A VERSE-BY-VERSE STUDY
OF  PHILEMON
"The Postcard Epistle's Postscript"
(Philemon 20-25)
[7of  7]

Introduction

No letter or postcard would be complete without its signature.  When we write a letter or postcard, we usually sign it with something like:  "Love," "Your Friend," "In Christ's Love," etc.  That's how we sign a letter today--at the end of  it. However, in the days of  the apostles, you would not sign the letter at its end, but at its beginning (see vs. 1).  Today, when we write a letter to a friend or love one, we write: "Dear Fred," or "Dear Aunt Jo Anne."  In the days of  the apostles, you would first sign the letter then address the person you're writing to.

There are times in writing a letter, we sometimes add a postscript at the end.  You would usually use a postscript for additional information, request, and sometimes extra greetings from others.  The most common postscript you would find on a child's letter is:  "P. S.:  please write back."  Here, in our text,  we have the postscript for Paul's letter to Philemon. This is the Postcard Epistle's Postscript.  In our text we see Paul's three actions.

Outline

I.       His Great Expectation (vs. 20-22)
         A.      Paul's joy of  Philemon's fellowship (vs. 20)
                  1.       Paul was looking forward to having fellowship with Philemon again.
                  2.      The language here is the same as in verse seven--"because the bowels [heart] of  the saints are refreshed                              by thee, brother."
                  3.      Fellowship encourages and refreshes Christians in the Lord.  We also strengthen one another in the Lord
                           with our fellowship.
         B.     Paul's confidence in Philemon's obedience (vs. 22)
                  1.      Paul knew that his friend would comply with his request in full obedience.
                  2.      Paul knew Philemon would not only obey his petition, but would do more than he said.  Paul knew
                           Philemon's character well (as seen in vs. 4-7).
                  3.      Paul made a similar statement to the Corinthian Church--"I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in
                           you in all things" (II Corinthians 7:16).
         C.     Paul's hope through Philemon's prayers (vs. 22)
                  1.      He asks Philemon to make provision for him.  Paul was planning on visiting him.
                           a.       Withal = moreover, besides, nevertheless, or meanwhile
                           b.       Lodging = a guest room, or a place to spend the night
                           c.       Paul made similar plans to pay the Philippian Church a visit as well (Philippians 1:23-26).
                  2.      He asks Philemon to pray for his freedom.
                           a.       This prayer was answered, for Paul was soon released from his first imprisonment.  Let us learn
                                     from this:  as Philemon prayed for Paul, so we ought to pray one for another (II. Corinthians 1:11;
                                     cf. James 5:16).
                                     (I)      II Corinthians 1:11--"Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed
                                               upon us by the means of  many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf."
                                     (II)     James 5:16b--"The effectual fervent prayer of  a righteous man availeth much."
                           b.       Illustration:  Peter's imprisonment by Herod (Acts 12:1-17)

II.      His Friends’ Salutation (vs. 23, 24)
         A.     The greetings from Paul's fellowprisoner, Epaphras [ep’-af-ras] (vs. 23)
                  1.      The name Epaphras means "commended."
                  2.      He, like Paul, was in jail for preaching the gospel (cf. vs. 1 & 9).
                  3.      Epaphras is also mentioned in the letter to the Colossian church (Colossians 1:7, 8; 4:12, 13).
                           a.      Colossians 1:7, 8--"As ye also learned of  Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a
                                    faithful minister of  Christ; Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit."  He may have been
                                    either a pastor or former pastor of  the Colossian church.
                           b.      Colossians 4:12, 13--"Epaphras, who is one of  you, a servant of  Christ, saluteth you, always
                                    labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of
                                    God. For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and
                                    them in Hierapolis."  Since Paul refers to him as "one of  you," Epaphras may have been a native of
                                    Colosse.
         B.     The greetings from Paul's fellowlabourers (vs. 24; cf. vs. 1).
                  1.      Marcus
                           a.      This is most likely John Mark.  It should be noted that Mark is the English form of  Marcus.
                           b.      John Mark was part of  the team during Paul's first mission trip (Acts 12:25; cf. 13:5).
                                    (I)      Acts 12:25--"And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their
                                              ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark."
                                    (II)     Acts 13:5--"And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of  God in the
                                               synagogues of  the Jews:  and they had also John to their minister."
                           c.      He then left the team for some reason--"Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos,
                                    they came to Perga in Pamphylia:  and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem" (Acts
                                    13:13).
                           d.      This later causes a split between Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:36-40).
                           e.      The good new is that God's Word informs us that Paul, Barnabas, and Mark later were reconciled
                                    to each other.  Paul even asks to the Colossian church to receive him.  In fact, Paul said to Timothy
                                    in II Timothy 4:11--"Take Mark, and bring him with thee:  for he is profitable to me for the
                                    ministry."
                           f.       John Mark eventually writes the Gospel of  Mark.
                  2.      Aristarchus [a-ris-tark’-us]
                           a.      The name Aristarchus means "best ruling."
                           b.      This man, who was a native of  Thessalonica, lived in Macedonia.
                           c.      He was with Paul during the riot at Ephesus as seen in Acts 19:29-- "And the whole city was filled
                                    with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of  Macedonia, Paul's companions in
                                    travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre."
                           d.      He was one of  Paul's traveling companions.  Acts 20:4 tells us, "And there accompanied him into
                                    Asia Sopater of  Berea; and of  the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of
                                    Derbe, and Timotheus; and of  Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus."
                           e.      He accompanies the apostle on his trip to Rome as told in Acts 27:2--"And entering into a ship of
                                    Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of  Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian
                                    of  Thessalonica, being with us."
                           f.       In Colossians, Paul refers to him as "my fellowprisoner" (Colossians 4:10).  He may not have been
                                    kept in prison for long, since Paul lists him here as a fellowlabourer.
                           g.      Perhaps he was set free, but remained out of  his deep love for the apostle Paul, to comfort and
                                    encourage him.
                  3.      Demas
                           a.      He was with Paul at this time.
                           b.      Mentioned in Colossians 4:14--"Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you."
                           c.      Demas later forsakes Paul and moves to Thessalonica.  II Timothy 4:10--"For Demas hath
                                    forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to
                                    Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia."
                                    (I)      It is sad to see Demas' testimony ruined by the worldly love of  goods and worldly
                                              pleasures.  Dr. Oliver B. Greene--"It is a sad fact that the love of  money has ruined the
                                              testimony and the usefulness of  many good ministers." (Greene, 60)
                                    (II)     I John 2:15, 16.  This is what happened to Demas.  May we all heed I John 2:17 as well as
                                              the warning of  I Peter 5:8.
                  4.      The beloved Doctor Luke (cf. Colossians 4:14)
                           a.      Luke traveled much with Paul.  He even went with the apostle to Rome.
                           b.      He was the only one with Paul during his final imprisonment.  II Timothy 4:11--"Only Luke is with
                                    me.  Take Mark, and bring him with thee:  for he is profitable to me for the ministry."
                           c.      This is, of course, the same Luke who wrote the Gospel of  Luke and the book of  Acts.

III.    His Grace Benediction (vs. 25)
         A. This is the end of  the letter.
                  1.       Paul in all of  his epistles uses this benediction in one form or another.
                  2.      Examples can be found in Galatians 6:18 and II Timothy 4:22.
                           a.       Galatians 6:18--"Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.  Amen."
                           b.       II Timothy 4:22--"The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit.  Grace be with you.  Amen."
         B.     This is reminding the readers once more of  grace.
                  1.      Grace can be defined as God's Riches At Christ's Expense.
                  2.      Dr. Oliver B. Greene--"How important was the subject of  grace to the great apostle!  Like a refreshing
                           and cleansing stream it runs throughout his writings, reminding us that we are saved by grace, justified
                           by grace, called by grace, taught by grace." (Greene, 61; italics are his.)
                  3.      Grace comes from our Lord; He purchased it with His own precious blood.

Conclusion

We have learned much in this series.  We have seen that one cannot know the peace of  God until he has experienced the grace of  God.  We learned that four aspects of  good Christian character are:  prayer, love, faith, and fellowship.  We watched with wonder and joy as the unprofitable was made profitable. We learned that whatever pain has been caused to us, we're commanded in God's Word to forgive.  We saw the law of  imputation in action.  We rejoiced together over the fact that Jesus said on our behalf, "Put that on my account."  Finally, we have witnessed the power of  prayer, the joy of fellowship, and the danger of  loving the world.  We were also reminded of  the wonderful grace of  God.

Paul had asked Philemon to be reconciled with Onesimus, and receive him as a brother in the Lord.  Reconciliation means reestablishing relationship.  That is what Christ did for us--He reconciled us to God.  We will encounter many barriers (as we have learned) when we witness--race, social status, religion, personality differences--but with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can overcome such barriers (Philippians 4:13).  Some of  these barriers may harm our relationships, but Christ can break such barriers down.  Christ Jesus changed Onesimus' relationship to Philemon from slave to brother.  Lost person, Jesus can do the same for you and reconcile you to God by His wonderful grace.