Join us in this enlightening episode as we dive into the book of Philemon, a compelling letter from Paul that underscores the power of forgiveness and transformation. We’ll explore how this short but impactful message sought to reshape relationships in the early Christian community and the remarkable outcome of Onesimus’s journey from a runaway slave to a cherished brother in Christ.
We once again return to the wonderful book of Philemon, that little no-chapter book we might call it. We’re going to read a little. We’re going to study a little in a moment. We’re going to talk about an awesome book. You don’t want to miss part two of our study. Stay with us here on the International Gospel Hour.
SPEAKER 02 :
It’s time for our broadcast from the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jay Webb, and welcome to our study today as we embrace God’s Word to help us meet the challenges of today. Let’s open our Bibles and open our heart for this time of Bible study with our speaker Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour, a broadcast of the Churches of Christ.
SPEAKER 01 :
Here’s Jeff. Well, greetings to all of you, and great having you with us once again for our studies from the International Gospel Hour today. We appreciate our J-Web and his kind words, and J will have some offers coming up for you momentarily, and you’ll hear about the study opportunities that we will grant. Today we’re going to grant you two different study opportunities, one by mail and one online, and we hope that you’ll find that of great interest. Again, thank you for being with us here for our broadcast from the International Gospel Hour. The book of Philemon is a study we began in a previous broadcast. I misjudged my time and was not able to conclude a final thought. I want to do that today, but for those of you that did not hear that first broadcast, I’m going to come back and I’m going to read the entire book of Philemon. It’s only 25 verses, and then I’m going to do some quick highlighting. To tell you from the very outset, well, I’ll tell you what. I’ll come back in a moment and kind of give you that little brief overview. But before we do that, I’m going to defer to our J-Web, who’s going to tell you a little bit of the best way you can contact us here at International Gospel Hour.
SPEAKER 02 :
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. And again, friends, we would love to hear from you where you are listening to our broadcast. Thank you once again.
SPEAKER 01 :
When we studied the book of Philemon in a previous broadcast, we looked at the first seven verses and saw Paul’s praise of Philemon. Then from verses 8 through 21, we saw his plea to Philemon to once again take back his escaped slave Onesimus and how Philemon should forgive him and how Onesimus should respond to Philemon. When we concluded those thoughts, we noted that human tradition says that Philemon accepted Onesimus and granted his freedom. And how we noted that Christianity did more to destroy slavery in the Roman Empire than anything else. Such a great impact of the followers of Christ. Now what I’m going to do is read the entire book of Philemon, only 25 verses, then I want to come back with some follow-up at the very end that we did not get to last broadcast. The book of Philemon. Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy, our brother, to Philemon, our beloved friend and fellow laborer, to the beloved Ophia, 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. Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command 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 might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary. Verse 15 of Philemon For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever. but 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 in the Lord. Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. But meanwhile… Also prepare a guest room for me, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you. Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. Again, friends, that’s the reading of the book of Philemon. And as I say from time to time, may the Lord bless us with the reading. the hearing and the application of his word. When we look at the praise of Philemon in the first seven verses, Paul commended him and his plea to Philemon to take back Onesimus in verses 8-21. This study was dealt with in part one of the book of Philemon that you can find through your favorite podcast platform or even at our website at internationalgospelhour.com. If you ever need help in finding a certain program, please let us know. Just drop us a message there at the website through the contact tab and we will help you find that program. And so as we’ve looked at the praise of Philemon and the plea to Philemon, I want to take us back to verses 22 through 25 and let’s look at the parting to Philemon. Let’s see how Paul ends this letter. He asked him to prepare a guest room for him. He would trust through the prayers of Paul he would be granted to him. In other words, Paul prayed he would be released from prison. He mentions other laborers within. Epaphras, Mark, Aristarchus, Demon, and Luke. So let’s consider these things. Paul’s great faith was that he would leave the prison and see Philemon once again. Can you imagine when he would see Philemon and very possibly Onesimus as well? And we must note the fellow workers with Paul. So many times in our studies of the letters of Paul, we get near the end and we say Paul had a few personal things to say and then we wrap up the book. But there is so much meat that remains there. When I look at these names, what about Mark? You know, Paul commends Mark as a fellow laborer. But do you remember in Acts 15, verses 36-41, Paul did not want to take Mark as he was known as, John Mark with he and Barnabas? Matter of fact, it brought such a great contention that Barnabas took John Mark and Paul took Silas. Now we find where Paul wants to use him and calls him a fellow laborer. Now here’s something we can learn, folks. Let’s be careful how we give up on people. Because there were individuals that did not give up on us. I see the name Demas mentioned. He’s called a fellow laborer here. But sadly he would leave Paul and return to the world. 2 Timothy 4 and verse 10. Now friends as I mentioned about human tradition says that Philemon accepted Onesimus. Human tradition says that Demas eventually operated a brothel. A house of prostitution, if you will, combined as well with a saloon. Now imagine how far Demas fell. Now there’s no question of the affection that Paul felt and how he longed for his brethren, a relationship that everyone should have. And so when we note these fellow laborers, let’s encourage us to be the laborers that God would have us to be. Now, I want to share with you a couple of studies available. Let me go directly to our J-Web for our first study offer that you can get by mail.
SPEAKER 02 :
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. G-O-D-A-N-D-M-A-N.com We’d love to hear from you.
SPEAKER 01 :
Now again, friends, that is offered by mail. But here is an online offer that we’d like for you to consider as well. Once again, our J-Web.
SPEAKER 02 :
Let’s go back to the Bible, shall we? On International Gospel Hour, we always desire to go back to the Bible for our studies, and now we are delighted to offer a special video series through our friends at World Video Bible School. It’s called Back to the Bible with our friend Rob Whitaker. A simple yet thorough study that deals with authority in religion, the church, and your salvation. It’s free, friends. Call us at 855-444-6988. Tell us your email address, say back to the Bible, and we will send the link to you. It’s that easy. You can go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the contact tab, leave us your email, type back to the Bible in the message box, and we will send the link right away. We look forward to hearing from you.
SPEAKER 01 :
Thank you once again, friends, for joining me today as we concluded our study from the book of Philemon. And also we hope that our study opportunities will help you whether by mail or online. I look forward to you joining me once again on the International Gospel Hour broadcast. I’m Jeff Archie, and friends, keep listening.
SPEAKER 02 :
Thank you for listening today to God Be the Glory, and we hope that our study today will draw you closer to His Word to walk in His way. Feel free to listen to our other programs at our website at internationalgospelhour.com and join us next time you till we meet again
