This episode also delves into Paul’s moving appeal for Onesimus, highlighting the societal implications of slavery during the Roman Empire and how Christian teachings began to shift these views. Experience how the promise of freedom and acceptance outreaches the boundaries of social norms and still resonates in modern times. We’ll also offer insights into how Philemon’s actions mirrored the very essence of faith in practice, opening a dialogue on transformative power vested in deep-seated belief.
Let’s consider the text of Philemon, a book of praise with a special plea, and oh, what a plea it is. Friends, this is worthy of study and application, and that’s right here, right now, from the International Gospel Hour. Stay with us, please.
SPEAKER 03 :
Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour. Welcome to our broadcast today. For over 90 years, Churches of Christ have proclaimed God’s Word through our broadcasts. Just ahead is another Bible-based lesson with Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour. Let’s begin.
SPEAKER 01 :
Well, thank you to our J-Web always. We appreciate J and his kind words. Greetings to all of you. Thank you for being with us. We’d like to mention from time to time how you can reach out to us here at the International Gospel Hour. Our mailing address is P.O. Box 118 Fayetteville, Tennessee 37334. Our website is internationalgospelhour.com. You can go there and you can send us a message through the contact tab. Our toll-free number is 855-444-6988. Now, let me say this. Everything you will hear from International Gospel Hour, our studies, tools, anything that’s available to you, will be absolutely free. You will not hear us ask for your money on our broadcast. So we want you to seek the things which be of God. And if you’d like to reach out to us one more time, You can mail us, P.O. Box 118, Fayetteville, Tennessee, 37334. Our website, internationalgospelhour.com. Click on the Contact tab, leave your message. And our toll-free number is 855-444-6988. 2 Timothy 3, verse 16 tells us how all, that’s A-double-L, all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable. Well, our study is a wonderful and profitable text in a few moments. We’re going to be looking at the book of Philemon. And we’re going to read a little and study a little in just a moment. But first, here’s a little more about our work at International Gospel Hour. Here is a reminder of our toll-free number.
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The best way to reach us is our toll-free number at 855-444-6988. Would you take a moment and give us a call and tell us where you are listening to our broadcast? Our number is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Just call 855-444-6988. That’s 855-444-6988. Thank you so much and keep listening.
SPEAKER 01 :
As we begin our study of the book of Philemon, let’s look at the first seven verses. Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy, our brother, to Philemon, our beloved friend and fellow laborer, to the beloved Aphia, Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house, grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgement of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother. Let’s look at the praise of Philemon. You know, Philemon knows the status of Paul, and at this time, Paul is in prison, possibly in Rome, as a prisoner of the Lord, as we see him noted that in Ephesians 3, verse 1, Ephesians 4, verse 1, and 2 Timothy 1, verse 8. Paul has a praise and appreciation for Apphia and Archippus, and in Colossians 4, verse 17, we see Archippus mentioned one other time. One reference that I looked at concluded that Apphia is the wife of Philemon, but again, that is not definite. Now, the church met in the home of Philemon, and that was very common in New Testament times. The church met in the home of Aquila and Priscilla, Romans 16, verse 5, Memphis in Colossians 4, verse 15, and even Mary, the mother of John Mark, in Acts 12, verse 12. Philemon had a pure faith. The word effective there concerning his faith. The word effective is a great word which means energy comes from that word. Our English word is translated energy. And we know that the word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, Hebrews 4 and verse 12. And how God’s word works effectively in the believer, 1 Thessalonians 2 and verse 15. Our faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. We also note how Philemon loved his brethren. He was one known of as a refresher in verse 7. Our hearts have been refreshed by you. And this is mentioned once again in verse 20. We think about others who refreshed individuals. The household of Stephanos who were addicted and devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints. How they refreshed the spirit of Paul. And Dorcas did the same in Acts 9 verses 36-43. Philemon also communicated his faith, and no doubt his faith was communicated to the lost, as the Great Commission commands in Matthew 28, 19, and even to the saved, Hebrews 3 and verse 13, a trait that we should have. So we praise Philemon through Paul’s writings, how a pure faith begins with ourselves, it strengthens others, it strengthens brethren, and communicates that faith to the world. And now we read verses 8 through 21. Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to commend you what is fitting, yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ, I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me. I am sending him back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, whom I wish to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel. But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed may not be by compulsion as it were, but voluntary. for perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose that you might receive him forever, no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me. But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account. I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. I will repay, not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides. Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart to the Lord. Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you knowing that you will do even more than I say. Now here is the plea to Philemon, the crux of the book. The subject of the book is one called Onesimus. His word means useful or profitable. And he was a slave to Philemon. He had escaped, and yet he was converted by Paul. So Paul’s appeal to Philemon is a heartfelt appeal and such a great plea for acceptance and forgiveness of one. Now friends, we have to look at this even more so with New Testament glasses. The relationship of slaves to their owners in the Roman Empire was one that was quite horrendous. How a slave could be treated just any way by their owner and it was according to the law. You know, by law, Philemon could have Onesimus killed for escaping, not just a punishment, but to be killed. Now imagine what’s going on at this moment. I take us back to verse 21. Paul was confident in the obedience of Philemon, knowing that he would do even more than he would ask. Not only would he forgive Onesimus, but he would treat him very well. He would probably give him his freedom. And Paul knows Philemon because he converted and strengthened Philemon. Back to verse 19, you owe even unto me your own self besides, and I have confidence in you. So here, Onesimus, I have to wonder, is he looking at Paul saying, you’re going to send me back? But yet I’m sure Paul assured Onesimus it would be all right. But when he wrote to Philemon, I wonder initially how Philemon felt when he looked and saw the name Onesimus. Like, wait a minute, hold on. Friends, it’s very easy for us to sit back and see, if you will, how the story ends. But imagine what they were going through at the time. But you see, through Jesus Christ, Paul aimed toward Christ. He aimed Onesimus toward Christ and Philemon toward Christ. As a matter of fact, friends, human tradition says that Philemon accepted Onesimus and granted his freedom. It is said that Christianity did more to destroy slavery in the Roman Empire than anything else. And, you know, we even see that along this book and the latter part of Ephesians, how servants were to be treated by the Christians. Isn’t it amazing how Christianity could take care of that? Well, friend, we have more of the book of Philemon, but time will not permit me to go to that today. So I’m going to conclude this study in a part two at another time. But I’m going to pause here as we think about salvation in Christ. And I want to share with you a great study from our friends down around Beaufort, Georgia. A great study, God and man, how to be saved from sin and how you can receive it absolutely free.
SPEAKER 03 :
An additional Bible study by mail is now available from International Gospel Hour. It’s titled, God and Man, How to Be Saved from Sin. This study booklet addresses a number of questions about the salvation from God to man. And friends, like all materials, it’s free. Call us toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, address, and just say, God and Man. Or you can go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the Contact tab, and leave us the same information, name, address, and type God and man in the message box. Another Bible study that is free from IGH and our friends at godandman.com. That’s god-and-man.com. And, you know, since you can’t see it, let me just spell that out for you. We’d love to hear from you.
SPEAKER 01 :
Well, friends, we’re so thankful to you for your studies with us today on the book of Philemon. I’m sorry time does not permit me to go to the latter part, but we will conclude it at another time, so please be looking for that broadcast. We appreciate you joining us today for our studies here from the International Gospel Hour. We’ll continue these studies together at another time. Thank you once again for joining me today. I’m Jeff Archie, and friends, keep listening.
SPEAKER 02 :
God be with you till we meet again.
SPEAKER 03 :
Thank you for listening to our broadcast today, and we hope you continue onward with your search and study of God’s Word. God be with you till we meet again.
