Philemon 1-7

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Philemon 1-7

1 Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our beloved fellow worker 2 and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, 6 and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. 7 For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you. [1]



Devotion

            In Philemon we find the shortest of all of Paul’s letters. Only 355 words in the Greek. Paul introduces himself as a prisoner for Christ Jesus rather than as an Apostle. Most commentators deduce that this is Paul’s imprisonment in Rome, but an excellent case can be made for an earlier imprisonment in Ephesus. So depending on which view you take the letter was written either in 54 AD or 62 AD  And he adds that Timothy is present also, but as we shall see this letter is a very personal appeal on behalf of Paul to Philemon regarding a runaway slave named Onesimus.

            Paul then states to whom he is writing to Philemon the owner and possibly the leader of a church that met in his house. Apphia who is widely believed to be Philemon’s wife and finally Archippus who is identified as a fellow soldier and is widely believed to be Philemon’s son.

            Paul then extends his greetings in the grace and peace of God and of Jesus Christ. As we will see this is a personal and heart felt greeting from Paul to a beloved brother who was brought to faith through Paul’s own preaching. Just as indeed Onesimus had also done.

            Then begins a section of prayer and thanksgiving. Paul’s acknowledgment of Philemon’s devotion to Christian brotherhood, as well as his deepening love and expressions of faith, would undoubtedly stir within Philemon’s heart: a receptiveness to Onesimus’s return. Paul did not give hollow praise or flattery to Philemon. His compliments were declarations of true gratefulness and joy. But Paul did lay a solid and compelling groundwork for what he was about to ask of Philemon.[2]


[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Phm 1–7.
[2] Knute Larson, I & II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy, Titus, Philemon, vol. 9, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 403.

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