East Side Grace Brethren Church
7510 East Broad Street
Blacklick, OH 43004
map & directions
(614) 861-5810
esgbc.office@gmail.com
Service
Times
Sunday mornings
9:30 & 11am
Programs for all ages
Philemon
Bible Study
There are two ways to read the Bible - one can read it like you would a book or newspaper. That is, reading it straight forwardly. The other way is to read it with an eye for study. The former way has its place. But it is only through studying the Bible that our minds can be expanded with a knowledge of God and his ways. Below is the NT book called Philemon. In the text I have inserted thoughts, observations, and questions to help you learn how to study the Bible on your own.
1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker, 2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church that meets in your home: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Where were Paul and Timothy when this letter was written? Who was Philemon? What does it mean to call someone your "dear friend?". Who was Apphia? Who was Archippus? Why do you think Paul wanted the church that met in Philemon's home to read a letter written to Philemon? Grace and peace were common openings for letters in the ancient world. What does the Christian mean by those words?
4 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers 5 because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. 6 I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. 7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints. As you read the verses 4-7 what was it about Philemon that led Paul to be so thankful for him?, After reading verses 4-7 what picture emerges about the kind of church leader Philemon was in his church? Verse six is a case where we need to be careful not to read into a NT term our modern understanding or definition of the term "sharing" does not mean "witnessing". It is the term for genuine Christian fellowship. With that in mind, how was Philemon active in "fellowshipping his faith"?
8 Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9 yet I appeal to you on the basis of love. I then, as Paul.an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus. 10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me. Who was Onesimus? What did Paul mean that Onesimus became his "son"? Why did Paul appeal to Philemon instead of ordering him to do the right thing?
12 I am sending him-who is my very heart-back to you. 13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced. 15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good. 16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord. What was the significance of this action? Had you been Onesimus, what would have felt about the prospect of leaving Paul, your spiritual father, and returning to the man who owned you? Why did Paul want Philemon to act of his own will in this matter? What was Paul asking Philemon to do? If Philemon was to accept Onesimus back as a fellow Christian brother what would be the implications for Onesimus' position as a slave? What would that mean for any other slaves Philemon may have had? Now, why do you think Paul addressed the letter to the church (fully expecting Philemon to share its contents with the church members presumably at a worship gathering in his home)?
17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back.not to mention that you owe me your very self. 20 I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. 21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask. Paul's statement, "Not to mention that you owe me your very self" was Pauls ace-in-the-hole. How so?
22 And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.
Although this sentence seems like an end-of-letter detail, what is significant about it? How would a future visit from Paul be important for the issue in Philemon's life?
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. 24 And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers. 25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Who were these people? Note: it is easy to read past names when they are listed at the end of a letter. But, if you look up the references to Demas in the rest of the NT and compare them to this reference a picture emerges about that man.
Some additional questions:
1. The Bible nowhere takes on slavery "head on". But in his letter Paul effectively dismantled slavery in the life of a Christian leader. How was Paul able to do that?
2. What does this letter say about social change and the role Christians and the church can have in such change?
3. How was the gospel the basis for Paul's appeal to Philemon? What does this say about the power of the gospel to humble us and soften our heart?
4. Why was Paul's approach to Philemon more effective than simply telling/ordering Philemon what to do?
The key to Bible study is not in knowing Hebrew or Greek. It is not having an advanced degree in Bible or theology. Those things can be very helpful but they are not necessary for studying the Bible. What is needed is an inquisitive heart that loves to ask questions. As you study the Bible, ask questions. Keep asking questions. The more questions you can ask about a particular text the further you will get in understanding it.
Back to Part One
There are two ways to read the Bible - one can read it like you would a book or newspaper. That is, reading it straight forwardly. The other way is to read it with an eye for study. The former way has its place. But it is only through studying the Bible that our minds can be expanded with a knowledge of God and his ways. Below is the NT book called Philemon. In the text I have inserted thoughts, observations, and questions to help you learn how to study the Bible on your own.
1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker, 2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church that meets in your home: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Where were Paul and Timothy when this letter was written? Who was Philemon? What does it mean to call someone your "dear friend?". Who was Apphia? Who was Archippus? Why do you think Paul wanted the church that met in Philemon's home to read a letter written to Philemon? Grace and peace were common openings for letters in the ancient world. What does the Christian mean by those words?
4 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers 5 because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. 6 I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. 7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints. As you read the verses 4-7 what was it about Philemon that led Paul to be so thankful for him?, After reading verses 4-7 what picture emerges about the kind of church leader Philemon was in his church? Verse six is a case where we need to be careful not to read into a NT term our modern understanding or definition of the term "sharing" does not mean "witnessing". It is the term for genuine Christian fellowship. With that in mind, how was Philemon active in "fellowshipping his faith"?
8 Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9 yet I appeal to you on the basis of love. I then, as Paul.an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus. 10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me. Who was Onesimus? What did Paul mean that Onesimus became his "son"? Why did Paul appeal to Philemon instead of ordering him to do the right thing?
12 I am sending him-who is my very heart-back to you. 13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced. 15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good. 16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord. What was the significance of this action? Had you been Onesimus, what would have felt about the prospect of leaving Paul, your spiritual father, and returning to the man who owned you? Why did Paul want Philemon to act of his own will in this matter? What was Paul asking Philemon to do? If Philemon was to accept Onesimus back as a fellow Christian brother what would be the implications for Onesimus' position as a slave? What would that mean for any other slaves Philemon may have had? Now, why do you think Paul addressed the letter to the church (fully expecting Philemon to share its contents with the church members presumably at a worship gathering in his home)?
17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back.not to mention that you owe me your very self. 20 I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. 21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask. Paul's statement, "Not to mention that you owe me your very self" was Pauls ace-in-the-hole. How so?
22 And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.
Although this sentence seems like an end-of-letter detail, what is significant about it? How would a future visit from Paul be important for the issue in Philemon's life?
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. 24 And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers. 25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Who were these people? Note: it is easy to read past names when they are listed at the end of a letter. But, if you look up the references to Demas in the rest of the NT and compare them to this reference a picture emerges about that man.
Some additional questions:
1. The Bible nowhere takes on slavery "head on". But in his letter Paul effectively dismantled slavery in the life of a Christian leader. How was Paul able to do that?
2. What does this letter say about social change and the role Christians and the church can have in such change?
3. How was the gospel the basis for Paul's appeal to Philemon? What does this say about the power of the gospel to humble us and soften our heart?
4. Why was Paul's approach to Philemon more effective than simply telling/ordering Philemon what to do?
The key to Bible study is not in knowing Hebrew or Greek. It is not having an advanced degree in Bible or theology. Those things can be very helpful but they are not necessary for studying the Bible. What is needed is an inquisitive heart that loves to ask questions. As you study the Bible, ask questions. Keep asking questions. The more questions you can ask about a particular text the further you will get in understanding it.
Back to Part One