1) This document contains the full text of Paul's letter to Philemon concerning Philemon's slave Onesimus. 2) Paul appeals to Philemon to accept Onesimus back not as a slave but as a brother, since Onesimus was converted while imprisoned with Paul. 3) Paul expresses confidence that Philemon will receive Onesimus in a spirit of Christian love and forgiveness.

1. The FugitivePhilemon
1

2. 2 Corinthians 5:17-19
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he
is a new creature; the old things
passed away; behold, new things
have come.
2

3. 2 Corinthians 5:17-19
Now all these things are from God,
who reconciled us to Himself
through Christ and gave us the
ministry of reconciliation, namely,
that God
3

4. 2 Corinthians 5:17-19
was in Christ reconciling the world
to Himself, not counting their
trespasses against them, and He
has committed to us the word of
reconciliation. 4

5. The fugitive
series
5

6. Salutation
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and
Timothy our brother, To Philemon our
beloved brother and fellow worker, and to
Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our
fellow soldier, and to the church in
your house:
Philemon 1-3 6

7. Salutation (continued)
Grace to you and peace from God our
Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1-3 7

8. Paul-imprisoned apostle, the aged one
Philemon-wealthy Christian believer
Apphia-Christian wife of Philemon
Archippus-Minister and son of Apphia and Philemon
Another personal letter
8

9. Philemon-
affectionate
one
He lives up
to his name
9
A family man

10. Personal greetings
I thank my God always, making
mention of you in my prayers, because
I hear of your love and of the faith
which you have toward the Lord Jesus
and toward all the saints;
Philemon 4–5 10

11. 11
Faithful man
Love
Faith
Towards Jesus and Christians

12. Personal greeting (continued)
and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may
become effective through the knowledge of
every good thing which is in you for Christ’s
sake. For I have come to have much joy and
comfort in your love, because the hearts of the
saints have been refreshed through you,
brother.
Philemon 6–7 12

13. Paul’s prayer
Fellowship of faith increases in
effectiveness
Through knowledge of what
Christ put in him.
13

14. Fruitful Man
Joy and comfort in your love
Demonstrated and reported
14

15. The heart of the matter
Therefore, though I have enough
confidence in Christ to order you to
do what is proper, yet for love’s sake I
rather appeal to you—since I am such
a person as Paul, the aged,
Philemon 8–10 15

16. The heart of the matter (continued)
and now also a prisoner of Christ
Jesus—I appeal to you for my child
Onesimus, whom I have begotten in
my imprisonment,
Philemon 8–10 16

17. Onesimus
“Useful”
Slave
Run away
Converted by Paul
17

18. Paul’s appeal
For love’s sake
Not compulsion
18

19. What’s inside?
The good
man out of
the good
treasure of
his heart
brings forth
what is good;
Luke 6:45a 19

20. Word play
I appeal to you for my child Onesimus,
whom I have begotten in my
imprisonment, who formerly was useless
to you, but now is useful both to
you and to me.
10-11 20

21. Turning over a new leaf
2
1
Living up to his name
From useless to useful

22. A pastor’s heart
I have sent him back to you in person, that is,
sending my very heart, whom I wished to keep with
me, so that on your behalf he might minister to me
in my imprisonment for the gospel; but without your
consent I did not want to do anything, so that your
goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but
of your own free will.
Philemon 12–14 22

23. 23
Sends a runaway slave back?
I love him
I could use him

24. Philemon’s decision
Free choice
No compulsion
24
Choices

25. Insight
For perhaps he was for this reason
separated from you for a while, that you
would have him back forever, no longer as
a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved
brother, especially to me, but how much
more to you,
Philemon 15-16 25

26. Separation
Onesimus
A change of mind
A change of heart
A change of action
Philemon
Growth in love
Growth in faith
Growth in wisdom
26

27. One in Christ
If then you regard me a partner, accept him as
you would me. But if he has wronged you in any
way or owes you anything, charge that to my
account; I, Paul, am writing this with my own
hand, I will repay it (not to mention to you that
you owe to me even your own self as well).
27

28. An equal
Anything not right
I’ll pay
Reconciliation 28

29. Authority and confidence
Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the
Lord; both in the flesh and in the Lord.
refresh my heart in Christ. Having
confidence in your obedience, I write to
you, since I know that you will do even
more than what I say.
Philemon 20b-21 29

30. Confidence
Benefit in the spirit
Benefit in the natural
30

31. The rest of the story
We don’t really know
What type of witness in the area
Why keep letter if it had a bad ending
Colossae
After the death of Paul, Ignatius, on his way to Rome
to be martyred, wrote a letter to the bishop of
Ephesus Who was named Onesimus! It could have
been this converted slave!
31