# Philemon 01 📖: An Appeal for Onesimus [[📚 Explore the Bible Books]] [[-Philemon Overview]] | [[Titus 03]] | [[Hebrews 01]] > [!info] Table of Contents > [[#📜 Scripture Text (NET)]] > [[#📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary]] > [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]] > [[#🧠 Chapter Summary]] > [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]] > [[#🔎 Key Observations / 🛟 Life Application]] > [[#💬 Discussion Questions]] > [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]] > [[#🔗 Related Passages]] > [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]] > [[#📂 Internal Notes]] ## 📜 Scripture Text (NET) (The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005) #### Salutation **Principle**: Rally around your shared relationship with God before seeking forgiveness. [[#Verse 01.]] From Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our dear friend and colaborer,  [[#Verse 02.]] to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your house.  [[#Verse 03.]] Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! #### Thanks for Philemon’s Love and Faith **Principle**: If you're praying for someone, let them know. The purpose is to show your genuine love and care for them. [[#Verse 04.]] I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers,  [[#Verse 05.]] because I hear of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.  [[#Verse 06.]] I pray that the faith you share with us may deepen your understanding of every blessing that belongs to you in Christ.  [[#Verse 07.]] I have had great joy and encouragement because of your love, for the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother. #### Paul’s Request for Onesimus **Principle**: Be a bridge builder. [[#Verse 08.]] So, although I have quite a lot of confidence in Christ and could command you to do what is proper,  [[#Verse 09.]] I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love—I, Paul, an old man and even now a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus—  [[#Verse 10.]] I am appealing to you concerning my child, whose spiritual father I have become during my imprisonment,that is, Onesimus,  [[#Verse 11.]] who was formerly useless to you, but is now useful to you and me.  [[#Verse 12.]] I have sent him (who is my very heart) back to you.  [[#Verse 13.]] I wanted to keep him with me so that he could serve me in your place during my imprisonment for the sake of the gospel.  [[#Verse 14.]] However, without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your good deed would not be out of compulsion, but from your own willingness.  [[#Verse 15.]] For perhaps it was for this reason that he was separated from you for a little while, so that you would have him back eternally,  [[#Verse 16.]] no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a dear brother. He is especially so to me, and even more so to you now, both humanly speaking and in the Lord.  [[#Verse 17.]] Therefore if you regard me as a partner, accept him as you would me.  [[#Verse 18.]] Now if he has defrauded you of anything or owes you anything, charge what he owes to me.  [[#Verse 19.]] I, Paul, have written this letter with my own hand: I will repay it. I could also mention that you owe me your very self.  [[#Verse 20.]] Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ. [[#Verse 21.]] Since I was confident that you would obey, I wrote to you, because I knew that you would do even more than what I am asking you to do.  [[#Verse 22.]] At the same time also, prepare a place for me to stay, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given back to you. #### Concluding Greetings **Principle**: Do your best to not be a "lone ranger." Purposefully create community. [[#Verse 23.]] Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you.  [[#Verse 24.]] Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my colaborers, greet you too. [[#Verse 25.]] May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. ## 📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary ###### Overall. ###### Verse 01. ###### Verse 02. ###### Verse 03. ###### Verse 04. ###### Verse 05. ###### Verse 06. ###### Verse 07. ###### Verse 08. ###### Verse 09. ###### Verse 10. ###### Verse 11. ###### Verse 12. ###### Verse 13. ###### Verse 14. ###### Verse 15. ###### Verse 16. ###### Verse 17. ###### Verse 18. ###### Verse 19. ###### Verse 20. ###### Verse 21. ###### Verse 22. ###### Verse 23. ###### Verse 24. ###### Verse 25. ## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights 1. Philemon is Paul's shortest letter, only 25 verses long. 2. The name Onesimus means "useful," which makes verse 11 a wordplay. 3. Philemon lived in Colossae, and a church met in his house (verse 2; Colossians 4:9). 4. Apphia and Archippus (verse 2) may have been Philemon's wife and son. Archippus is also mentioned in Colossians 4:17. 5. Runaway slaves could face severe punishment under Roman law. 6. Some scholars think Onesimus was not a fugitive in the usual sense but had gone to Paul to ask him to plead his case, a practice known in Roman law. 7. Paul writes part of the letter with his own hand (verse 19), like a signed promise to repay. 8. Paul asks Philemon to prepare a guest room for him (verse 22). 9. Around AD 110, Ignatius wrote about a bishop of Ephesus named Onesimus. Some think he was the same man. 10. The coworkers who send greetings (verses 23-24) are the same names found in Colossians 4:10-14. ## 🧠 Chapter Summary > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter Christ is the One whose grace turns a slave and his master into dear brothers (verse 16). Paul offers to pay Onesimus's debt, a picture of Jesus, who canceled our debt by nailing it to the cross (Colossians 2:14). ## 🔎 Key Observations / 🛟 Life Application > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## 💬 Discussion Questions 1. Paul appeals on the basis of love rather than giving a command (verses 8-9). What does that teach about leading others? 2. Onesimus was once useless but is now useful (verse 11). How has God changed your story? 3. Paul says, "If he owes you anything, charge it to me" (verse 18). Where might God be calling you to help bring reconciliation? ## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember - 📖 verses 4-6: Paul thanks God for Philemon's love and faith and prays his partnership would be effective. - 📖 verses 10-11: Onesimus, once useless, has become useful. - 📖 verse 16: Onesimus returns no longer as a slave, but as a dear brother. - 📖 verses 17-18: Welcome him as you would welcome Paul, and charge any debt to Paul's account. ## 🔗 Related Passages - 🔗 [[Colossians 04#Verse 09.|Colossians 4:9]] - Onesimus, the faithful and dear brother. - 🔗 [[Colossians 04#Verse 17.|Colossians 4:17]] - Archippus is urged to complete his ministry. - 🔗 [[Galatians 03#Verse 28.|Galatians 3:28]] - Neither slave nor free in Christ. - 🔗 [[2 Corinthians 05#Verse 18.|2 Corinthians 5:18-19]] - The ministry of reconciliation. - 🔗 [[Ephesians 06#Verse 09.|Ephesians 6:9]] - Masters and slaves share one Master in heaven. ## 🙏 Devotional Reflection 📝 SOAP: [[Philemon 01 - SOAP|How Are Other People Experiencing You?]] ## 📂 Internal Notes