SEVEN times – Matthew 18:21-22
- In other words – once he messes up the EIGHTH time – I am OK to hold it against him!
- If someone went around spreading GOSSIP about me to others…
- Then came to you and asked for forgiveness – I MIGHT forgive them…
- But if they went right back out and told MORE of the same stories – no FORGIVENESS!
- Jesus answers Peter – not SEVEN times – FORGIVE 70×7…
- With a little quick math – we can figure out that is 490 times…
- If you are like me – that means you break out the notebook and start to count…
- You are at 480 buddy – careful – you only have 10 more to go!
- But Jesus is not giving us a number – He is giving us a Bible reference…
- In the days of Jesus – the Bible had no chapters of verses…
- In order to reference a passage in the Bible – you quoted part of it…
- It turns out that 70×7 is a very special number only used once in the Bible!
- Daniel 9:24 – “A period of seventy sets of seven [70×7] has been decreed… to bring an end to sin, to atone for guilt, to bring in everlasting righteousness….”
- Jesus is saying – we forgive until there is no more sin!
- How often are we to forgive someone who sins against us – Every time!
- What if they keep committing the same sin – then we keep forgiving!
- We FORGIVE – for our relationship with God…
- God had FORGIVEN Philemon all his sin – how could he not FORGIVE Onesimus…
- Jesus went to the cross to pay for our sins – ALL our sins…
- He was willing to forgive everything we ever have done – or will ever do!
- Therefore – considering how much we have been forgiven – how could we not FORGIVE!
- If we are unwilling to FORGIVE – then God will not FORGIVE us…
- Matthew 6:15 – “If you do not FORGIVE men their trespasses, neither will your Father FORGIVE your trespasses.”
- Not just in words – but also sincerely – forgiven from the heart…
- If we really understand from our heart how much we are forgiven…
- How can we not from the heart gladly for give others!
- SECOND – It teaches us about UNITY…
- Onesimus was a SLAVE – and Philemon was a very wealthy MASTER…
- They were from TWO different worlds and had NOTHING in common…
- Yet in Jesus Christ – they were BROTHERS – they had UNITY in their FAITH!
- Galatians 3:28 – “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
- In Jesus there are no longer any categories…
- We often tend to think of Christians in ranks – bad / good / best…
- As if someone God looks down and sees some of us as better than others!
- But there are only two classes of people when it comes to God…
- Those who have believed the Gospel – destined to spend eternity in heaven…
- And those who have rejected Jesus – destined to spend eternity separated from God!
- Salvation is NOT based on who are – it is all about whom we know!
- God does not care if we are Jew or gentile – RICH or POOR…
- No matter who we are the only way we can be saved – is by faith in Jesus Christ!
- Ultimately – we are all equal under God – all sinners saved by the same grace!
- 6th – How is the book divided…
- Philemon 1:1-7 – The respect of Paul for Philemon
- Philemon 1:8-25 – The request of Paul to Philemon
- 1st – Who wrote the book…
- 1st – Greeting of Paul… vs. 1-3
- 1st – Who the letter was FROM… vs. 1
- 1 – Paul a PRISONER of Jesus Christ…
- Also in Philemon 1:9 / Philemon 1:10 / 13 – “my chains for the Gospel”
- A title Paul used on several occasions – Ephesians 4:1 / II Timothy 1:8
- Interesting that Paul did not consider himself a PRISONER of Rome…
- He saw Himself as a PRISONER of Jesus – because he was there for the sake of the Gospel!
- This is an unusual greeting from Paul – he usually opens with – Paul an APOSTLE…
- But Paul did not need to establish his authority with Philemon…
- Instead – he wanted to come alongside him and encourage him in FORGIVENESS!
- The Bible can either be a ROD to correct us – or it can be a TOOL to strengthen us…
- It depends on our focus – if we are caught up in the care of this world – ROD of correction…
- If we are focused on Jesus – then it comes along side of us to build us up in our walk!
- 2 – Timothy – our BROTHER…
- Timothy is mentioned in the greetings of THREE of the FOUR prison epistles…
- Colossians 1:1 / Philippians 1:1 / Philemon 1:1 – not mentioned in Ephesians…
- He is mentioned in 10 of the 13 letters of Paul – more than any other person…
- He joined Paul at the beginning of his SECOND missionary journey – Acts 16
- And he stayed with Paul all the way through the THIRD missionary journey…
- Including serving alongside Paul during his FIRST imprisonment!
- 2nd – Who the letter was written to… vs. 1-2
- 1 – Philemon – our BELOVED (friend is in italics) – and fellows LABORER…
- Philemon – from phileo – someone who gives BROTHERLY love…
- BELOVED – from agape – someone who receives PERFECT love…
- FELLOW LABORER – synergos – 13x in NT – we can speak right into English…
- Synergy – the cooperation of two things to produce a greater combined effect!
- John 13:35 – “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
- We are called to be KNOWN by our LOVE for one another…
- But some PEOPLE are easier to love than others – some DAYS are just hard…
- But when we have SYNERGY – AGAPE and PHILEO working together…
- When RECEIVE the agape of the Lord – then we can we GIVE phileo to others!
- 2 – BELOVED Apphia…
- Apphia – fruitful – only mentioned here in the NT – thought to be her nick name…
- Some presume she might be the wife of Philemon – but we do not know…
- All we know is that she was part of the church in the house of Philemon!
- 3 – Archippus – our fellow SOLDIER…
- Some pressure he is the son of Philemon – but we do not know…
- Archippus means – master of the horse – mentioned 2x in NT…
- Colossians 4:17 – “Say to Archippus – Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”
- Fellow SOLDIER– 2x in NT – it is possible Archippus was a SOLDIER / Calvary…
- When he got saved – he then became a FELLOW soldier with Paul for Jesus Christ!
- 4 – The church in your house…
- We see HOUSE churches in the Bible – I Corinthians 16:19 / Colossians 4:15
- Leading some to believe churches should ONLY meet in HOUSES…
- There are BENEFITS to a HOUSE church – smaller groups – closer relationships…
- The larger the church – the easier it is to get LOST in the crowd…
- But there is a BALANCE – large churches have greater resources – more influence…
- Which is why the church in ACTS had BOTH – large and small churches!
- Acts 2:46 – “Continuing daily with one accord in the temple [large] – and breaking bread from house to house [small].”
- 3rd – Grace and Peace… vs. 3
- GRACE from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ…
- The Grace of God – charis – used 156x in NT…
- Judgment is getting what I deserve – mercy is not getting what I deserve…
- But Grace is getting what I do not deserve – a FREE gift from God!
- We earned the right to go to hell through our sin and rebellion – judgment…
- Instead – God gave us the incredible gift of righteousness and heaven – through Jesus!
- Peace with God – eirene – 92x in NT…
- Before we were saved – we lived in certain expectation of Gods wrath and judgment…
- There was no PEACE in our lives – only the fear of death – and punishment!
- Hebrews 10:27 – “There will be nothing to look forward to but the terrible expectation of Gods judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies.”
- When we have the GRACE of God – the free gift of salvation – we have PEACE with God!
- We cannot have true PEACE – rest in the knowledge we are forgiven – without GRACE!
- 1st – Who the letter was FROM… vs. 1
- 2nd – The prayer and joy of Paul… vs. 4-7
- 1st – The PRAYER of Paul… vs. 4/6
- Paul THANKED God…
- So often in life – we forget to be thankful for all God has done for us – given to us…
- We tend to think about all we do not have we think we need – but really just want…
- If it is a need God would provide – if we do not have it – do not need it – Luke 12:31
- God calls us to be thankful for all things – for all God has done for us – every day!
- Looking at what He has giving us – not what we think we still need!
- I Thessalonians 5:17 – “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God…”
- Paul prayed ALWAYS…
- PRAYERS – 37x in NT – to address a conversation with God…
- It was not an occasional PRAYER – it was CONSTANT PRAYER…
- Prayer is often treated as a ritual – part of what God expects a Christian to do…
- Rarely do we take the time in prayer to listen – becomes a one-way conversation…
- It makes you wonder – if no one is answering – is anyone listening – Luke 18:11
- Prayer should be a conversation with our Father in heaven…
- How can we have a relationship with God – if we never get a chance to talk to Him…
- Taking the time to listening to the wisdom He has for our lives!
- Prayer is not something we do – the definition of how we live – I Thessalonians 5:17
- The PRAYER of Paul was specific…
- This was not a general PRAYER – this was a very specific PRAYER!
- Not that there is anything wrong with general prayers…
- But it is also good to be specific in our prayers – to give God details…
- Not that God does not already know- God sees the end from the beginning…
- But it allows God to direct us on specific issues – allows God to change us…
- Prayer is not about changing His mind – PRAYER is about God changing our mind!
- Luke 22:42 – “Nevertheless not my will, but Your will, be done.”
- PRAYER to be EFFECITIVE… vs. 6
- That the SHARING (koinonia) of your FAITH – may be EFFECTIVE (energeo) by the…
- acknowledgement (epignōsis) of every GOOD (agathos) thing in you in Christ…
- The PRAYER of Paul was for Philemon to KNOW all that God had done for him…
- Which as a result would give him ENERGY to go out and SHARE the Gospel!
- I fear often we take for granted what God has done for us – meh – yup we are saved…
- Not realizing the magnitude of being redeemed from HELL and promised HEAVEN…
- The more we UNDERSTAND what God has done for us – the more ENEGY we will devote…
- To telling ANYONE / EVERYONE about the Good News of Jesus Christ!
- 2nd – The JOY of Paul… vs. 5-7
- Paul HEARD (present) about Philemon…
- The LOVE (agape) / FAITH (pistos) he HAD – present / indicative…
- The life of Philemon was ALWAYS defined by his LOVE and FAITH…
- Not just towards God – but to ALL the saints – to EVERYONE!
- If someone could SUM up our lives in just a couple of words – what would they be…
- What defines us – what FRUIT do people see when they look at us!
- The FRUIT of the SPIRIT is LOVE (singular) – Galatians 5:22
- The other EIGHT words describe the results when we are DEFINED by LOVE!
- How do we get the FRUIT of the SPIRIT – only by asking God in FAITH for His GRACE!
- Paul had (present) GREAT joy – because Philemon refreshed the saints…
- Paul had JOY and was COMFORTED by the LOVE (agape) that came from Philemon…
- LOVE that was seen in how we REFRESHED (perfect) the SAINTS…
- REFRESHED – 12x in NT – to give an opportunity to rest and be recharged!
- In other words – Philemon lived out his LOVE practically by ministering to OTHERS!
- Often – we listen to the Word – we attend Bible studies and are CONVICTED…
- We agree with what we hear – we see our need to change – but then we go home…
- And we go right back to the way we used to be – forgetting what we saw…
- In the end we are no different than before we heard the Word – it meant nothing!
- James 1:22-23 -“Be doers of the Word, not hearers only, deceiving yourselves…”
- 1st – The PRAYER of Paul… vs. 4/6