These small group studies of Philemon 1-10 contain commentary, cross-references, Bible study discussion questions, and applications. Visit our library of inductive Bible studies for more in depth inductive studies on this and other books of the Bible you can use in your small group.
Philemon 1-10 Bible Study Commentary And Questions
Philemon 1-10 Bible Study Video
Philemon 1-10 Podcast
Outline
I. Opening greetings (1-3)
II. Words of encouragement for Philemon (4-7)
III. The appeal (8-10)
A. Paul’s authority (8)
B. Paul’s bond of love (9)
C. The appeal for Onesimus (10)
I. Opening greetings (1-3)
Discussion Questions
• Who was this letter written to?
• What is the purpose of the letter?
• Why does Paul refer to himself as “a prisoner of Christ Jesus”?
• What does verse 2 show us about the early NT church?
• Why would Paul want this letter read to the entire church since it was primarily an appeal directly to Philemon?
Cross-References
Ephesians 3:1 – For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles.
Philippians 1:12-14 – I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. Background – Paul was in prison in Rome. He was arrested in Jerusalem due to angry Pharisees who had become agitated with him. After spending years in a Caesarea jail without a trial, Paul finally appealed to Caesar to get justice. The later chapters in Acts describe Paul’s journey as he was taken to Rome by ship.
Paul spent two years as a prisoner there. While in prison, he continued corresponding with his disciples and the various churches he was connected with.
This is one of the prison epistles, along with Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians. He didn’t invoke his apostolic authority in the opening lines of this letter as he often did, though he alluded to it in verse 8. Philemon was not a letter of command but one of exhortation. It was not written top-down, but man-to-man, brother-to-brother, and friend-to-friend.
Philemon is one of only three individuals who received a divinely inspired letter from Paul (Titus and Timothy being the others).
Most likely, Philemon was a member of the Colossian church. And Tychicus took Onesimus along when he delivered the letter to the Colossians (Colossians 4:7-9).
Timothy was apparently with Paul at the time when he wrote this letter.
2. Why is the book of Philemon in the Bible? – It is one of the shortest books of the Bible. It was addressed to an individual and not a church. You won’t find any major doctrinal teachings inside.
And yet, it is a very important book. The letter to Philemon shows that the Christian faith is a practical and personal one. Christian principles are not just meant to be recited from the church pulpit. Rather, they are to be applied in the lives of every individual.
This letter gives an up-close view into how Jesus changes lives one by one and influences society from the inside out. The cultural evil of slavery would not be stamped out through a revolution. But lives could be impacted, families could be touched, and souls could be saved wherever people opened their hearts to the love of God.
The doctrine of forgiveness is not mentioned, but it is shown. Onesimus’ and Philemon’s lives were changed forever by Jesus. Millions of other unnamed believers throughout history have been as well.
The Bible is not meant to be dry orthodoxy. It is meant to transform lives as it is practiced. And perhaps that is the most important lesson we can take from this letter to Philemon.
3. The letter was addressed primarily to Philemon – In addition to Philemon, Paul addressed it to Apphia, Archippus, and the church meeting in Philemon’s home.
Paul seemingly never missed a chance to send greetings and encouragement to more people. Though the letter is primarily for Philemon’s benefit, it could also help others who faced similar issues.
Even now, the letter reminds us of the importance of forgiveness and reconciliation.
4. There was a church meeting in Philemon’s home – This fact tells us something about Philemon. He was hospitable and willing to face the persecution that might come by identifying so openly as a believer. He was also somewhat wealthy, having a home large enough to host meetings.
At this time in history, local bodies of believers primarily met in homes.
This practice is very different from the mega-church movement that seems to be becoming standard in many countries.
Reflect – What are the benefits of churches meeting in homes?
Here are some of the benefits:
• The practice encourages volunteers to pitch in and serve. People can help with food, cleaning, and set up each week.
• It promotes closer and warmer fellowship. Getting to know people and making friends in large churches can be hard. In contrast, the limited size of the body, plus the fact that it is meeting in a home, means more natural, personal fellowship.
• It promotes accountability. The anonymity of large groups means people can show up or not, obey or not, and no one may notice. In smaller, home fellowships, believers are more likely to keep each accountable by asking questions. It allows the members to get deeper into each other’s lives. Those who join are more inclined to be active and engaged.
• The fewer numbers mean that a larger percentage of people need to lead. In a mega-church, one senior pastor likely does almost all of the teaching. The ratio of listeners to preachers might be 1 to 20,000. In a small group, even if only one person is responsible for teaching, the ratio is closer to 1 to 25. But typically, in smaller groups, none of the leaders are paid to serve full-time. The result is often that various members will take turns preaching and teaching, and thus, more leaders are equipped. At the same time, the average maturity level of individual believers increases.
• Home churches are more reproducible. The limited size of homes means that growth will create more churches (rather than just being moved to a larger facility). In addition, the model itself is easier to reproduce.
• Because of the closer fellowship and accountability, it is more likely that believers’ lives will be transformed by the Scripture. Close friends will encourage and challenge each other to live out the Word in their marriage, family, and workplace.
• Meeting at homes saves money that can be spent on fulfilling the Great Commission. Some churches put a lot of focus on facilities. These cost a lot of money and some churches go into debt for them. While meeting in a large building is not wrong, home churches are more efficient from a financial perspective.
Application – Join a home group. Even if the church you attend is large, you can probably find a weekly home Bible study to join. Home Bible study groups provide amazing opportunities for Christian growth. You can also consider opening up your home or joining a home church.
5. Paul continues ministering even while in prison –
Paul may not have been able to do the kind of ministry he had done before with a lot of traveling and church planting, but he didn’t allow this to discourage or keep him from the work. Where there is a will, there is a way. Paul had the will to do ministry no matter the circumstances, so he found a way. He wasn’t free to go where he may have wanted, but Paul could share with the people around him, and he did. Besides that, he wrote letters to the people he couldn’t visit while praying often for them.
Application – We should not make excuses for not reaching out to others. Paul could have become focused on himself and his own problems. It would have been natural for him to expect others to care for and pray for him. He could have looked back on his long ministry and rested on his laurels. But he didn’t. Even in prison, Paul sought ways to reach out. Sickness, disability, persecution, age, gender–none of these are reasons to stop doing the ministry God has called us to. Serving God, even when it is difficult and there are many challenges, is a great inspiration to others as well.
II. Words of encouragement for Philemon (4-7)
Discussion Questions
• What do verses 4-7 show about Paul’s attitude toward Philemon?
• What can you learn from Paul’s prayer life?
• Are your prayers for others filled with thanksgiving?
• What kind of person was Philemon?
• What kind of things did Paul pray for Philemon?
• How did Philemon give Paul joy?
• What does it mean that the “hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you”?
• How is your heart refreshed?
• How can you help refresh others?
• What do you think is Paul’s purpose in sharing these words of high praise with Philemon?
• Does your testimony shine brightly like Philemon’s?
• What might someone say about you?
Cross-References
Philippians 1:3,7 – I thank my God in all my remembrance of you. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 – Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:14 – And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.
2 Corinthians 7:13 – Therefore we are comforted. And besides our own comfort, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.
2 Timothy 1:16 – May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. Paul’s prayer life –
As we see in every book Paul writes, he actively prays for those he ministers to. In almost every one of his letters, it is evident that he consistently prays for those he leads. It is important for us to follow his example in consistently praying for those we reach out to, whether they are our children, students, Bible study members, or disciples.
Why was Paul’s ministry so effective? Was it his method? Probably partly. Was it his education level? That likely didn’t hurt. Was it God’s blessing? Definitely.
But why did God bless him? Paul was a man of prayer. God used his prayer to accomplish great things. So I ask, do you pray regularly for the people you share with, for your co-workers, for your family and friends, and for your brothers and sisters in Christ?
What can we learn from Paul’s prayer?
A. He didn’t take God’s answers for granted. He prayed with thanksgiving.
Philemon 1:4 – I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers.
He realized it was God at work in their lives, and he was grateful for that work. Here we also see Paul’s positive attitude toward Philemon. He didn’t say, “I complain of you always when I remember in my prayers.” Paul was kind in how he thought of Philemon (and many other believers). He was thankful for Philemon’s life and service. We should emulate Paul’s healthy way of thinking of others.
B. He prayed for spiritual growth. Look at Paul’s actual request to the Lord on his behalf. What is it?
Philemon 1:6 – And I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.
He prays for Philemon to be effective in sharing the gospel. Paul prays that as Philemon shares, others will grow in the knowledge of truth and righteousness. Moreover, he is concerned that all of this is done for the “sake of Christ.”
You don’t see Paul praying for Philemon’s career, health, long life, or exams. Not that he never prayed for these things (in James, we are commanded to pray for the sick), but he realized these were not the most important things to bring before God.
Application – What is the main content of your prayer life?
Spend some time evaluating your prayer life. By all means, continue to pray for the sick, the weak, and the poor. Pray for health, strength, and provision. But go beyond this. Plead with God for character growth. Ask God to turn weaknesses into strengths.
Pray rich and meaningful prayers for others. Focus on their character, faith, ministry, and growth. In your prayers, go deeper and focus on what is really important.
C. He was joyful.
Philemon 1:7 – For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love.
This means he cared deeply for Philemon. It wasn’t just a job, a routine. Philemon wasn’t a box to be ticked off on his yearly ministry evaluation form. He wasn’t just a number to whom Paul had to send a ministry newsletter.
Paul cared about Philemon like a father and a close friend. Philemon’s successes excited him.
Romans 12:15 – Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
It is appropriate for us to be filled with joy when we think of other believers and their service to God. Perhaps, in this case, the opposite emotion would be apathy, simply not caring about others. One of Paul’s greatest character strengths is his love and care for the saints.
2. Philemon’s testimony – It is evident from what Paul said of Philemon that he thought very highly of him. Philemon had a shining testimony, the kind Paul often encouraged other believers to have, as is indicated in Philippians 1:27.
Philippians 1:27 – Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.
His testimony of love and faith brought joy to the heart of Paul and joy to the heart of God. This letter is such a stark difference from one like 1 Corinthians, in which Paul has to hammer home rebuke after rebuke because they didn’t have a good testimony.
Application – Consider what kind of things Paul would say about you. Would he express joy at your life and testimony, or would he have to rebuke you?
3. Paul is an encourager – Undoubtedly, he could have found reasons to rebuke Philemon, but he focused on the positive things.
In 1 Corinthians 13:7, we learn that love “believes all things.” We are to look at others with a positive attitude, focusing on their good qualities rather than their negative ones. We should interpret their actions in a positive light rather than assuming the worst and jumping to judgmental conclusions.
Think about how you viewed your spouse while dating. Most likely, you looked at him with rose-colored glasses. He could do no wrong. You probably glossed over his problems and instead highlighted his strengths.
On the other hand, we view people we dislike through another pair of glasses. We likely magnify their shortcomings, gloss over their strengths, and get irritated at every little thing they do.
Application – Like Paul, we need to be optimistic about others and do our best to uplift them. That doesn’t mean we can never point at wrongs (Paul often did), but if you look at the letters he wrote, he is intentionally very encouraging.
We also need to be encouragers. When others succeed, it should bring us joy and satisfaction. Highlight their virtues and don’t take into account a wrong suffered. Be quick to praise others and point out their good characteristics. Someone once said that parents should praise their children five times for every criticism (perhaps even that is low.) The same principle is true in our other relationships.
4. You have refreshed the hearts of the saints – What a beautiful statement this is! The people who went to Philemon’s home left refreshed. While there, they were encouraged and uplifted. Philemon helped to recharge their spiritual batteries. His home was something like a lighthouse or an oasis.
Perhaps you know people like Philemon. After you meet with them, you are left feeling refreshed. We all love to spend time with people like that. It is also essential that we do the same for others.
One aspect of refreshing others is discerning the right words to speak in the right situation.
Reflect – How can you refresh others?
III. The appeal (8-10)
Discussion Questions
• What does Paul ask Philemon to do?
• Why could Paul give orders to Philemon?
• What did Paul decide to do instead of ordering Philemon?
• What does this teach us about using authority?
• What can you learn from this passage about communication?
• Who is Onesimus? What is his relationship to Philemon?
• What is his relationship to Paul? What does it mean “begotten in my imprisonment?”
Cross-References
Romans 12:1 – I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God.
2 Corinthians 5:20 – Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
1 Peter 2:11 – Beloved, I urge you…
Hebrews 13:19 – I urge you the more earnestly to do this…
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. Paul appeals to Philemon rather than commanding him – Paul was an apostle and had the authority to command Philemon to set Onesimus free and forgive his debts, but he didn’t do it that way. Instead, he appealed to him out of love.
Philemon 1:9 – Yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you.
Philemon 1:10 – I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus.
Reflect – Why is giving an appeal often more effective than giving a command?
Illustration – I’ll give an example. My six-year-old son receives some money for a birthday gift. I want to teach him about generosity and giving to God. So I just command him to do it. Maybe he doesn’t understand why. Or maybe he becomes upset and angry that I am making him give some of his money away. Or perhaps he does it robotically, simply because I told him to.
As his father, I have the authority to tell him what to do.
But giving a direct command may not be the best method. A better approach would be to talk with my son about what God has given us and show him some simple commands from God about giving. Then I should appeal to him. If he comes to this decision more or less on his own and gives voluntarily, he will be more blessed by it (and learn more from it) than if I just command him to do it.
Application – The basic point is that if you have authority, you don’t always have to use it. The husband is the head over the wife, but that doesn’t mean he should go around giving her commands all day, like, “Wash the dishes! Bring me my food! Take care of the baby! Clean the floor!”
Issuing commands should be used only rarely as a last resort. Making gracious requests is generally the better choice. The same is true for many areas, including church leadership.
Have you ever been to a water park with an overzealous whistle-blower? Perhaps he blows his whistle when you splash too hard. I was whistled to and lectured through a loudspeaker once for swimming underwater at a swimming pool (no exaggeration).
If an authority blows his whistle for small things, it can desensitize people to the whistle. It is better to save it for emergencies.
Paul chose to make a gracious appeal rather than issue a direct command. That encouraged Philemon to sincerely evaluate Paul’s suggestion and make a real and personal decision from his heart.
2. Paul loved and cared for Onesimus – We saw in the first part of the chapter that Paul cared for Philemon. Here we see his deep care for Onesimus. Onesimus became like a son to Paul during his lonely confinement in Rome.
Philemon 1:10 – I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment.
Paul knew both of them. He wanted the best for each. That made Paul the perfect mediator in their dispute.
2. Slavery – We discuss what the Bible says about slavery in other books. For our discussion here, we will simply make a few points.
A. Slavery in Old Testament times is different than what we would generally think of. The horrible slave trade and buying/selling of humans to be shipped around the world as property is what comes to our mind. In Jewish law, slavery was more akin to indentured servitude. One could sell himself as a slave for a period of time in order to pay back a debt. During that time, he would receive room and board and have employment. But he would not be given a wage. That wage was paid on the front end when the person indentured himself. During the year of jubilee, slaves would be set free unless they chose to remain as one.
There are some exceptions, but the above is what slavery generally refers to.
B. Kidnappers and sellers of human were to be punished by death.
Exodus 21:16 – Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death.
C. In the New Testament church, the apostles were ministering primarily in various Roman provinces, which operated under a different system than Old Testament Jewish law.
Paul and the other writers were not attempting to change society through revolution. There were slave revolts in Rome, and they tended to end with mass casualties for the slaves.
Biblical values instead changed society from the inside out. As individuals (like Philemon and Onesimus) were saved and transformed, culture was gradually changed little by little. It was a bottom-up transformation. Because we live in a fallen world, sinful culture is never totally transformed. But believers who are part of the body of Christ are to follow kingdom values (such as loving your neighbor as yourself) regardless of what the accepted norms are in the fallen society they are a part of.
D. Slaves were to try to gain their freedom through legal methods if it was possible.
1 Corinthians 7:21 – Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.)
E. Slaves and masters were to treat each other with kindness and respect. (Colossians 3:22-4:1)
F. In the church, all are equal.
Social norms do not apply inside the church, where kingdom values supersede worldly ones. Believers are to love, respect, and value one another even when the world does not.
Philemon Bible Study Guide – If this study is helpful, you can download the complete Philemon study in PDF or get the paperback from Amazon.
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