LESSON 2 ON PHILEMON

TEXT: Philemon: 8-16

MEMORY VERSE:
Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to
command you what is fitting, yet for loves sake,
rather appeal to youverse8-9.
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
1) To show the concern of Paul for Onesimus
2) To explain the purpose of Paul in pleading with
Philemon for a changed status for Onesimus.
3) To demonstrate Pauls reverence and concern
for Philemon
4) To explain how Pauls concern for Philemon
and Onesimus implies care for the church.
PART A: CONCERN OF PAUL FOR ONESIMUS:
Primarily Paul was moved to write this epistle as a
means of reconciling Onesimus with his master. Paul
as master tactician and communicator ceased the
opportunity to teach the church some fundamental
principles and practice of the church as shall be
further addressed here.

1. Every evangelist should have love for people. In

other words he must be people- centered. His
love for his convert as such is even more
imperative, transcending that of the doctor for his
patients. This makes the following attributes an
imperative for the evangelist:
a) He must be loving,
b) He must be prayerful,
c) He must be generous and hospitable,
d) He must be ready to deny self-daily and be
a cross-bearer.
2. All the above attributes are manifest in the epistle
of Paul to Philemon.
i. He refers to Onesimus as his son, whom
he has begotten in the gospel ministry
and in chains(verse10)
ii. In verse12 he refers to Onesimus as my
own heart. This demonstrates his
fatherly love for Onesimus, strengthens
the statement in verse10- I appeal to
you for my son, Onesimus
iii. He sends him back as his own son to
Philemon, not as runaway slave caught in
flightverse17.
iv. He stands as guarantor for Onesimusv18-19.

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PART B:
1. Paul wants Onesimus not be looked upon as a
slave anymore as a member of the Christian
brotherhood whom he probably might have
given the right hand of fellowship.
2. While Paul is concerned with reconciliation he
addresses some fundamental societal and church
problem, namely the issue of slavery as it pertains
to a born-again Christian and the master.
3. We as Christians are entitled to all the rights and
privileges of the Common wealth of Israel as Paul
wrote to the Ephesians (Eph. 2:11-13),
4. According to the Levitical laws no son or
daughter of Israel should be enslaved by another
Israelite, but they could enslave others
(Lev25:41-45). If by poverty an Israelite sold
himself to a sojourner, he should be redeemed
as soon as affordable and not wait for jubilee
year of liberation of their slaves.
a) By his plea Paul has this law at the back of his
mind. He intends the following:
to make Onesimus a free man, without
due punishment for running away
with stolen goods,
to launder the image of Philemon so
the church sees him as raising Christian
fraternal tie above the love of profits,

to teach the church this principle of

strong fraternal love,
to teach that the new faith entitles the
Christian to all the rights of the children
of Israel.
PART C: PAULS CONCERN FOR PHILEMON:
Pauls concern for Philemon is contained in his
regularly praying for him and his
commendation wrapped up in verses4-7
1) His concern for Philemon is expressed in
the tactful way he pleads his case with him:
a. he is not exerting apostolic authority
on him, but appealing to brotherly
love-verses 8-9,
b. he speaks the word of truth in love as
he has taught the Ephesians Eph4:15;
this he has been done not to smother
the love and faith of Philemon;
c. Paul is concerned about the business
of Philemon to continue to grow
profitably as
tactful put in the
following words:
He does not want to rob him of
Onesimus-verse13-14
He is ready to forgo Onesimus for
his sake-verse15;
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 He acknowledges the wrong of

Onesimus and willing to pay for it
and stands surety for him-verses1819;
d. He values Philemons fraternal ties and
love and he allows that to guide himverses20-21.
PART D: PAULS CONCERN FOR THE CHURCH:
1) The reference to himself as the prisoner of
Christ casts back our mind to the calling of Paul
as the Apostle to the gentiles, which implies
the building of the gentile Christian church and
for this he is currently imprisoned. One should
not be surprised to know that all Pauls
activities are concerned with establishing the
church of God. This has been well expressed
in his epistle to Timothy1Tim2:7 .Somewhere
else he sees it as debt he must pay to preach
to the gospel to the Greeks as well as the
barbarians for it is the power of God to
salvation.-Rom1:14-16. It can be rightly
surmised at this point that all Pauls
conversations were accordingly directed
towards the edification or establishment of the
church.
2) For this purpose he addresses this epistle not
only
to
Philemon,
but
also
to

Apphia,Archippus and the church in

Philemons house as follows:a)
To commend the good works of
Philemon in the church to encourage
others to do likewiseverse 6: that the
sharing of your faith may become
effective the acknowledgement of
every good thing which is in you in Christ
Jesus. I
b) He passes on the art of tactful
communication through appropriate use
of words.
3) In regard to the church Paul impresses the
following principle and practice of the
church: praying for each others-v4;
Hospitality-v7;
Being
brothers
keeper
and
undertaking for one
anotherv10,17,19;
that all Christians are entitled to the
right and privileges of the children of
Israel;
humility through obedience and
reverence in addressing others-v1214;
The new life of the Christians make us
more profitable than in natural state.
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