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The Book of Philemon - Summary
The book of Philemon is a short, personal letter. It is in the New Testament part of the Bible.
Paul wrote some encouraging words to Philemon. Then, Paul appealed to Philemon on behalf of Philemon's slave. The slave was called Onesimus. Onesimus had escaped from Philemon. Later, Onesimus became a Christian. He helped Paul. But Philemon still owned Onesimus, because Onesimus was a slave.
Paul decided to return Onesimus to Philemon. Paul asked Philemon to accept Onesimus as his Christian brother, instead of a slave.
http://www.easyenglish.info/bible-outline/philemon-summary.htm
| Listen | Download | Introduction |
| Listen | Download | Chapter 1 Greeting; Philemon's Love and Faith; An Appeal for Onesimus; Final Greetings. |
Book of Philemon Outlines by J.Vernon McGee PDF format <Link>
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http://www.easyenglish.info/english-learners-bible/philemon-taw.htm
About this letter
Paul was a great Christian teacher. He was in prison, at either Rome or Ephesus, when he wrote this letter to Philemon. (Rome was a very important city at that time, because the king of Rome ruled many other countries. Ephesus was a city in the south and west part of the country that is called Turkey now.) Paul was in prison because he taught people about Jesus Christ. We think that Paul wrote this letter in the year *AD 60 or 61. That was about 30 years after Jesus died.
Philemon was a Christian man who lived in the town called Colossae. Colossae was also in the south and west part of the country that is called Turkey now. Philemon had become a Christian because Paul had taught him about Christ. Philemon was a rich man who was the master of a house. A church (a group of Christians) met regularly in his house. A man called Onesimus was one of Philemon’s slaves. We think that Onesimus had robbed Philemon. He may have taken some of Philemon’s money or other things. Then Onesimus had run away from Colossae.
Paul was in prison in his own house. People came to visit him, and he taught them about Jesus. Onesimus met Paul and Paul taught him about Jesus. As a result, Onesimus believed Jesus and he became a Christian. After that, Paul wrote this letter and he gave it to Onesimus. Then he sent Onesimus back to Philemon at Colossae. Paul wanted Onesimus to give the letter to Philemon.
In his letter, Paul asks Philemon to forgive Onesimus. (To forgive means that you choose to forget the wrong things that someone has done.) Paul asks Philemon to say ‘welcome’ to Onesimus, as another Christian, who is like his brother. This was very important for Onesimus. It was difficult for Onesimus to return to Philemon. He had taken some of Philemon’s things and he was still one of Philemon’s slaves. Philemon could have killed Onesimus because of what he had done.
Tychicus was a friend of Paul and he was also a Christian. Tychicus was taking a letter from Paul to the Christians at Colossae, so he travelled with Onesimus.
v1 I, Paul, am writing this letter. I am in prison because I am Christ Jesus’s servant. Timothy, who is like our brother, is here with me also.
We are writing this letter to you, Philemon. You are our friend, that we love. And you work on behalf of Christ, as we do. v2 We say ‘hello’ also to you, Apphia, who are like a sister to us. And we say ‘hello’ to you, Archippus. You work like a soldier on behalf of Christ, as we do. We say ‘hello’ also to the group of Christians who meet in your home.
v3 We pray that God, our Father, and the *Lord Jesus Christ will continue to be very kind to you. We pray that they will cause you to be without trouble inside yourselves.
Paul thanks God because of Philemon
v4 When I pray for you, I thank my God because of you always. v5 I thank God because people tell me good things about you. You love and believe the *Lord Jesus. And you love all God’s people. v6 I pray that you may always be ready to talk to other people about Christ. Talk to them about what you believe. So then you will understand more completely every good thing that is ours because of Christ. v7 My friend, you have been kind to God’s people. You have helped them and you have made them happy. I know that you love Jesus and all God’s people. That makes me very happy. And it makes me feel much braver and stronger.
Verse 6 It is not completely clear what this verse means. It could also mean something like this: ‘Many good things are ours because of Christ. I pray that you will understand all those good things more and more completely. So then you will really be able to help God’s people. You will talk to them about what you believe. And so they will know how great Christ is.’
Paul asks Philemon to help Onesimus
v8 There is something that you ought to do. I could tell you that you must do it. I could tell you that clearly, with the authority that comes from Christ. v9 But I am not telling you that you must do it. Instead, I am asking you to do it because you love people. I am Paul, and I am an old man. Also, I am in prison now because I am Christ Jesus’s servant. v10 So I am asking you on behalf of Onesimus, who is like my own child. I taught him about Jesus while I was in prison. And now he has become really alive because he believes Jesus. So he is like my own child. v11 Before, Onesimus did not help you. But now he can help both you and me.
Verse 10 The name Onesimus means ‘a person who helps other people’.
v12 I love Onesimus so much that he is like part of me. But I am sending him back to you. v13 I wanted to keep him here with me while I am in prison. I am in prison because I taught people the good news about Jesus. If you were here, you would have helped me. I know that. And I wanted Onesimus to help me on your behalf. v14 But I wanted to ask you first. I did not want to do anything unless you agreed. I did not want you to think that you had to help me. I did not want you to help me because you thought like that. Instead, I wanted you to help me because you really want to help.
v15 Perhaps God let Onesimus leave you for a short time so that you could have him back for always. v16 You can have him back again not only as your slave. Now he can be something much better than a slave. He can be like a brother, that you love. I love Onesimus very much. But you will love him even more than I do. You will love him as a slave and you will love him also as a brother. He is like a brother to you because you and he are both the *Lord’s people.
v17 I am your friend, who works with you. If you think about me as a friend like that, then please say ‘welcome’ to Onesimus. Be happy that he has come back to you. And be kind to him. If I came to meet you, you would say ‘welcome’ to me. And you would be happy to meet me. Be happy about him in the same way. v18 If Onesimus has done anything wrong to you, I will make it right again. If he ought to pay you some money, I will pay the money to you on his behalf. v19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay the money back to you. But remember how very much you yourself have received from me. You have become really alive by Jesus Christ because I taught you about him.
v20 So, my friend, I really want you to help me, because we are both the *Lord’s. Help me, so that I can feel stronger and happier. Help me because we are both united to Christ. v21 I write to you because I am sure about you. You will do what I ask. I am sure about that. Also, I know that you will do even more than this.
Paul finishes his letter
v22 I want to ask you one more thing. Please prepare a room in your home where I can stay. I know that all of you are praying about me. I hope that, as a result, they will let me go out of prison. Then I will be able to visit you again.
v23 Epaphras is also here in prison with me because he is Christ Jesus’s servant. Epaphras says ‘hello’ to you. v24 Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, who work with me, say ‘hello’ to you also.
v25 I pray that the *Lord Jesus Christ will continue to be very kind to all of you.
Word List
AD ~ AD 50 means the year that was 50 years after Jesus came, and so on.
Lord ~ master; another name for God. It means that he is greater than everyone else.
Book List
A. Marshall ~ The Interlinear Greek-English New Testament
Peter T. O’Brien ~ Word Biblical Commentary Volume 44: Colossians, Philemon
Various Bible versions
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| Book 57 | Philemon |
|---|
| 001:001 | Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer, |
| 001:002 | And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house: |
| 001:003 | Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. |
| 001:004 | I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, |
| 001:005 | Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; |
| 001:006 | That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. |
| 001:007 | For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother. |
| 001:008 | Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient, |
| 001:009 | Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. |
| 001:010 | I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: |
| 001:011 | Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me: |
| 001:012 | Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels: |
| 001:013 | Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel: |
| 001:014 | But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly. |
| 001:015 | For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; |
| 001:016 | Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord? |
| 001:017 | If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. |
| 001:018 | If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account; |
| 001:019 | I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides. |
| 001:020 | Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord. |
| 001:021 | Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say. |
| 001:022 | But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you. |
| 001:023 | There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus; |
| 001:024 | Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers. |
| 001:025 | The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. |
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