Well, as I mentioned earlier this evening, Philemon is very short so I decided to take on the tedious task of going through this one-chapter book so here's what I would like to share with you.
(Philemon Part 1):
Authored by Paul and Timothy, and written to a Christian businessman by the name of Philemon who was living in the city of Colossae. And he wrote to him concerning Philemon's run-away slave Onesimus. Philemon was written at the same time as Colossians. The Theme of Philemon is the portrayal of the Gospel expressed between Paul and Philemon over Philemon's slave Onesimus.
Philemon 1:6 - That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
That the communication of thy faith may become effectual, and the word effectual means energized, by the acknowledging, or full knowledge (EPIGNOSEI) of every good thing, and that's AGATHOS, spiritual good, which is in you in Christ Jesus.
And that the fellowship, which is what the word communication means, KOINONIA. That the fellowship of your faith might become energized to the full knowledge of every good thing that's in you toward Christ, so that it would continue his ministry and his testimony.
Philemon 1:7 - For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
In the Greek language, they would use the inner organs of the body to express something that is not surface. In other words, we're talking about a love that is from the gut. That's how the Greeks would say it. And so, he's saying the bowels, or the hearts, not the surface human, but the actual hearts of the saints are refreshed by you, brother. So, he has great consolation or comfort when he hears that the saints are being refreshed by Philemon.
Philemon 1:10 - I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:
I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, and the word Onesimus means useful. They gave slaves these different names. He used to be a useful slave, and now he has a reputation of being useless. But Onesimus my son, whom I have begotten, or given birth, in my bonds, or while I'm chained up:
Philemon 1:12 - Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:
Whom I have sent again, meaning Onesimus: thou therefore receive him, that is, my own bowels: He's saying by receiving Onesimus, you're receiving my own heart.
Philemon 1:15 - For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;
Sometimes holding on to people is the worst thing possible. Basically, what he is saying is you lost your slave so that you can gain him back as a brother. Of course, Philemon didn't know all of this. You might relate to children who want to leave the home and get out and see the world as soon as possible. Sometimes the best thing to do is to accommodate them and say go out and see the world.
They leave and find out that it's not the way they think it is, and they come back. Perhaps you'll lose a son or daughter for a few years, but you'll gain them back. Sometimes you got to let them go. Sometimes you have to lose people to gain them back as saved brothers and sisters.
This is quite a letter. I didn't find much to share from a Biblical Greek perspective, but if we wanted to learn and discuss the topics of forgiveness, salvation, and grace, this would be a great book to go over.
Anyway, this finishes Paul's writings. Next, I will begin, Lord willing, the book of Hebrews. There isn't any book in the bible that I know of that gives a description of Jesus Christ and God having come in the person of Christ more than the book of Hebrews.
Well, as I mentioned earlier this evening, Philemon is very short so I decided to take on the tedious task of going through this one-chapter book so here's what I would like to share with you.
(Philemon Part 1):
Authored by Paul and Timothy, and written to a Christian businessman by the name of Philemon who was living in the city of Colossae. And he wrote to him concerning Philemon's run-away slave Onesimus. Philemon was written at the same time as Colossians. The Theme of Philemon is the portrayal of the Gospel expressed between Paul and Philemon over Philemon's slave Onesimus.
Philemon 1:6 - That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
That the communication of thy faith may become effectual, and the word effectual means energized, by the acknowledging, or full knowledge (EPIGNOSEI) of every good thing, and that's AGATHOS, spiritual good, which is in you in Christ Jesus.
And that the fellowship, which is what the word communication means, KOINONIA. That the fellowship of your faith might become energized to the full knowledge of every good thing that's in you toward Christ, so that it would continue his ministry and his testimony.
Philemon 1:7 - For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
In the Greek language, they would use the inner organs of the body to express something that is not surface. In other words, we're talking about a love that is from the gut. That's how the Greeks would say it. And so, he's saying the bowels, or the hearts, not the surface human, but the actual hearts of the saints are refreshed by you, brother. So, he has great consolation or comfort when he hears that the saints are being refreshed by Philemon.
Philemon 1:10 - I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:
I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, and the word Onesimus means useful. They gave slaves these different names. He used to be a useful slave, and now he has a reputation of being useless. But Onesimus my son, whom I have begotten, or given birth, in my bonds, or while I'm chained up:
Philemon 1:12 - Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:
Whom I have sent again, meaning Onesimus: thou therefore receive him, that is, my own bowels: He's saying by receiving Onesimus, you're receiving my own heart.
Philemon 1:15 - For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;
Sometimes holding on to people is the worst thing possible. Basically, what he is saying is you lost your slave so that you can gain him back as a brother. Of course, Philemon didn't know all of this. You might relate to children who want to leave the home and get out and see the world as soon as possible. Sometimes the best thing to do is to accommodate them and say go out and see the world.
They leave and find out that it's not the way they think it is, and they come back. Perhaps you'll lose a son or daughter for a few years, but you'll gain them back. Sometimes you got to let them go. Sometimes you have to lose people to gain them back as saved brothers and sisters.
This is quite a letter. I didn't find much to share from a Biblical Greek perspective, but if we wanted to learn and discuss the topics of forgiveness, salvation, and grace, this would be a great book to go over.
Anyway, this finishes Paul's writings. Next, I will begin, Lord willing, the book of Hebrews. There isn't any book in the bible that I know of that gives a description of Jesus Christ and God having come in the person of Christ more than the book of Hebrews.
Blessings to you all, and good night!
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