Philemon

 Letter of St. Paul to Philemon   

Title: The title is given based on the main recipient of the epistle. Philemon come from Greek Philéo (to love, to show signs of love [Mt. 26:48]). The name can be translated as “the affectionate one” or “the one who kisses”.                         

Date of writing: The epistle should precede or have the same date as the Letter to Colossians (cp. 1:10 and Col.4:9). It depends on our understanding of the “negotiations” between St. Paul and Philemon – either apostle settles the matter before sending Onesimus or sends him hoping for/relying on the godliness of his addressee (1:21).

Also, having Timothy and Demas in one letter temporal conundrum (cp. 2 Tim. 4:9-10). This challenge can be solved through assumed repentance and return of Demas to “team Paul”. This proposition of later date (after 2 Tim.) can give an explanation to a better mood in comparison to 2 Tim. – St. Paul asks Philemon to prepare a room for him (1:22) for he is ready to be released and travel again.                           

Structure:

a. 1:1-3, Greetings

 b. 1:4-7, Example of Philemon’s love and faith

  c. 1:8-12, I, Paul, appeal

   d. 1:13-14, he served me/on your [possible] consent.

  c’. 1:15-19, I, Paul, write.    

 b’. 1:20-22, Philemon’s [expected] obedience.

a’. 1:23-25, final greetings (a+a’=10 people total)  

 

Main themes: The main theme is a complex understanding of slavery in Ancient World and theology of St. Paul. There is a need to reconcile Gal. 3:28 and 1 Cor. 7:21-22. We do not know the final status of Onesimus in the household of Philemon and can rely only on Paul’s encouragement in 1:16.

The theme of father-son and brotherly relationship instituted via sacrament of the Holy baptism. The apostle sends Onesimus as his son which he begot through the conversion (and assumed baptism) of the latter. He also writes to the congregation in Colossae that from now on Onesimus is their brother (Col. 4:9).

Taking into consideration the timely matters (see Date of Writing) one needs to pay attention to the theme of repentance and acceptance back into a ministerial collegiate of failed fellow workers. Both Demas (2 Tim. 4:9-10) and Mark (Acts. 12:25; 13:13; 15:37-40) ended up being reunited with the Apostle.             

Main Characters: St. Paul to Philemon

Co-signers	Receivers
Timothy Epaphras, Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke	Apphia (most likely Philemon’s wife), Archippus, Church in Philemon’s house

        

Reflection in other parts of the Bible: The epistle can be seen as a NT commentary on the progression we see first in Torah (Ex. 22:20; Deut. 23:15-16). From “no murdering of a slave” and “no ill treatment to a foreigner” (Ex. 21:20-21; 22:21) through “no ill treatment to a slave” (Deut. 23:16) to receive him “as a beloved brother” (Phil. 1:16).

Family-based relationship within the Church also presented in Gal. 4:19 where St. Paul presents himself as a woman in the pains of child-baring (cp. Gen 3:16; Num.11:11-12; Lk. 13:34).

The theme of hospitality is an important part of Pauline epistles within the Canon of Scriptures (cp. Rom. 12:13; 1 Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:8; Heb. 13:2 and Gen. 18; Ex. 2:15b-22; 1 Kg. 17:8-24; 2 Kg. 4:1-7, 8-37).          

Lutheran teaching: Book of Concord has only one reference to the Epistle as an illustration on obedience to God’s will (FC SD IV: 17).

Lutheran hymnody: LSB 845 – Where Charity and Love Prevail

Relevancy of the Book: In our world of social distress the Epistle to Philemon gives us the paradigm for the reconciliation between different groups: masters and servants, leaders and the flock, colleagues. The unity given to the people in Christ is the perfect unity of sinful people around forgiving God. As a result, we have an example of encouragement to share the faith not only through the preaching the Word (which is very important), but also by means of social actions.                

Memory verses: 1:6 and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.