Philemon |
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Who, When, Where |
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Written by Paulus (Paul). Paulus was originally a fanatical Pharisee, persecuting, imprisoning, and even killing Christians for teaching what he thought was heresy, that Yeshua was the Anointed, (The Jewish Messiah). After meeting Yeshua in a miraculous way on the road to Damascus, Paulus became not just a Christian but one of Christianity’s most fervent preachers and teachers. He spent most of his life as an itinerant missionary, with all the life threatening perils that that brought with it, to the towns and cities which lay along the route between Jerusalem and Rome. Paulus died in Rome somewhere in the 60’sAD, and he wrote most of the letters which we have in the New Testament. |
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Summary |
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Philemon was a leader in the church at Colossae. Onesimus, (mentioned in the letter, and briefly in the letter to the Collossians), was a slave whom Paulus had met, and who had become a Christian through him, and somehow was no longer a slave. |
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Before You Read |
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Has anyone ever done anything so wrong against you that you really can’t forgive them? |
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Key Verses |
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Philemon 11 Onesimus, who used to be useless to you, but is now useful to both you and me A nice little play on words. The name Onesimus means “useful”… Philemon 15 perhaps he was separated from you for an hour because of this, so that you might have him back forever, no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother… This is such an important concept. We, (humans), tend to have a very short term view of life. We judge events as “good” or “bad” based on their short term impact on us. Philemon 16 … no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, and how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the lord. So, we know Onesimus is somehow no longer a slave. But also that he is both physically, and now also spiritually, the brother of Philemon. Matthew 18:34-35 And his master was indignant, and handed him over to the tormentors until he’d repaid everything which was owed to him. In this way also, my heavenly father will do to you, unless each one of you pardons their brother, from your hearts, for their transgressions. Yeshua said this to Jews, who had the Law. Our salvation comes from him, and is guaranteed. But what if it was dependent on you forgiving those who wrong you. Would you still be saved? Matthew 6:12 And pardon us what we owe, since we also pardon our debtors. That’s part of what we usually call “The Lord’s Prayer”. Are you really willing to pray that? That you only be forgiven because you have forgiven those who have wronged you? |
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After You Read |
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What verses really stood out to you? |
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