The three main characters in the epistlepaul, onesimus, and philemonall display andor are asked to practice kingdom principles in daily life. Paul is asking philemon to bring christian principles into the evil system of slavery. Though very brief, the epistle is a valuable addition to the new testament record for three reasons. Philemon nrsv salutation paul, a prisoner of christ. Onesimus had been his slave, and ran away taking money with him. The letter to philemon the new international commentary on the new testament mcknight, scot on. This is a word for our age, and mark meynell has done a fine job of showing that in an engaging and compelling way. I believe it is one of the most important, yet most overlooked books of the new testament. The letter suggests that paul was in prison at the time of the writing.
Weighing in at one mighty chapter, philemon is the shortest book written by paul and one of the shortest in the entire new testament. After his dramatic conversion on the road to damascus, pauls singular purpose was to prove that jesus is the christ acts 9. The book of philemon was written by the apostle paul in approximately a. A synopsis of each new testament book the bart ehrman blog. It is the only use of this name in the new testament, for which the nominative form would be. This week, we look at pauls shortest and most challenging letters. It is in the form of a letter from apostle paul to philemon, someone he led to christ and a friend. Books of the bible list order complete new and old testament. In his letter paul carefully pointed out to philemon that the one he was sending back was not just a slave. Weve all struggled to pronounce bible names and places, especially those pesky old testament names. The book of philemon demonstrates the gospel in action.
Paul himself, in a gracious act of christian love, assumed onesimuss debt in full. The new testament never tells us the rest of the story. The thirteenth, and last, of pauls epistles, and the eighteenth book in the new testament, is philemon. Before i go further, do you know the names of those four books. Philemon 1 commentary, this commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, takes one through the new testament verse by verse. What every book of the new testament is about crossway. The heart of pauls letter to philemon is the fellowship that comes from reconciliation. Philemon new revised standard version nrsv salutation. Jun 23, 2018 for a very small book in the new testament, and one that can easily be overlooked, the book of philemon offers some very practical applications to everyday life.
The key personalities of philemon are paul, philemon, and onesimus. Because believers in jesus are equal partners in the new humanity, paul asks philemon to forgive his runaway slave onesimus. The letter is addressed to philemon, an old friend of pauls who he had converted during his time at colosse. Written by paul, philemon is the 18th book of the bible essay example 1177 words 5 pages. This series helps provide a better, fuller, and richer understanding of gods word while challenging all readersno matter what their expertiseto grow in a vibrant, personal spiritual walk. It all depends on what criteria you use to determine length verses, words, etc. Aug 31, 20 and he said unto them, these are the words which i spake unto you, while i was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of moses, and in the prophets, and in. Within the american bible, the 57th book is entitled philemon, being the eighteenth book of the new testament canon1. A workplace application of the theme of mutuality is alluded to in colossians and discussed in pauls letter to philemon, the shortest book of the bible. It is a prison letter, coauthored by paul the apostle with timothy, to philemon, a leader in the colossian church.
Philemon was a slave owner who also hosted a church in his home. Even today, many people are incredulous when told that we know only one person by name who actually wrote new testament books paul, who probably. The people that paul mentions as being with him when he wrote philemon are exactly the same with the exception of justus. Click the play button below to hear how to pronounce philemon. When we speak of the author of the new testament epistle letter of philemon, were actually speaking of two authors the apostle paul and timothy. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Bible story summary, key verses and lessons jun 21, 20. Home 1 study the bible 2 book by book 3 new testament 4 philemon. It is one of the few books in the bible without chapter divisions. The book of philemon is considered by most scholars to be a companion letter to his epistle to the colossians.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading book of philemon, king james bible the new testament 18. Book of philemon, king james bible the new testament 18. The book of philemon is written by paul to the man who is the namesake of the book, and it addresses the recent visit of philemon s slave onesimus. Philemon name means loving or affectionate was apparently a wealthy man since he was a slave owner i. The epistles letters in the new testament were a new form of revelation.
Paul does not identify himself as an apostle with authority. Summary of the book of philemon story of the bible. In the letter, paul implores philemon to receive onesimus, not as a slave, but as a brother beloved verse 16. It makes gods word clear, but more than that, it reveals its relevance. Philemon or the epistle of paul to philemon is a book that is included in the christian new testament. Some worked at hard labor their whole lives while others became business partners with their owners. Epistle to philemon read the bible online bible study tools. Christ is successively shown to be superior to prophets and angels 12, moses 3, and the old testament priesthood 47.
Philemon in the picture study bible the book of philemon. Before them, god had used law, history, poetry, prophecy, and the gospel records. Second john has only verses, but it has 245 words in greek and 298 words in english, on the other hand thir. In this letter, paul helps his friend philemon to reconcile with his escaped former slave. Mcknight offers a muchneeded careful exegesis, contrasting ancient conventions with the practice of modern slavery and providing the context for a faithful and accurate reading. It indicates that then there was rampant practice of slavery amongst the. It is the only new testament letter addressed to an individual. Nov 11, 2015 this christocentric book asserts the supremacy of christ to old testament foreshadowings. Philemon and work bible commentary theology of work. The new testament chronicles the life and ministry of jesus, the growth and impact of the early church.
The grace of the lord jesus christ be with your spirit. The letter to philemon the new international commentary. 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 appealed to philemon on the basis of christian love to welcome back onesimus. Interesting facts about philemon barnes bible charts author.
Colossians and philemon zondervan exegetical commentary on the new testament book 12 kindle edition by pao, david w. Colossians and philemon for you does a great job of bridging the gap between firstcentury colossae and our world today. The new testament was written from approximately a. Philemon is the name of a man who received a letter from the apostle paul in the new testament. This little letter is called the greatest piece of writing ever put on paper. Nov 05, 2012 53 videos play all holy bible kjv new testament audio no music or dramatization joel 3. We dont know what happened when philemon read the letter. New international commentary on the new testament nicnt 9780802873828 by scot mcknight. Paul wrote the letter philemon to ask philemon who paul had also led to the lord. Read philemon 1 commentary using peoples new testament. One of the visitors converted under pauls teaching was a man named philemon, a slaveowner from the nearby city of colossae philemon 1. An account of jesus life, death, and resurrection that stresses he is the jewish messiah sent from the jewish god to the jewish people in fulfillment of the prophecies of the jewish.
It was written around 62 ad whilst paul was imprisoned in rome. The book of philemon is a prison epistle letter written while in prison, which paul wrote circa 61 a. The subject is a runaway slave owned by philemon named onesimus. Colossians and philemon zondervan exegetical commentary on. The letter to philemon tells us that onesimus was the slave of a christian named philemon philem. Bruce wrote over 40 books, including new international bible commentary, paul. The book of philemon was written in approximately a. Biography of paul nearly all scholars agree that paul wrote this letter.
The epistle of paul to philemon, known simply as philemon, is one of the books of the christian new testament. According to ehrman, it is probable that onesimus fled philemon and came to paul due to malfeasance on philemon s part towards his slave. However this is one of the worst commentaries i have ever read. Philemon niv paul, a prisoner of christ jesus, and bible gateway. The apostle paul was in rome preaching in his own hired house. The dative is used because paul and timothy are writing to philemon. The macarthur new testament commentary 9780802407610 by john macarthur. But the pronunciation of philemon is pretty simple.
Nov 02, 2019 the name, from whence philemon, is a thirddeclension noun seen in the dative case. Stay connected amidst social distancing receive weekly bible studies to share with family and friends. Philemon is one of the shortest books in the new testament at 25 verses. The letter to philemon is the shortest of all pauls writings and deals with the practice of slavery. It deals with the themes of forgiveness and reconciliation. Today we are beginning a new sermon series on called new testament postcards based on the four1chapter books in the new testament. Learn epistles colossians philemon new testament with free interactive flashcards. The bible has a message for all of us today on how to begin bringing people together. The aramaic text used to translate here at, is from eastern aramaic manuscripts, such as the khabouris manuscript, pictured above, it being a handwritten eastern aramaic new testament, said to have been scribed in the ancient city of nineveh, and which is thought to have taken place sometime between 900 to a. Philemon the slaveowner and onesimus the runaway slave or bondservant had both been reconciled to god through pauls ministry. The epistle was intended for philemon, who may have been an elder in the church at colossae. And what lessons does this book hold for believers today. There is also a phonetic guide to use to see the proper pronunciation of philemon. Study the bible online using commentary on philemon 1 and more.
The epistle to philemon is a plea from the apostle paul to receive his slave as a brother, as christ had received philemon. James alexander mclymont 18481927, the new testament and its writers. Pauls letter to philemon is the eighteenth book in the new testament. Philemon new testament bible international standard. Slavery in new testament times had shades of early american chattel slavery, modern sex trafficking, old testament debt bondage, and even apprenticeships and internships. Without attempting to overturn the whole system, he injects christian grace where previously human selfishness and greed had reigned.
The 27 book new testament was first formally canonized during the councils of hippo 393 and carthage 397 in north africa. Book of philemon overview insight for living ministries. Choose from 500 different sets of epistles colossians philemon new testament flashcards on quizlet. Philemon is a wealthy member of the church at colossae. New international greek testament commentary, romans in tyndale commentaries, and the book of acts, the epistles to the colossians, to philemon, and to the ephesians, and the epistle to the hebrews in the new. This letter is known as epistle to philemon in the new testament. Forgiveness shines like a brilliant light throughout the bible, and one of its brightest spots is the tiny book of philemon.
How many people wrote the new testament books answers. Generally 2nd and 3rd john are the two shortest books. The epistles to the colossians, to philemon and to. In the bible book that bears philemons name, paul addressed his beloved brother as a fellow worker, a title given to those who served for a time alongside. Apostle of the free spirit, the epistle to the galatians. Pope innocent i ratified the same canon in 405, but it is probable that a council in rome in 382 under pope damasus i gave the same list first. Philemon king james bible, new testament audio book. The book of philemon illustrates that principles like these can and should profoundly affect the lives of believers. Many people evidently came to see paul during his first imprisonment in rome. The new testament is a collection of 27 books, usually placed after the old testament in most christian bibles. As the shortest of pauls letters 335 words, it is situated at the end of the pauline corpus, which has been traditionally arranged not by date but from the longest to the shortest romans through philemon.
Since colossians was written from rome during pauls first imprisonment 62 ad. The author is traditionally understood to be the apostle paul. Then, paul appealed to philemon on behalf of philemon s slave. The name refers to the new covenant or promise between god and humanity through the death and resurrection of jesus christ. How to pronounce say philemon by bible speak pronunciation. I love the book of philemon which i have studied including the greek and taught. There is a book in the new testament that seems as if it were written for us today. The book of philemon as well as the book of colossians were written by paul and delivered at the same time.
In colossians, paul mentions the faithful and beloved brother, onesimus col. Apr 11, 2019 forgiveness shines like a brilliant light throughout the bible, and one of its brightest spots is the tiny book of philemon. Written by saint paul the apostle along with timothy, this prison letter was addressed to philemon who was a leading member of the colossian church. In the bible book that bears philemons name, paul addressed his beloved brother as a fellow worker, a title given to those who served for a time alongside paul. As part of our letters to the church series, were taking a brief look at each epistle in the new testament. Philemon 1 commentary the bible study new testament.
The book of philemon is one of the most interesting. This free audio bible name pronunciation guide is a valuable tool in your study of gods word. Book of philemon, king james bible the new testament 18 kindle edition by media, scourby bible, joyner, ben, tyndale, william, wycliffe, john. Onesimus was a runaway slave from colossae in asia minor, and he met paul who led him to jesus christ. Philemon, verses a workbook of new testament greek. Being an introduction to the books of the new testament.
In this short personal letter, the apostle paul asks his friend philemon to extend forgiveness to a runaway slave named onesimus. When you think of the word philemon pronunciation is maybe the first thing that comes to mind. One man who came to visit him was a slave from colosse who had stolen his masters goods and ran to rome. Philemon is the eighteenth book of the christian new testament. After doing so, he met paul and became a christian.
He is known as a saint by several christian churches along with his wife apphia. Though pauls letter to philemon is very brief, it is packed with rich nuggets of truth that truly reward the serious bible student. The letter to philemon the new international commentary on. Some slaves were kidnapped, and other slaves owned slaves of their own. Even unbelievers have seen the greatness of this little story.