A Study of PHILEMON

The Relationship of godly people with the newly converted.

Many folks who read this lesson from the blog or email will miss a great deal of context simply because time does not allow me to fill in a lot of the material I will be discussing during our class. If you have questions please let me know I will be glad to answer you via email. Jesse

(DRAFT) Philemon 1:17-22

Goal of the Lesson: The Human need for Friendship

• To understand that friendships are bold connections with people

• To know that biblical friendships require agape (love)

• To understand that you do not need to know everything about a friend.

• To know that a friendship is a reward from God.

This Lesson will help us: The Heroic call of being a Friend.

• A Friend is someone whom you can trust with your heart

• A Friend is someone whom you can treat with your heart

• A Friend is someone whom you can talk to with your heart

We have looked at the apostle Paul as he viewed his friendship with Philemon, now we will look at the his friend. His name appears once, here in this epistle in verse 1. Paul here addresses him as greatly beloved the word friend is not in the original Greek text. One thought then is that the word friend shows up in various bible translations is that Philemon means “friendly” in Greek.

Since we do not have comment from Philemon, we have to look at Paul's letter to pick up from what the apostle says about him. So, here is another help from the Greek language. In Greek there are many applications to various words. Here in verse 17 we have such a thing and it is found in the word, “if” There are four major conditions applied to this word and these are – (1) If, and it is true; (2) If, and it is not true; (3) If, it could be true; and (4) If, and it is not true.

So it is important that we should know these conditions for example we should look at 2 Corinthians 5:2 where we see a third class condition “if indeed” and a first class condition in 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if”, now it takes a little thought but without running to a Greek interlinear every time you see the word if, if you will look how it is associated with the preceding or following words in the text you can usually figure out what condition is being used.

Philemon 1:17 “If then you count me a partner” this statement along with the text in the earlier part of the letter let us know that the “if” here is of the first class condition.

Paul and Philemon count on each other in the following ways. As brothers in Christ; as ministers of the Word of God; as soldiers in the LORD's army; as godly people; as having the Spirit of God. These are just a few, I am certain that if we take the time and look there are many other friendship attributes found in this small letter.

If then, we are these things to each other Philemon, then receive Onesimus like you would receive me if I showed up on your doorstep.

Philemon 1:18-19 Have you ever been in such a rewarding position in a friendship to say. “Look, so and so offended you and I know it has cost you a lot. They have changed now, yet they are in no position to repay you, let me do that for them and take them back into your trust. Paul goes on to say; “I know this is tough for you but remember the things we have been through together as in similar ways I have rescued you in the past.”

Of all that is said in this letter, verses 18-19 are the key verses of trusting your heart to treat and talk to the heart of your friend. These actions of good biblical friendships are continually at work in good friendships. Looking back at Philemon 1:9 we see something interesting in that love is referenced as a personal possessive condition between Paul and Philemon. The Greek word is agape this sets the saint apart from the friendships that are generated by the unbelieving world around us.

When there is wrong in friendships found in the world, friends seldom recover, but as believers we are bound together through salvation; the blood of Christ, as each of us has tasted and seen that the LORD is good. It is the enduring Word of God that treats us with agape love, therefore this same condition is working in us. 1 Peter 1:22-25 and 1 Peter 2:1-3.

Philemon 1:20 The reward of biblical friendship is not between two individuals and this is a problem for many believers to understand. Being once, unsaved and knocked about by human failures in friendships we carry many hurts from relationships that were difficult, abusive or even one sided. Saints are accountable to God the Holy Spirit to respond in their friendships under the commands and challenges of the Word of God. Proverbs 18:24; 27:10; John 15:14-15.

Philemon 1:21-22 Paul calls Philemon to the command and challenge of John 15:9-17. Paul is confident that Philemon will respond to his letter in the way agape (love) which will bring great joy to each of them in their present relationship, in their future meetings and fellowship and eternally. Pray and prepare to receive me as we will meet again as God will grant this soon.