1. Philemon 1-25 Chapter 13 By Warren W. Wiersbe
A Tale of Two Cities
Philemon 1-25
Chapter 13
By Warren W. Wiersbe

2. Paul in Rome and Philemon in Colossae Human link between them was Onesimus, the runaway slave The law permitted a master to execute a rebellious slave, but Philemon was a Christian. Dilemmas! Letter of Philemon was carried by Tychicus and Onesimus (Col. 4:7-9)

3. Paul, The Beloved Friend (1-7)
Paul didn’t found the church in Colossae nor visited it (Col. 1:1-8; 2:1)
Church in Colossae started in a result of his ministry in Ephesus.
Epaphras was the founding pastor (23)
Met in the home of Philemon and his wife, Apphia, & Archippus, their son?
New Testament churches met in homes (Rom. 16:5, 23; I Cor. 16:19)

4. Philemon as a man of love an faith, both toward God and God’s people.
Paul won Philemon to Christ (19) and Philemon became a blessing to other Christians (7).
Paul opened the letters with word of thanks and praise to God except Galatians
Philemon as a man of love an faith, both toward God and God’s people.
His love was practical
He “refreshed” the saints through his word and work

5. Paul, the Beseeching Intercessor (8-16)
Paul prayed for Philemon to have effective witness and deeper understanding of all he had in Jesus Christ.
Paul, the Beseeching Intercessor (8-16)
60 million slaves in Roman Empire
The average slave sold for 500 denarii (one denarius was a day’s wage for a common laborer)
Educated and skilled slave was high as 50,000 denarii.
The master could free a slave or a slave could buy his freedom (Acts 22:28).

6. Philemon’s reputation as a man who brought blessing to others (8)
If a runaway slave, he is on a “wanted” list. Many masters were humane and reasonable although some were cruel.
Appeals to Philemon
Philemon’s reputation as a man who brought blessing to others (8)
Paul wanted to give him an opportunity to refresh the apostle's heart since Philemon was a “refreshing” believer
Paul appealed in Christian love (9)

7. 3. Onesimus’ conversion (10)
No longer a slave
Paul’s son in the faith
Philemon’s Christian brother
Doesn’t altered Onesimus’ legal position as a slave
4. Onesimus was valuable to Paul in his minstry in Rome (11-14)
“Onesimus” means profitable while Philemon mean an affection or one who is kind.

8. Paul, The Burdened Partner (17-25)
Providence of God (15-16)
Onesimus departed so he can come back
God is in control
Paul, The Burdened Partner (17-25)
Partner-koinonia: to have in common
Communication (6) means fellowship
“Receive him as myself”
“Put that (whatever he stole from you) on my account”
“The way you treat Onesimus is the way you treat me”

9. An illustration of what Jesus Christ has done for us as believers
He is to me as my own heart
An illustration of what Jesus Christ has done for us as believers
“We are accepted in the beloved” (Eph. 1:6)
“Clothed in His righteous” (2 Cor. 5:2)
Receive in Philemon 17 means to receive in one’s family circle.
Love must pay a price and God
Grace is love that pays in price

10. Doctrine of imputation: putting in an account.
When Christ died on the cross, my sins were put on His account
His righteousness was put on my account when I trusted Him as my Savior
Being accepted in Christ and acceptable to Christ
In for salvation and to Christ in daily life (Rom. 12:2; 14:18; 2 Cor. 5:9; Heb. 12:28)
Philemon 19 – Paul led Philemon to faith in Christ

11. Paul didn’t condemn slavery in any letter
Philemon and Onesimus were spiritual brothers, and had the same spiritual father – Paul
Paul didn’t condemn slavery in any letter
First; the message of Christianity is primarily individuals and only secondarily to society
Second; it acts on spiritual and moral sentiments, and only afterwards and consequently on deeds and institutions
Third; it hates violence, and trust wholly to enlightened conscience
Alexander Maclaren

12. Difficulty of crusade against slavery
Christian are the salt of the earth and light of the world (Matt. 5:13-16)
Joseph in Egypt
Esther and Nehemiah in Persia
Daniel in Babylon
Political government structure
Change from within
You: plural; visit (22)

13. Epaphras – pastor of the church John Mark (Col. 4:10)
Dedication to Christ and Paul
John Mark (Col. 4:10)
Paul was grateful and forgave (2 Tim. 4:11)
Aristarchus from Thessalonica
Demas – my fellow worker (24)
Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world (2 Tim. 4:10)
John Mark failed but was restored
Luke – beloved physician (Col. 4:14)
Paul’s benediction – Grace of God