Author and Audience:
Paul wrote the book of Philemon during his first Roman imprisonment. The letter is addressed to Philemon, a member of the Church and owner of the slave Onesimus, one of Paul’s converts.
Historical Background:
Philemon was a resident of Colosse and was probably also one of Paul’s converts. He was a zealous member who generously lent his house and means for the use of the Church. Paul made it clear in this letter that he entertained the notion of keeping Onesimus — Philemon’s runaway slave — with him, for he was a valuable friend. Paul could not do so, however, since the young convert-slave was the property of someone else. The punishment for a runaway slave was death. Paul begged Philemon to receive Onesimus as he would receive Paul himself.
Theme:
Paul desired his new convert to return home and make amends with his owner. He wrote this letter to plead his cause, hoping that Philemon would accept him back into his good graces. Although returning to his master would result in the loss of his newfound freedom from slavery, Onesimus had found another freedom that only comes through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Introduction:
The book of Philemon gives one of the finest explanations of the meaning of forgiveness and repentance that can be found in Paul’s writings. The Apostle stands revealed as a model of Christlike love and compassion. Encased in prison walls, Paul reveals his tender feelings as he pleads the cause of a poor runaway who has no one but Paul to recommend him.
Paul
Onesimus
Philemon
• What have chains been used for throughout history?
• What do they symbolize?
The names above are of people who had chains in their lives.
• What is each person’s chain?
(Paul was in prison, Onesimus was a slave, and Philemon may have been an unforgiving master.)
In the days of Philemon and Onesimus, slaves were completely at the mercy of their
owners. Even trivial offenses often were punished in the most cruel manner.
“The attitude of the law toward the slave was expressed in the formula: servile caput nullum jus habet; the slave has no right. The master’s power was unlimited. He might mutilate, torture, or kill the slave at his pleasure. . . . Tracking fugitive slaves was a trade. Recovered slaves were branded on the forehead, condemned to double labor, and sometimes thrown to the beasts in the amphitheatre. The slave population was enormous. Some proprietors had as many as twenty thousand”.
(Marvin R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament, 4 vols. [1900–1901], 3:519).
• Although Philemon could legally do almost anything to his servant, what would be
within his religious right?
• What had changed in Onesimus’s life that put a different light on the situation?
(He had become converted to the Savior’s gospel.)
• What principle of the gospel was Paul asking Philemon to practice?
• Why might it be difficult for Philemon to forgive?
Did this ever happen to you …
Think about a time when you had difficulty forgiving someone.
• How hard was it to change your attitude about that person? Why?
• How were you finally able to change it?
Paul Onesimus Philemon
• Which of these individuals does God favor the most?
For none of these iniquities come of the Lord; for he doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.
2 Nephi 26:33
• We know that each has different circumstances in life, but what do all have in
common?
• What does the gospel make of all of us, regardless of our place in society?
The gospel is the great equalizer. Because of that we should practice being more accepting and tolerant of each other.