A VERSE-BY-VERSE STUDY
OF  PHILEMON
“THE POSTCARD EPISTLE”
(Philemon 1-3)
[1 of  7]

Introduction

Ever get a postcard in the mail?  Postcards are fun to write and fun to receive from friends and family.  On the front usually is a beautiful picture of  scenery, state, or place the sender is visiting.  Sometimes it may be a painting or just a smiley face. On back is the stamp and the a short note written to the receiver.  Postcards can be used for a simple "Wish you were here" note, a short "thank you" note, and much more.  Some people even enjoy collecting postcards as a hobby.

Did you know there is a postcard in the New Testament?  Well, friends, we are going to look at it!  That’s right!  In seven web pages. we are going to do a verse-by-verse study of  THE POSTCARD EPISTLE--namely the book of  Philemon.

Before we get into an overview of  the book, we will first examine its background.

1. The Human Writer:  Paul (vs. 1).  2. The Date:  A. D. 60-A. D. 62.  3. Key Verses: 15-16.  4. Key People:
     Paul, Philemon, Onesimus.

This book--along with Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians--is one of  four epistles Paul wrote during his first imprisonment at Rome.  This is also one of  four epistles Paul wrote to a specific individual.  The other three are:  I Timothy, II Timothy, and Titus.

The letter was written to Philemon.  The purpose of  this postcard epistle was Paul appealing to Philemon to forgive his run-away slave, Onesimus who had just received Christ as his personal Saviour.

This postcard epistle deals with forgiveness, faithfulness, love, respect, tact, and barriers.  These are the themes we will deal with in the seven web pages.

Now on to the overview of  the book.  There are four parts to this postcard epistle.  First we see:

Outline

I.      The Presentation of  Paul (vs. 1-3)
         A.      The fellowship in the postcard (vs. 1, 2).
                   1.      Paul the Apostle.
                            a.      Note how Paul here refers to himself as a prisoner of  Jesus Christ.  This means for Christ's sake
                                     and the gospel’s, he was a prisoner.  Since this letter was written some time between AD 60 and
                                     AD 62, it was written during the Apostle's first imprisonment at Rome (cf. Ephesians 3:1).  He
                                     writes this letter while under house arrest.
                            b.      Ephesians 3:1--"For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of  Jesus Christ for you Gentiles."
                   2.      Timothy.
                            a.      Paul’s beloved son in the faith.
                            b.      I Timothy 1:2--"Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith:  Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our
                                     Father and Jesus Christ our Lord."
                            c.      Paul and Philemon’s brother in the Lord.  He was Paul’s trusted companion, and pastor of the
                                     church in Ephesus.  Paul wrote two letters to him--I & II Timothy.
                   3.      Philemon.
                            a.      Philemon was a wealthy Greek who lived in Colosse.  He came to Christ under Paul's ministry
                                     and became a good friend of  the apostle.  He probably often prayed and invested in Paul's
                                     ministry.
                            b.      Here, in this letter, Paul describes him as a loving and faithful Christian.  Is that your testimony as
                                     well?  Are you faithful in your walk with Christ?
                   4.      Apphia.
                            a.      She is believed to be Philemon’s wife.
                            b.      She is Paul and Timothy's sister in the Lord--as well as Philemon's.
                   5.      Archippus.
                            a.      He is believed to be Philemon's son.
                            b.      He was a leader in, or possibly the pastor of  the Colossian church which met in Philemon's home
                            c.      Colossians 4:17--"And say to Archippus, 'Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in
                                     the Lord, that thou fulfil it.'"
                            d.      Although Philemon was the recipient of  the letter, it should be noted that Paul addressed it to both
                                     Philemon and his family.  And he was to read it before the church within their house.
         B.      The greeting in the postcard (vs. 3).
                   1.      This same greeting used in all of  Paul’s epistle--except Hebrews.
                   2.      Notice:  first grace, then peace.  You cannot have peace with God, nor the peace of  God until you have
                            experience the grace of  God.  In short, ”you must be born again.” (John 3:7)
                   3.      The Pauline greeting usually mentions God the Father and God the Son.  Grace is God's Riches At
                            Christ’s Expense.  Once you know the Lord Jesus as your Saviour, you get peace with God.  Not only
                            that, but you also get the peace of  God and peace from God.

After the greeting from Paul, we see:

II.      The Prayer of  Paul (vs. 4-7).
          A.      A prayer of  thanksgiving (vs. 4).
                    1.      Paul often prayed for Philemon--as should we pray for one another.  Paul was thankful for Philemon's
                             love and friendship.
                    2.      I Thessalonians 5:18--"In everything give thanks:  for this is the will of  God in Christ Jesus concerning
                             you."
          B.      A description of  Philemon’s character (vs. 5-7).
                    1.      His love and his faith in Christ (vs. 5, 6).
                             a.      His love of  Christ and towards the saints.  His faith in Christ (vs. 5).
                             b.      The communication of  his love (vs. 6; cf. Philippians 1:9f.).
                             c.      Philippians 1:9f--"And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge
                                      and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and
                                      without offence till the day of  Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by
                                      Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of  God."
                    2.      His love gave the apostle great joy and consolation (vs. 7; cf. II Corinthians 7:13; II Timothy 1:16).
                             a.      II Corinthians 7:13--"Therefore we were comforted in your comfort:  yea, and exceedingly the
                                      more joyed we for the joy of  Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all."
                             b.      II Timothy 1:16--"The Lord give mercy unto the house of  Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me,                                         and was not ashamed of  my chain."

We need fellowship with one another to refresh ourselves in the Lord.  From his prayer of  thanksgiving, we move on to:

III.      The Petition of  Paul (vs. 8-17).
            A.      Paul’s testimony of  Onesimus (vs. 8-11).
                      1.      Background on Onesimus.
                               a.      Onesimus="profitable"
                               b.      He was a slave of  Philemon.  In those days slavery was very common--especially in the Roman
                                        Empire.  It is possible that Philemon had obtained Onesimus before his own salvation.
                               c.      Onesimus might have been very talented, since the Roman Empire often picked out the best
                                        young people of  a conquered land and sold them into slavery.
                               d.      Onesimus apparently stolen some money from Philemon and ran away to Rome.
                      2.      Salvation of  Onesimus (vs. 8-11).
                               a.      Because Paul was an apostle, he could had commanded Philemon--"pulled rank" as it were--to
                                        deal kindly with Onesimus.  But Paul, instead, based his request on Philemon's commitment as a
                                        child of  God (vs. 8, 9).
                               b.      Onesimus at some point met up with Paul, and Paul won him to Christ (vs. 10).
                               c.      He then became very helpful to Paul and the ministry (vs. 11; cf. Colossians 4:9a; II Corinthians
                                        5:17).
                               d.      Colossians 4:9a--"With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of  you."
            B.      Paul’s respect for Philemon (vs. 12-14). Note his play on words.
            C.      Paul’s instructions concerning Onesimus (vs. 15-17).
                     1.      The good of  Onesimus's departure (vs. 15; cf. Romans 8:28; Psalms 119:71).
                     2.      Philemon was to receive him as his new brother in Christ (vs. 16f).

Finally, we see:

IV.      The Promise of  Paul (vs. 18-25).
           A.      His promise of  repayment (vs. 18f).
                     1.      Verse 18 is the key salvation verse of  the book.
                     2.      Paul promises Philemon that he will repay him for all of  the missing money.  And he also reminds
                              Philemon that it was he who led him to Christ (vs.19).
           B.      His promise of  arrival (vs. 20-22).
           C.      His greetings from his and Philemon's friends and benediction (vs. 23ff.).

Conclusion

So in Philemon we have many lessons from which to learn --love, faithfulness, the breaking down of  barriers, forgiveness, etc.  We will cover as many of  these lessons as possible in our verse-by-verse study of  Philemon--the POSTCARD EPISTLE.

Dear child of  God, here are two outstanding items we can learn from Philemon: 1.  This letter provides us with a great illustration of  imputation--the act of  reckoning something to another's account; 2. It demonstrates to us how our letter writing can be a ministry for the Lord.  What a great way to witness!  To write to a lost friend and/or love one on how they can flee the wrath to come by fleeing into the loving arms of  the beloved Saviour.

Lost people...lend me your ears!  You have lived long in sin.  Hell awaits to enlarge itself for you!  Each breath you take is only by the grace and mercy of  God Almighty!  But PRAISE GOD! you don’t have to go to hell, for Jesus paid it all! Long ago He said to the Heavenly Father of  you,"Father, put his sin...put her sin...put all their sin on my account."  Jesus paid your bill for you, lost person.  Why don't you come to Jesus today for salvation?  Then once you have the grace of God, you shall have peace with God.