Introduction to Philemon

INTRODUCTION TO PHILEMON

OPENING STATEMENTS

This book is an example of a private letter, so common in the first century Greco-Roman world. It probably fit on one papyrus sheet (cf. 3 John). It is uncertain to whom it is primarily addressed.
1. Philemon
2. Apphia and Archippus (cf. Col. 4:17)
3. or in some sense, the entire house church
This letter provides a window into
1. the pastoral methods of the Apostle Paul
2. the home churches of the first century (cf. Rom. 16:5; 1 Cor. 10:19; Col. 4:15)
Christianity was already radically changing the social milieu of the Mediterranean world. Social barriers to the gospel were falling (cf. 1 Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:11).

AUTHOR

The personal nature of the letter convinces most readers (one exception, F.C. Baur) that the author was Paul, the Apostle.
Philemon and Colossians are closely related
1. Same origin
2. Same people give greetings
3. Same closing
4. Tychicus delivered the letter of Colossians and traveled with Onesimus (cf. Col. 4:7,9). If Philemon is Pauline, so is Colossians (which has been doubted by several modern scholars).
It is listed among Paul's letters by both the early heretic Marcion (who came to Rome in A.D. 140's) and the list of canonical books, the Muratorian Fragment (written in Rome between A.D. 180-200).

DATE

The date of this letter is linked to one of Paul's imprisonments (Ephesus, Philippi, Caesarea, or Rome). A Roman imprisonment fits the facts of Acts the best.
Once Rome is assumed to be the place of imprisonment, the question arises-which time? Paul was in jail in the early 60's and this is recorded in Acts. However, he was released and wrote the Pastoral letters (I & 2 Timothy and Titus) and was then rearrested and killed before June 9, A.D. 68 (Nero's suicide). The best educated guess for the writing of Colossians, Ephesians, and Philemon is Paul's first imprisonment, early 60's. Philippians was probably written toward the mid 60's.
Tychicus, along with Onesimus, probably took the letters of Colossians, Ephesians, and Philemon to Asia Minor. Later (possibly several years later), Ephaphroditus, recovered from his physical illness, took the letter of Philippians back to his home church.

Possible chronology of Paul's writings following F .F. Bruce and Murray Harris (with minor adaption).

	Book	Date	Place of Writing	Relation to Acts
1	Galatians	48	Syrian Antioch	Acts 14:28; 15:2
2	1 Thessalonians	50	Corinth	Acts 18:5
3	2 Thessalonians	50	Corinth
4	1 Corinthians	55	Ephesus	Acts 19:20
5	2 Corinthians	56	Macedonia	Acts 20:2
6	Romans	57	Corinth	Acts 20:3
7-10	Prison Letters
	Colossians	early 60's	Rome
	Philemon	early 60's	Rome
	Ephesians	early 60's	Rome
	Philippians	late 62-63	Rome	Acts 28:30-31
11-13	Fourth Missionary Journey		Ephesus (?)
	1 Timothy	63 (or later,	Macedonia
	Titus	63 but before
	2 Timothy	64 a.d. 68)	Rome

As modern NT scholarship has continued to analyze the possible chronology of the NT books, the times of their writings have become fluid. A recent book by John A. T. Robinson, Redating the New Testament, has revealed the academic presuppositions that need to be reevaluated. The following example comes from Robinson's summary of the supposed dates of Paul's Letters, p. 84.

	Book	Date
1.	1 Thessalonians	A.D. 50 (early)
2.	2 Thessalonians	A.D. 50 (or early 51)
3.	1 Corinthians	A.D. 55 (spring)
4.	1 Timothy	A.D. 55 (autumn)
5.	2 Corinthians	A.D. 56 (early)
6.	Galatians	A.D. 56 (late)
7.	Romans	A.D. 57 (early)
8.	Titus	A.D. 57 (late spring)
9.	Philippians	A.D. 58 (spring)
10-12.	Prison Letters	A.D. 58 (summer)
13.	2 Timothy	A.D. 58 (autumn)

OCCASION FOR THE LETTER (people mentioned in Philemon)

Philemon was the slave owner of Onesimus. He lived in Colossae. He was probably a convert of Paul, possibly while Paul was ministering in Ephesus.
Onesimus was a runaway slave of Philemon. He was also a convert of Paul, while in prison at Rome (A.D. 61-63). It is uncertain how Paul and Onesimus met. Perhaps
1. both were imprisoned
2. Onesimus was sent on an errand to Paul
3. Onesimus sought Paul for advice after changing his mind about running away
Epaphras was a believer from Asia Minor and the founder of the Churches in the Lycus River Valley (Colossae, Laodicea and Hierapolis). He brought word to Paul in prison about the heresy in Colossae and about Philemon's faithfulness.
Tychicus was the bearer of Paul's three letters to this area: Colossians, Ephesians, and Philemon (cf. Col. 4:7-9; Eph. 6:21-22). Onesimus also went back with him to face his master (cf. Phlm. 1:11). Philemon is one of two private letters preserved in the New Testament (cf. 3 John).
About fifty years later (A.D. 110) Ignatius, on his way to Rome to be martyred, wrote a letter ("To the Ephesians" 1:3) to the bishop of Ephesus named Onesimus! It could have been this converted slave!

PURPOSE OF THE LETTER

It shows how Paul used his apostolic authority and pastoral encouragement.
It shows how Christianity made brothers and sisters out of slaves and slave owners, rich and poor! This truth would, in time, radically change the Roman Empire.
It shows Paul's belief that he would be released from Roman imprisonment and return to Asia Minor.

READING CYCLE ONE (from "A Guide to Good Bible Reading")

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Therefore, read the entire biblical book at one sitting. State the central theme of the entire book in your own words (reading cycle #1).

Theme of entire book
Type of literature (genre)

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Therefore, read the entire biblical book a second time at one sitting. Outline the main subjects (reading cycle #2) and express the subject in a single sentence.

Subject of first literary unit
Subject of second literary unit
Subject of third literary unit
Subject of fourth literary unit
Etc.

See "Bible Interpretation Seminar"