Philemon - specifically (vs. 7 - “you, brother”), also Apphia, Archippus, church in your house. Colosse was a small town in the Roman province of Asia (which is now Eastern Turkey) about 100 miles east of the city of Ephesus. Posts The letter to Philemon tells us that Onesimus was the slave of a Christian named Philemon (Philem. One of his slaves, Onesimus, had apparently stolen from him (cf. Reading this volume is like slipping on a set of glasses that lets you read the Bible through the eyes of a first-century reader! Ephesians Historical Background There were specific customs and laws of culture that dictated what type of punishment would normally happen to a slave in this circumstance. It is difficult to know if Paul sought Onesimus’s full freedom. 2, 23), convince most scholars that Philemon is a leader in the Colossian church. His parents, a family of Pharisees of the tribe of Benjamin, probably taught him about the law and prophets as well as the Hebrew and Aramaic languages. Paul refers to him with terms of endearment and friendship—“beloved brother” and “fellow worker” (vs. 1). There is a clear parallel between these two parts of Paul's request, with "let me benefit…in the Lord"// "refresh my heart in Christ." Baucis et Philemon Page 36. Philemon, a Pauline letter reflecting the social norms of the first century Greco-Roman culture, has often been used in various debates surrounding the question of whether Paul supported slavery. People were faced with the dilemma of what to do with this runaway slave who might have stolen money from them. This letter is written to Philemon (who Paul calls a “co-worker”), Apphia (whom Paul calls “our sister”), Archippus (whom Paul calls “our fellow soldier”), and the people of the church which met at the house of these people (Phlm 1:2-3). He did this with other believers whom he coached and mentored while doing ministry together (examples are Barnabas, Priscilla and Acquilla, Timothy, and Titus). A group of heroes are telling after-dinner stories in the cave of the river-god Achelous. The Book of Philemon Name: Course: Institution: Instructor: Date: The Book of Philemon The book of Philemon in the Bible is a letter written to Philemon by Paul and Timothy. The message is contained in the apostle Paul’s letter to Philemon and the issue of that day was slavery. The basic cultural background is that Onesimus is a runaway slave; as such under Roman law, any punishment up to crucifixion would have been allowed to be done by the master to him. These slave-catchers would post information about runaway slaves in public places to advertise which slaves had run away and what the reward was for their capture. FIVE CULTURAL BACKGROUND ELEMENTS RELEVANT TO THE BOOK OF PHILEMON This powerful reference tool is a book-by-book, chapter-by-chapter, detailed look at the historical, geographical, cultural, and economic background of Acts and the Pauline epistles--Acts-Philemon. And God was pleased with it, and divided the light from the darkness. The fact that Onesimus could have been useful to Philemon in the past as a worker in agriculture, a factory, or in a mine made the decision of what to do even more difficult. Noted authors for each book. Common ways that runaway slaves were punished were beating, branding, and inscripting with metal collars as a way to prevent them from future escape. In fact, because identification and adherence to one’s … You can find the best commentary on Philemon for you using the tools on the right side. How does this “background” effect the way we look at Philemon and his slave, Onesimus? Social-scientific criticism of the Philemon is the most suitable approach to hermeneutics since it is concerned with the understanding of political, cultural, social, and religious dynamics of the text as perceived by the original audience of the writings. It deals with the themes of forgiveness and reconciliation. 481, reached Colossae after leaving Anaua. 10–11, 15). Now, Philemon and Onesimus were forced to figure out how to reconcile the tension that not only existed between the past criminal activity that caused Onesimus to run away, but they also had to wrestle with how to live out their faith in light of the new Christian teachings of the first century and the unique and counter cultural teachings of Jesus. One of the most important things to understand about Philemon the is background of slavery in the ancient world. Purpose, Occasion, and Background. It is the 18th book of the New Testament canon and was probably composed in Rome about 61 CE. His parents, a family of Pharisees of the tribe of Benjamin, probably taught him about the law and prophets as well as the Hebrew and Aramaic languages. The short personal letter to Philemon extends our understanding of Paul’s command in Colossians 4:1. Bible, Theology, Small Groups, Leadership. II. Punishment for a runaway slave was up to the sole discretion of the slave’s owner because slaves were considered the property of their owner. I also may have received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. 14-16). A list of the best commentaries on Philemon ranked by scholars, journal reviews, and site users. Paul wants Philemon to do what he is about to ask, not out of compulsion, but with the love of God in Christ. The cultural background of Colossians must be considered before we can get an adequate understanding of the Holy Spirit’s teaching. An example might be from the apostle Paul who never directly opposed slavery, but he attempted to have Onesimus (a slave) freed from his owner (Philemon). The short letter was designed to encourage Philemon to graciously accept Onesimus, a previous runaway slave, and to put Onesimus to work in God’s ministry. This was about the same time he wrote Ephesians and Philemon. He has redeemed his people, enabling them to participate in his death, resurrection, and fullness. Apart from Philemon, Paul also addresses it to Philemon’s church and two others: Aphia and Archipuss. In other words, Paul is not questioning what Philemon should do (free Onesimus or not), but rather how he should motivate Philemon to take the appropriate action. According to the Tyndale Bible Dictionary, Christian doctrine was opposed to slavery, but the early church did not directly confront slavery nor did the early church emphasize the aspect of Christian doctrine that would be against it. It was addressed to Philemon and to the other members of the church at Colossae who met in Philemon's house. Philemon accepting Onesimus without any punishment and making Onesimus a free man would not be a favorable action in the eyes of Philemon’s fellow slave owners. In his adolescence, Paul studied the Jewish scriptures under famous Jewish rabbi Gamaliel. Prior to that, Rolu grew up mostly in the Philippines, with some time spent in Nigeria. The focus of this background information is on slavery and the context of slavery in Paul’s time: the first century world of Rome. Another thing that is surprising is that Paul asked Onesimus to be allowed to be useful in the Lord’s work of spreading the gospel (vv. 1, Paul was one of the most educated Pharisees who knew the laws and prophets extremely well. It is a prison letter, co-authored by Paul the Apostle with Timothy, to Philemon, a leader in the Colossian church. Philemon 1:9-10 - 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. Onesimus, a runaway slave, somehow while on the lam, came in contact with the imprisoned apostle Paul. In an effort to bring as much meaning as possible to a previous series of blog posts I wrote about the apostle Paul and his leadership (see the links at the bottom of this post) I am sharing some crucial cultural background information about slavery in the book of Philemon. He also describes the affection he has for Onesimus and the transformation that … Philemon 8. The apostle Paul probably wrote this letter to Timothy in the mid-60s a.d., during a mission trip not recorded in Scripture. Colossae was once a city of Phrygia, but in … Much more than simply theology or a word study, The Bible Knowledge Background Commentary transports the reader back into the setting of the New Testament to see, touch, and hear as much of that world as possible. The people this letter was written to were located in the city of Colosse. Knowing the cultural background of a biblical text is essential to properly understanding the meaning of the text and how it relates to our current world. Occupational Skills: Paul was a tent maker. Officially, the church did not issue a statement against slavery, but Jesus’ gospel and his new teachings of equality, justice, and love changed the way slave owners and slaves interacted. The Book of Philemon. C. To indirectly request of Philemon to send Onesimus back to Paul so that he can go on helping Paul as he had already begun to do. Much more than simply theology or a word study, The Bible Knowledge Background Commentary transports the reader back into the setting of the New Testament to see, touch, and hear as much of that world as … 8 Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9 yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is clear, however, that he was seeking a transformed relationship between bondservant and master. Ovid, Metamorphoses VIII.626-660,679-719. Even though the humans were not as fast, they were smarter, and so they cornered the goose inside the … ; Philemon 1:1 Philemon means “affectionate” and is derived from the Greek word philema, which means “kiss.”; Philemon 1:1 Apphia means “fruitful one” and is believed to be the name of Philemon’s wife. Here are five essential cultural background information questions and answers that bring new leadership meaning to the biblical book (or the letter to) Philemon. Once we have an informed understanding of slavery in the ancient world we will be able to make better sense out of what Paul is writing to Philemon regarding his slave (and Christian brother) Onesimus. Now, Philemon and Onesimus were forced to figure out how to reconcile the tension that not only existed between the past criminal activity that caused Onesimus to run away, but they also had to wrestle with how to live out their faith in light of the new Christian teachings of the first century and the unique and counter cultural teachings of Jesus. As I have spent time revising, updating, and adding information to my series of blog posts (see links below) about the book of Philemon I have realized that an updated review of who the letter was written to is required. It was a large temple dedicated to a goddess named Diana (Artemis). 5. Paul realized that this decision would be a model for others to follow, and because of that he addressed his letter to others so that Philemon would be accountable to others to make the right decision. They would slaughter their only goose in their guests' honor. Philemon was a Christian, and he owned a slave. Philemon 1:4-5 - I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;. Knowledge of the Scriptures and different cultural connections allowed Paul to explain God’s truth and revelation to people in a variety of different contexts. A wealthy man—owner of at least one slave, and owner of a house large enough for a church to meet in. Bob Martin does an outstanding job of opening our minds to the exhortations and warnings of the apostle Paul as he writes to the church in Colosse and to his dear brother and friend, Philemon. Philemon and slavery. Slavery was a part of the fabric of nearly every culture and nation when Paul penned these words. One of the seven wonders of the world was in Ephesus. Paul had many ways to build connections to kings, Jews, and Gentiles. As today’s study shows, understanding the cultural background of a passage in Scripture is important to figuring out why an author says what he says. Rolu, then, is an immigrant playing on hard mode. I beseech you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds. Paul writes this letter so that Onesimus would be welcomed back and put to good use for the Lord, instead of being punished and prevented from spreading the gospel. Therefore, this letter was written to intercede for Onesimus. In this context, Paul greatly advanced his studies past his fellow students. A Hermeneutical Analysis of Philemon By Jonathan A. Watson Introduction I have read various books on Theological Hermeneutics, and one, whose title has slipped my mind, had once suggested the Hermeneutics isn’t only about picking up the Bible, analyzing it, and putting it back down, but also making an application through it. Paul sent him back (Philemon 12). Paul’s ministry was marked by his conversion while traveling on the road to Damascus to persecute Christians (Acts 9). This could have meant that he would face severe … In its earlier days, this city was an important location for several historical events. Paul also is treating the topic of social roles and the profound change knowing Jesus should make for people. Finally, Paul decided to use this difficult situation to cause Philemon to think through his faith as it related to not just the ownership of a slave, but to the status of a slave in a spiritual sense (as a brother in the faith) and in civil status (in the flesh). The Purpose Of The Letter . Letter of Paul to Philemon, brief New Testament letter written by St. Paul the Apostle to a wealthy Christian of Colossae, in Asia Minor, on behalf of Onesimus, who was enslaved to Philemon and may have run away from him. Christ is Lord over all of creation, including the invisible realm. It was a very wicked city and immorality flourished and flooded over, Historical Background THE AUDIENCE TO WHICH THE BOOK OF BOOK OF PHILEMON WAS WRITTEN TO. It is also significant to note that Paul appealed to Philemon and everyone in Philemon’s house. Philemon Images and Notes. Eventually, Christianity took steps to completely end slavery in the Roman Empire. Philemon was a Christian, and he owned a slave. This powerful reference tool is a book-by-book, chapter-by-chapter, detailed look at the historical, geographical, cultural, and economic background of Acts and the Pauline epistles—Acts-Philemon. Such a focus, however, misses the profundity of what Paul was asking Philemon to do within his cultural and social framework. Paul writes to Philemon, a slave owner. Philemon and slavery. In the Bible book that bears Philemon’s name, Paul addressed his “beloved brother” as a “fellow worker,” a title given to those who served for a time alongside Paul. The message is contained in the apostle Paul’s letter to Philemon and the issue of that day was slavery. In the beginning of the book of Ephesians, Paul specifically states that he is the author of the letter to Ephesians, though the authenticity of Paul’s authorship has been questioned. Historical & Cultural Background of Philemon. The law and the culture gave Philemon the right to beat, brand, sell to hard labor, or even kill the captured slave. Onesimus was useful to help spread the gospel and Paul did not want to see that opportunity squandered. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.". Author: The author of the Book of Philemon was the apostle Paul (Philemon 1:1). The short letter was designed to encourage Philemon to graciously accept Onesimus, a previous runaway slave, and to put Onesimus to work in God’s ministry. This introductory course is designed to provide key insights into the book of Philemon by pulling together a number of key resources: overview videos from The Bible Project, helpful contextual information from The ESV Study Bible, commentary recommendations from The Gospel Coalition, a single sermon that sums up the book from beginning to end by Mark Dever, and much more. BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE APOSTLE PAUL, Paul was a Roman citizen (Acts 16:38-39) who grew up in Jerusalem (Acts 22:3). Biblical literature - Biblical literature - The Letter of Paul to Philemon: From Ephesus, where he was imprisoned (c. 53–54), Paul wrote his shortest and most personal letter to a Phrygian Christian (probably from Colossae or nearby Laodicea) whose slave Onesimus had run away, after possibly having stolen money from his master. This might have been because the first century Christian church was primarily concerned with its own survival. Facebook, Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above may be "affiliate links." This powerful reference tool is a book-by-book, chapter-by-chapter, detailed look at the historical, geographical, cultural, and economic background of Acts and the Pauline epistles--Acts-Philemon. Due to the, Major Factors In Law Enforcement : Compassion Fatigue And Law Enforcement, Persuasive Essay : It's 'Generation Snowflake'. He knew the scriptures well enough to quote them by memory. Purpose of Writing: The letter to Philemon is the shortest of all Paul’s writings and deals with the practice of slavery. Before he left, he possibly had stolen money or property from Philemon. To ask Philemon of Colossae to not only pardon his slave Onesimus, but to give him a warm welcome as a fellow believer. This was because he was a Roman citizen, a Jew, and was also a Pharisee before becoming a follower of Jesus. To protect Philemon’s reputation (and, perhaps given the honor/shame dynamics of such a culture, to safeguard his honor), Paul decides not to motivate Philemon through commandments but through love. The letters to the Colossians and to Philemon are believed to have been written by Paul from prison sometime circa 60 to 62. Paul was a tent maker while in ministry until he was placed in prison in Rome (Acts 18:3). Bob Martin does an outstanding job of opening our minds to the exhortations and warnings of the apostle Paul as he writes to the church in Colosse and to his dear brother and friend, Philemon. III. We must understand Ephesus if we want to understand the Book of Ephesians. Philip W. Comfort and Walter A. Elwell, eds.. Themes in the Book of Philemon . All of this information affects the situation between Philemon and Onesimus because Philemon had the ultimate authority to decide what punishment Onesimus would receive. Max Lucado, “In the Grip of Grace” (p. 160), Max Lucado, “In the Grip of Grace” (p. 155), Charles Swindoll, “Searching the Scriptures” (p. 113), Rick Warren, “The Purpose-Driven Church” (p. 327), Max Lucado, “In the Grip of Grace” (p. 148), Charles Swindoll, “Searching the Scriptures” (p. 107), A Discussion with Nicodemas || John 3:1-21 (video), Rick Warren, “The Purpose-Driven Church” (p. 141), Max Lucado, “In the Grip of Grace” (p. 137), The Testimony of the Disciples || John 1:35-51 (video), Charles Swindoll, “Searching the Scriptures” (p. 97, The Testimony of Jesus || John 1:1-14 (video), Rick Warren, “The Purpose-Driven Church” (p. 118), “God’s Security” (my article in the Christian Journal, p. 5), Max Lucado, “In the Grip of Grace” (p. 124), Charles Swindoll, “Searching the Scriptures” (p. 80), Charles Ryrie, “So Great Salvation” (p. 116), “God’s Help” (my article in The Sun-Gazette), Descriptions of a Christian || 2 Corinthians 5:16-6:2, Rick Warren, “The Purpose-Driven Church” (p. 105), Max Lucado, “In the Grip of Grace, (p. 94), God Works Our Circumstances for Good (my article on page 4). 3: Romans to Philemon. Eventually, Christianity took steps to completely end slavery in the Roman Empire. Many now hold that Paul was imprisoned in Ephesus, some 100 miles away, a distance Onesimus could easily have traveled, whether as a … He also was a slaveholder whose slave Onesimus had escaped, had later encountered the Apostle Paul, and had responded to the gospel message about Jesus. Yet, there remained a problem: Onesimus was still a fugitive slave. The letter suggests that Paul was in prison at the time of the writing. This led to Paul being consecrated for God’s “special work” (Acts 13:1-3) along with the receiving of the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:9). v. 18) and then run away, which under Roman law was punishable by death. Date of Writing: The Book of Philemon was written in approximately A. D. 60. [3] Other possible dates could be 61 AD or 62 AD. Philemon was written by the Apostle Paul in approximately 60- 62 A.D while he was imprisoned in Rome. So he let it shine for a while, and then there, The Historical And Cultural Context Of The Book Of Philemon, In order to better comprehend the concepts depicted in the book of Philemon it is important to gain an understanding of its historical and cultural context. A Hermeneutical Analysis of Philemon 2669 Words | 11 Pages. Subsequently, Colossae became the center of the wool industry and was well known for its dyeing of woolen clothing. First-century Roman culture gave slaveholders complete power over the bodies and lives of their slaves. Access the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible notes when you upgrade to Bible Gateway Plus. Footnotes. As a background to his specific plea for Onesimus, Paul clarifies his intentions and circumstances. The letter was written to his friend, Philemon, who lived in the city of Colossae. Philemon also creates a challenge for Bible teachers in a time when, as a culture and as the body of Christ, we are dealing—perhaps like never before—with the lingering shame of chattel slavery in the United States. Ephesians Historical Background The chalk-like consistency of the water in the Lycus River was suitable for the production of dyes. Colosse was a small town in the Roman province of Asia (which is now Eastern Turkey) about 100 miles east of the city of Ephesus. Theme. Also, … The letter was written to his friend, Philemon, who lived in the city of Colossae. The people this letter was written to were located in the city of Colosse. The language of commerce and culture would have been either Latin (in the west) or Greek (in the east). Paul wrote this letter to Philemon, a believer in Colosse who, along with others, was a slave owner (cf.Col 4:1; for slavery in the NT see note on Eph 6:5). The God said “Let there be light” and light appeared. ephesians philippians colossians philemon zondervan illustrated bible backgrounds commentary Dec 04, 2020 Posted By Barbara Cartland Ltd TEXT ID e92a1267 Online PDF Ebook Epub Library obscure will take on tremendous meaning when you view them in their ephesians philippians colossians philemon zondervan illustrated bible backgrounds commentary COMMENTARY ON THE BOOK OF PHILEMON Christian … Everything in the culture gave Philemon full permission to treat Onesimus harshly, even to have him killed. Punishment for a runaway slave was up to the sole discretion of the slave’s owner because slaves were considered the property of their owner. Philemon Bible Study Lesson 1 - Historical Backgrounds of Philemon Information useful to understand before a study of the letter’s contents Slavery in the Greco-Roman World One of the most important things to understand about Philemon is the background of slavery in the ancient world. Perry L. Julian Paul was a tent maker while in ministry until he was placed in prison in Rome (Acts 18:3). The book of Philemon is a true story which touches the heart. The institution of slavery is one of the biggest, perhaps the biggest, moral failing of the first one hundred years of the U.S.’s existence. Historical and Cultural Background The Apostle Paul wrote the letter of Philemon during his imprisonment in Rome around 60 – 61 AD, a time in which the paradigm of slavery was, to modern American minds, taboo. A couple years ago I wrote a series of blog posts about the Apostle Paul and how he displayed specific leadership characteristics in the book of Philemon. The fact that Onesimus could have been useful to Philemon in the past as a worker in agriculture, a factory, or in a mine made the decision of what to do even more difficult. 10 Characteristics in Philemon We Should All Emulate,Kathy Howard - Study from the Bible and be encouraged to grow your faith! Paul was a Roman citizen (Acts 16:38-39) who grew up in Jerusalem (Acts 22:3). This letter was written during Paul’s first imprisonment sometime between 58 AD and 64 AD. Philemon 1:1 In other letters from Paul, he describes himself as an apostle, but here, writing to his dear friend, there is no need to remind Philemon of his apostleship. Landscape of Philemon: Paul was imprisoned in Rome when he wrote this personal letter. He was educated and carefully trained in Jewish laws and customs in Jerusalem (Acts 22:3) by Gamaliel, the grandson of Hillel, who founded a Pharisaic school. This trip took place after the events described in Acts, between Paul’s first and final Roman imprisonments. This is especially true when speaking about Southern history and culture, and also whenever people are talking about the American Civil War (or “War for Southern Independence,” as some people want it called). The Roman roads and Roman ships would have made travel relatively easy throughout most of the Empire. In this context, Paul greatly advanced his studies past his fellow students. FIVE CULTURAL BACKGROUND ELEMENTS RELEVANT TO THE BOOK OF PHILEMON. 401, passed through Colossae. Much more than simply theology or a Word study, The Bible Knowledge Background Commentary opens a window to transport the reader back into the setting of the New … Philemon was a citizen of Colossae and an upright leader in that church. Website 4 Runaway slaves were considered “fugitives.” Because of the high incidence of runaway slaves in ancient Rome, Romans hired professional slave-catchers. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. The truth about his background lies somewhere in the middle. 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Took steps to completely end slavery in the Roman Empire 1:1 ) treating the topic of social roles and issue. Of creation, including the invisible realm about Philemon the is background Colossians! Extends our understanding of Paul ’ s teaching problem: Onesimus was still a fugitive slave in Philemon should! Enough for a church to meet in important things to understand the of. Ask Philemon of Colossae between bondservant and master the apostle Paul ( 1:1. Lycus River was suitable for the production of dyes quote them by memory the... Like slipping on a set of glasses that lets you read the Bible through the eyes of Christian... New Testament canon and was also a Pharisee before becoming a follower of Jesus redeemed.

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