Philemon the slaveowner and onesimus the runaway slave or bondservant had both been reconciled to god through pauls ministry. Dec 23, 2017 rather, paul is asking philemon to create a cycle of grace, forgiveness, restitution, and reconciliation. Jul 03, 2018 as it turned out, paul was a friend of philemon. Aug 19, 2019 paul also set him on the path to spiritual growth and helped equip him for service philemon 1. He uses the book of philemon as an example throughout the book of what reconciliation should look like.
Rather, paul is asking philemon to create a cycle of grace, forgiveness, restitution, and reconciliation. It is on the basis of this mutual love that paul entreats philemon now. The epistle of paul to philemon otherwise known as philemon is a book included in the christian new testament. So paul wrote a letter and told onesimus to take it to philemon. In order to see tensions heal, christians need to take on the role of advocates, lewis argues in the book, who plead for others to be reconciled to christ and to one another. In all likelihood, paul chose this route for a variety of reasons, leaving philemon in the.
It deals with the themes of forgiveness and reconciliation. Philemon or philliemon is the one of the shortest books in the bible and. In order to see tensions heal, lewis writes, christians need to take on the role of advocates, who plead for others to be reconciled to christ and to one another. The book of philemon is about reconciliation and relationships between christians. Paul could have written that for any number of reasons, but we dont know why. The most common interpretation of the book was that paul wrote a letter to philemon on behalf of onesimus, who was a runaway slave that had wronged his owner. Patheos explore the worlds faith through different perspectives on religion. In this timely study of the book of philemon, pastor dhati lewis unpacks key principles that paul applied in this situationexplaining the difference between advocates and aggravators in the ongoing ministry of reconciliation. Paul and philemon had known each other for many years. Pauls letter to philemon differs from his other prison epistles in at least two ways.
Book of philemon overview insight for living ministries. As members of gods household, we all have the same responsibility to help others along in their walk with christ. Racial reconciliation after defining terms and the bulk of the book is spent on philemon and matthew 7. Apr 01, 2009 although the two men came from very different social classes, paul asked them to do what would otherwise be impossible. New book advocates for christian path to reconciliation north. Everybody has to deal with conflict in life, even in churches. From this short new testament letter, pastor and author dhati lewis among wolves unpacks key principles that paul applied to being an advocate in the midst of division. In this timely study of the book of philemon, pastor dhati lewis unpacks key principles that paul applied in this situationexplaining the. How should both philemon and onesimus apply the teaching paul gives to the colossians.
The main section of the book is a call to christians to pursue the path of racial reconciliation guided by the gospel. Mostly, it is about jesus christ, who is mentioned 11 times in 25 verses. Reconciliation is rooted in forgiveness and mercy, and it is maintained through. The book is about bondage and love, forgiveness and joy. In the first century, in the city of colosse in minor asia, there lived a well to do man named philemon, a family man with slaves and a house that served as a regular meeting place of a church. Many now hold that paul was imprisoned in ephesus, some 100 miles away, a distance onesimus could easily have traveled, whether as a runaway to ephesus. Rather, he points us to christ and encourages us to think through the issues. This is the situation faced in the book of philemon. As we launch in to our new series through the book of philemon, we explore the first step on the path to forgiveness. Jun 28, 2004 traditionally, the letter is addressed to philemon, the owner of the slave onesimus, and a member of the church at colossae. Philemon was the master of onesimus, a runaway slave.
Philemon, forgiveness, and the gospel the gospel project. The current presidency looms over this book but lewis does not take political sides. Pauls letter to philemon is a plea that the slaveowner and the slave be reconciled with. As a result, philemon had established a house church in colossae.
So when paul told onesimus the good news about jesus and onesimus believed, paul desired forgiveness and reconciliation between onesimus and philemon now brothers in christ. Dec 02, 2016 december 2, 2016 by mylordmyfriend in book of philemon, uncategorized. The book of philemon is a prison epistle letter written while in prison, which paul wrote circa 61 a. The key personalities of philemon are paul, philemon, and onesimus. For an african american man with a heart for reconciliation, the eruption that took place that night underscored just how much work needed to be done. Paul helps his friend philemon to reconcile with his escaped former slave onesimus, and shows that they are equals because of jesus. He presents questions we should ask ourselves to see our own prejudices and sin against fellow image bearers of god. It was written to philemon as a plea to request forgiveness for his runaway servant onesimus, who was a new believer in jesus christ. Paul seek a reconciliation between onesimus slave and philemon master. More tellingly, paul seeks here to create a new kind of society, a fellowship of equals in which the slave owner and slave were brothers and sisters in christ p. As the briefest member of the pauline corpus, the epistle to philemon is a letter of recommendation for the sake of reconciliation in which the apostle paul brings the gospel truth of mutual participation in the body of christ to bear on an estranged relationship making a delicate request of his friend philemon to receive back a certain onesimus into full fellowship as a brother in christ.
The book of philemon was written in approximately a. The gift of reconciliation brewster baptist church. At the same time, he must not have been in colossae at the time of his conversion, for paul had not yet been to colossae cf. He was asking philemon to accept his slave back in a bond of friendship and reconciliation. Paul wrote philemon for a favor, asking philemon to reconcile himself to. Actually the truth is rather different but of course the scar is thicker than the wound perhaps thats where the idea originated. Christ came into the world to reconcile and restore fallen mans fellowship with god. Home bible studies philemon studies overview of philemon these small group studies of philemon contain outlines, crossreferences, bible study discussion questions, and applications. One of the things that strike me about this letter is that it is a moment in time. It fits on just one page, right before hebrews, and is a letter sent by paul and perhaps coauthored. Paul does not identify himself as an apostle with authority, but as a prisoner of jesus christ, calling timothy our brother, and addressing philemon as fellow labourer and brother.
Reconciliation the letter to philemon it is a widely held view that scar tissue is stronger than the original skin before the injury. Explain the importance of who is worthy to open the book. Jun 27, 2019 for an african american man with a heart for reconciliation, the eruption that took place that night underscored just how much work needed to be done. And so, as we look for modern applications of the book of philemon, we will pay special attention to the ways pauls mediation between onesimus and philemon corresponds to his teachings in other epistles, especially those to the colossians and to the ephesians. The letter to philemon it is a widely held view that scar tissue is stronger than the original skin before the injury. The heart of pauls letter to philemon is the fellowship that comes from reconciliation. In fact, it was because of paul that philemon had come to believe jesus was the promised christ. Posts about book of philemon written by mylordmyfriend. Advocates dhati lewis audiobook download christian. Not only this, but because philemon has demonstrated love, the saints have been refreshed v. He provides sepsactions seen in scripture to take now to work towards racial reconciliation. Jan 14, 2020 advocatesthe narrow path to racial reconciliation.
Paul does not identify himself as an apostle with authority, but as a prisoner of jesus christ, calling. When we follow paul, philemon, and onesimus along the road to reconciliation, we see the transforming power of the gospel at work for the glory of god. Onesimus was a man on the run, and ended up crossing the path of paul. The letter to philemon as counterhegemonic discourse jstor. Describe the conversation between jesus and peter concerning agape and phileo love. The book of philemon bible book summary of philemon. The themes of forgiveness and reconciliation are featured within the complex social dynamic of. The author of the book of philemon was the apostle paul philemon 1.
Though one of the shortest books of the new testament, coming in at only 335 words, philemon packs a. As we read pauls letter to his friend, we know philemon probably had a large house. Paul charted a route even though he himself may not have c. Just as christ reconciled believers to god, onesimus was reconciled. The book of philemon demonstrates the gospel in action. New book advocates for christian path to reconciliation. Paul doesnt command philemon to forgive onesimus for anything. Apr 16, 2018 notice in the letter that while reconciliation is obviously a theme, forgiveness doesnt come up. Therefore, our lord jesus christ is the only one found worthy to open the book. Pauls letter to philemon is a plea that the slaveowner and the slave be reconciled with one another. Jun 23, 2020 the only mention of philemon in the bible is in the book by that name. All in all, the discussion about racial profiling, racism in general, and racist comments and behavior needs to be addressed, and it would seem that a book like advocates.
In the book of philemon, onesimus was a slave of philemon who had stolen from his master and ran away philemon 1. Paul only says that if onesimus owed philemon anything, charge it to paul. Forgiveness that leads to reconciliation, part one. Nov 02, 2015 pauls letter to a member of the church known as philemon is the shortest book in the bible. Visit our library of inductive bible studies for more in depth inductive studies on this and other books of the bible you can use in your small group. The once useless onesimus, was now useful to philemon, paul, and the kingdom of god. Pauls work with philemon and onesimus are a perfect template for how. Forgiveness is often difficult and requires much of us, but we often go about it in ways that are unbiblical or unfruitful. Path to reconciliation focus of advocates biblical. And so, as we look for modern applications of the book of philemon, we will. The letter to philemon is the shortest of all pauls writings and deals with the practice of slavery. Paul wrote the letter to philemon after the slave onesimus, a runaway from philemons household, met paul in prison and came to know christ as lord. Philemon its the little, onechapter book right before hebrews, just toward the end of the new testament. The doctrine of redemption in the epistle of philemon by.
Philemon was a man who lived in the city of colosse. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading advocates. The book was written around 62 ad during paul first imprisonment in rome. Through reconciliation, both slave and slave master reestablish relationships. After his dramatic conversion on the road to damascus, pauls singular purpose was to prove that jesus is the christ acts 9. As a result, paul sends onesimus back to philemon and encourages the two to be reconciled as brothers. Sep 09, 20 reconciliation can bring us closer to god in ways that we cannot possibly fathom. Eventually onesimus fled the home, apparently stealing some of philemon s personal possessions. Philemon is an awesome story of community, redemption, salvation, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Path to reconciliation focus of advocates biblical recorder. Having explained his own interest in onesimus reconciliation with philemon, culminating in his desire to have onesimus return to minister to him, paul now makes a perspectival switch from his own interests to philemons interests in receiving onesimus with grace. Philemon s reconciliation with onesimus will pay back greatly in spiritual dividends for everyone concerned.
Philemon was a believer, a leader in disciple making, and now the victim of theft and disrespect. The new testament book of philemon is a stunningly countercultural book on reconciliation carrying a myriad of amazing principles for anyone seeking restoration and growth in a nowconflicted relationship. It is directed to philemon, which means kisses or one that is affectionate, in behalf of onesimus, which means profitable or usefulness. Path to reconciliation focus of advocates california. God can take these places of pain and conflict and turn them into places of growth and joy. The themes of forgiveness and reconciliation are featured within the complex social dynamic of first century slavery. While youre turning there, let me just give you an overview of the storyline because this one chapter is a story. Now again, this would put a huge amount of pressure on philemon to do the right thing but, as uncomfortable as that would have been for him, it seems to be the right approach because paul is wanting the whole christian community to learn about grace and forgiveness through the public reconciliation of philemon and onesimus. The short book of philemon was written by paul from prison to persuade philemon to receive back his runaway and now converted slave onesimus in the spirit of forgiveness and christian brotherhood. He fled to rome, where he met paul, and there he responded to the good news and came to faith in christ philemon 1. The narrow path to racial reconciliation 9781535934671 by dhati lewis.
The narrow path to racial reconciliation kindle edition by lewis, dhati. Throughout his writings, paul used the language of slavery versus freedom. Philemon was one of pauls prison epistles, but this one was the most personal of all. He makes for the great city of rome a journey of about miles in the hope of losing himself in the city underworld. Paul demonstrates steps on the path of forgiveness for us in his letter to philemon and it is incredibly beneficial and applicable for our relationships. In the book of philemon, paul earnestly persuaded philemon to be reconciled to his slave. Christ is the object of philemon s love and faith vs. For more than two years during his third missionary journey, paul ministered in asia minor among the people of ephesus.
In the book of philemon, paul appeals to his friend on behalf of a runaway slave named onesimus. A few years later during his third missionary journey, paul sent four of his. It is a prison letter, coauthored by paul the apostle with timothy, to philemon, a leader in the colossian church. The book of philemon is a personal letter from the apostle paul to his friend philemon whom he calls a dear friend and fellow worker philemon 1. Message from philemon reconciliation my lord, my friend. The epistle of paul to philemon, known simply as philemon, is one of the books of the christian new testament. In 2 corinthians 5, god commissioned us to be his ambassadors and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. Let me ask you to open your bibles to the book of philemon. In this tour through the apostle pauls epistle to the slave owner philemon, alistair begg shows how paul encouraged philemon to put faith into action and be. The narrow path to racial reconciliation would be the perfect vehicle to start the discussion.
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