A VERSE-BY-VERSE STUDY
OF PHILEMON
"Paul Sends Greetings from
His Palace in Rome"
(Philemon 1-3)
[2 of  7]

Introduction

Ever wonder what it would be like to be in prison?  Well, for some Baptist preachers in Virginia before the finding of  this nation, like the Apostle Paul, were no strangers to prison.  In the state of  Virginia in the early 1770's many Baptist preachers were cast into prison for "preaching without a license."  These government officials tried hard to silent these courageous preachers, but like the apostles before them, they rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for the Lord's name sake.

One such case was Pastor James Ireland who spent six months in Culpeper County Jail.  He endured many hardships there, but despite it all, he still rejoiced and praised God.  In his autobiography, Pastor Ireland wrote the following:

"My prison then was a place in which I enjoyed much of  the divine presence; a day seldom passed without some single token and manifestation of  the divine goodness towards me, which generally led me to subscribe my letters, to whom I wrote them, in these words, 'From my Palace in Culpeper.'" (Quoted in Grady, William P., What Hath God Wrought! Schererville, IN:  Grady Publications, Inc., c11996; page 119)

Picture that if  you will:  here was a Baptist preacher in jail, yet even there he experienced the presence of  God.  Paul was much the same way.  Even in jail, he rejoiced and praise God.  Paul here in our text writes to his dear friend, Philemon. Paul sends greetings from his Palace in Rome!

In the first web page, as you recall, we began our verse-by-verse study of  this Postcard Epistle that is set before us in God’s Word.  We looked at the background of  the book, and did an overview of  the entire book.  We first considered The Presentation of  Paul.  We looked at his greeting to his friends.  Next, we looked at The Prayer of  Paul--he prayed often for Philemon and thank God for him.  Then there was The Petition of  Paul--he pleaded with Philemon on Onesimus’ behalf.  Finally, we briefly set forth The Promise of  Paul--he not only promised his friend to pay him back the money Onesimus has stolen, but also promised Philemon that he would be visiting him soon.

In that first web page, we did only an overview of  the book.  Now we’ll get into the book itself.  We shall examine each verse carefully.  First, we shall look at The Prisoner of  the Lord in the first part of  verse one.  Next, we shall examine The Laborers in the Lord in the second half of  verse one and all of  verse two.  Finally, we will concluded with The Gift of  the Lord in verse three.

First let us consider:

Outline

I.      The Prisoner of  the Lord (vs. 1a).
         A.      Paul wrote this epistle during his first imprisonment in Rome.
                   1.      Acts 28:30, 31--"And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in
                            unto him, Preaching the kingdom of  God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus
                            Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him."
                   2.      Note:  Paul begins his letter here that same way he did in his epistles to the Thessalonians and
                            Philippians.  He does not stand on his authority as an apostle when addressing Philemon, but writes to
                            him friend-to-friend.
                   3.      Since he is writing about a slave, Paul classifies himself in the same position, speaking of  his chains (vs.
                            9, 10, 13, 23).
         B.      Paul was a prisoner, not for his own sake, but that of  Jesus Christ and the gospel's.
                   1.      To the Ephesian church he wrote, "For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of  Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,"                             "I, Therefore, the prisoner of  the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of  the vocation wherewith ye
                            are called." [Ephesians 3:1; 4:1]
                   2.      To Timothy he wrote, "Be not thou therefore ashamed of  the testimony of  our Lord, nor of  me his
                            prisoner:  but be thou partaker of  the afflictions of  the gospel according to the power of  God.” [II
                            Timothy 1:8]
                   3.      To the church at Colosse he wrote, "Continue in  prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
                            Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of  utterance, to speak the mystery of
                            Christ, for which I am also in bonds:  That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak." [Colossians
                            4:2-4]
         C.      Paul was in prison for Christ’s sake, not his own.  But that didn’t stop his preaching.
                   1.      II Timothy 2:8, 9--"Remember that Jesus Christ of  the seed of  David was raised from the dead
                            according to my gospel:  Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of
                            God is not bound."
                   2.      Paul was in chains, but his message was not!  He was a prisoner for the sake of  Christ!

Having look at the Prisoner of  the Lord, let us now consider:

II.     The Laborers in the Lord (vs. 1b, 2).
         A.      Timothy.
                  1.      Here is Paul's son in the faith.
                           a.      II Timothy 1:2--"Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith:  Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our
                                    Father and Jesus Christ our Lord."
                           b.      First mention of  Timothy: Acts 16:1, 2--"Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a
                                    certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of  a certain woman, which was a Jewess,
                                    and believed; but his father was a Greek:  Which was well reported of  by the brethren that were
                                    at Lystra and Iconium.”
                           c.      Last mention of  Timothy: Hebrews 13:23--"Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty;
                                    with whom, if  he come shortly, I will see you."
                           d.      Timothy, or rather Timotheus, means "honoring God."
                           e.      Timothy is believed to have been saved some time during Paul’s first missionary journey.  His
                                    grandmother's name was Lois, and his mother's name was Eunice--who had also been born
                                    again.
                           f.       II Timothy 1:5--"When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first
                                    in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
                  2.      Here Paul refers to Timothy as his and Philemon's brother.
                           a.      Timothy was one of  Paul's closest friends, and perhaps knew the apostle better than anyone.
                                    Paul wrote two epistles to him--namely I & II Timothy.
                           b.      He joined the apostle in the early part of  his second missionary trip.  Timothy traveled with Paul
                                    and often served as the apostle's special representative.
                           c.      In time, Timothy became the pastor of  the Ephesian church.  Like Paul, he too spent time in jail
                                    for the sake of  Christ.  No doubt Timothy often took comfort in what Paul had written to him in I
                                    & II Timothy during his imprisonments.
         B.      Philemon.
                  1.      Everything we know about Philemon is found in this book.  Philemon was a rich man living in Colosse.
                           He was saved under Paul's ministry.  Onesimus was one of  his slaves.
                  2.      He was a close friend of  Paul.  He probably often prayed for Paul, and invested in his ministry.
                           a.      Philemon means "friendly one."
                           b.      ". . . our dearly beloved..."--Philemon here is described such terms of  endearment.  This was not
                                    unusual at all for Paul.  He often used such terms in his writings.
                           c.      The word dearly here expresses the heart of  Paul.
                  3.      Paul counted him as a fellowlaborer in the church.
                           a.      This could mean that Philemon was a leader in the Colossian church.
                           b.      Fellowlaborer--[lit.] "a worker together." [vs. 24]
                           c.      Philippians 2:25--"Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and
                                    companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants."
         C.      Apphia.
                  1.      The name "Apphia" was a common women name.
                  2.      She is believed to be Philemon's wife.
                  3.      She is Paul and Timothy’s sister in the Lord--as well as Philemon's.
                  4.      Note:  the word beloved here in vs. 2, is actually the word for sister.  A wife was sometimes referred to
                           as a "sister."
         D.      Archippus.
                  1.      It  means "master of  the horse".
                  2.      He is believed to be the son of  Philemon and Apphia.
                  3.      Paul refers to him as a fellowsoldier.
                           a.      The other reference:  Colossians 4:17--"And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which
                                    thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it."
                           b.      He is believed to be the pastor of  the church in Colosse.  Although Philemon was the recipient of
                                    this letter, Paul addressed it to the entire family.  He was to read it before the whole local church.
                           c.      It is possible that Philemon and Archippus co-pastored the Colossian church.  They were
                                    fellowlaborers and fellowsoldiers.  Ministers are to be laborers and soldiers.  They must fight the
                                    good fight of  the faith.
         E.      ". . . and to the church in thy house."
                  1.      The church at Colosse met in the home of  Philemon.
                  2.      It was not uncommon, nor is it uncommon now-a-days for a local church to meet in a family's member
                           home when a regular church buildings are not available.  In fact, some churches, today, start out in a
                           private home.
                           a.      Romans 16:5--"Likewise greet the church that is in their house.  Salute my well-beloved
                                    Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of  Achaia unto Christ."
                           b.      I Corinthians 16:19--"The churches of  Asia salute you.  Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the                                     Lord, with the church that is in their house."
                           c.      James 5:14--"Is any sick among you?  let him call for the elders of  the church; and let them pray
                                    over him, anointing him with oil in the name of  the Lord."
                           d.      The KJV Life Application Study Bible.  {Wheaton, IL:  Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1989,
                                    2151}--"The early churches often met in people's homes.  Because of sporadic persecutions and
                                    the great expense involved, church buildings were not constructed at this time."

Finally, we consider

III.   The Gift of  the Lord (vs. 3).
         A.      This is Paul’s usual greeting. It is used in all his epistles, except the book of  Hebrews.
                  1.      Ephesians 1:2--"Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ."
                  2.      Romans 1:7--"To all that be in Rome, beloved of  God, called to be saints:  Grace to you and peace
                           from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
         B.      “Grace to you...”
                  1.      While this is part of  Paul's customary greeting, in those given to Timothy and Titus, is read as "Grace,
                           mercy, and peace. . . ."  Notice how the Holy Spirit is careful to place these three words in their proper
                           order.
                           a.      Grace--getting what we don't deserve.
                           b.      Mercy--not getting what we do deserve.
                  2.      Please note the order: it is first grace than peace.  There is no separating of  the two.  You cannot have
                           the peace of  God without the grace of  God.  You cannot have peace with God until you experience the
                           saving grace of  God. Grace is God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.
                           a.      As Dr. Oliver B. Greene once put it, "Paul's watchword is GRACE and that is the Gospel he
                                    preached, whether to Jew or Gentile, bond or free, rich or poor." (Greene, Oliver B. and Mrs.
                                    Oliver B. Greene, The Epistle of  Paul the Apostle to PHILEMON and The General  Epistle
                                    of  JUDE.  Greenville, SC:  The Gospel Hour, Inc., c2001; page 19.  Caps are his.)
                           b.      This grace comes only to one who has put his/her faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.  "Neither
                                    is there salvation in any other:  for there is none other name under heaven given among men,
                                    whereby we must be saved." {Acts 4:12}
                           c.      His grace is greater than all our sins!  PRAISE GOD ALMIGHTY!!  for the fact that where "sin
                                    abounded, grace much more did abound." {Romans 5:20} God loved us enough to send His only
                                    begotten Son Jesus into the world to be the "propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but
                                    also for the sins of  the whole world." {1 John 2::2} There is no sinner bad enough, no sin ugly
                                    enough that God won't forgive nor can forgive!
                           d.      I Timothy 1:15--"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of  all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into
                                    the world to save sinners; of  whom I am chief."
                           e.      The greatest demonstration God gave us of  His love towards us was when Jesus--the sinless,
                                    spotless, crimeless, harmless Lamb of  God--died on Calvary’s tree {Romans 5:8}.  You must first
                                    experience the grace of  God before you can have the peace of  God.  There is no exception to
                                    this!  YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN!!!
         C.      ". . . and peace. . ."
                  1.      Once you have accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour, you will have the grace of  God upon you.  Then
                           you will have made peace with God, and have the peace of  God.
                  2.      Peace with God.
                           a.      Romans 5:1, 2--"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord
                                    Jesus Christ:  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice
                                    in hope of  the glory of  God."
                                    (I)     Only by putting our faith in Jesus alone, can we have peace with God {John 3:36}.
                                    (II)    We have access to grace, not by our works or religion, but by faith in Christ alone {John
                                             14:6; cf. Ephesians 2:8, 9}.
                           b.      Apart from Christ’s death there is no peace!  The instrument of  this peace is the death of  the
                                    Prince of  Peace {Colossians 1:20; cf. John 14:27}.
                                    (I)     Colossians 1:20--"And, having made peace through the blood of  his cross, by him to
                                             reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in
                                             heaven."
                                    (II)   John 14:27--"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give
                                             I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
                           c.      Peace cannot be earned or merited.  It is given to us by the grace of  God.  For without the grace
                                    of  God, you cannot have peace with God, nor the peace of  God.
                  3.      Peace of  God.
                           a.      It is the same peace we experience in times of  trial, trouble, and tribulation.
                           b.      Philippians 4:6, 7--"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with
                                    thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of  God, which passeth
                                    all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of  His glory and grace.

Peace, peace, wonderful peace
Coming down from the Father above
Sweep over my spirit, forever I pray
In fathomless billows of  love.
[Helen H. Lemmuel, b.1864]

         D.      ". . . from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
                  1.      Grace and peace come only from God.  Remember, it is first grace, then peace.
                  2.      Paul here sets forth the LORDSHIP of  Jesus--namely, we see here His deity.  Sometimes in his greeting,
                           Paul would include the SAVIOURSHIP of  Christ.
                  3.      Dr. Oliver B. Greene--"The grace of  God is the sum total of  all the blessings so freely and willingly
                           bestowed upon believers by Almighty God through His beloved Son; and peace is the sum total of  all
                           spiritual blessings received by man and experience by believers in Jesus Christ.  Peace is grace in its
                           fullest fruit; it is the fullest realization of  the fruits and benefits of  grace." {Greene, 20-21}

Conclusion

Dear child of  God is there trouble in your life today?  Paul was in prison, yet he was still able to rejoice because he had the peace of  God in his life.  Even as the prisoner of  the Lord, Paul took the time to send greetings from his Palace in Rome. He greeted his fellowlaborers in the Lord in this postcard epistle.  And finally he greeted them with grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  You can have that peace which passes all understanding.  How?  By taking your burden to the Lord and leave it there.  Whatever is troubling you remember what Jesus said. "Come unto me, all  ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." [Matthew 11:28]  Just lay your burden--whatever it may be--on the alter of  prayer.  Just lay it out before the Lord--and leave it there!

Oh, lost person how long will you carry on with the wrath of  God abiding upon you?  How long will you continue to reject Christ?  You add to your damnation everyday that you refuse to come Him for salvation.  Time after time you have said, "No, not yet!" or "I'll have to think about it!"  Oh sinner, you're being foolish when you talk like that!  For the day will come when you shall said,  "No!" once too many times, then you'll find yourself in Christless eternity in the fires of  Hell!  Oh lost person, flee the wrath to come by running into the loving arms of  the beloved Saviour (Romans 10:9, 10, 13).  Oh lost man, lost woman come to Jesus today for His name's sake!  Then, having experience the grace of  God, you have the true peace that only the Prince of  Peace can give.