Bible in one year 3/17/2022 Philemon By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Bible in one year 3/17/2022   Philemon

By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries:Biblical precepts &Gospel music; Pastoral ministry & Counseling

Introduction to the letter of Paul to Philemon

Background   -   Like Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians, Philemon is one the Prison epistles, written during Paul’s first confinement in Rome. Onesimus, one of the millions of slaves in the Roman Empire, had stolen from his master, Philemon, and had run away. Eventually, he made his way to Rome, where he crossed the path of the apostle Paul, who led him to faith in Christ (v.10). Now Onesimus was faced with doing His Christian duty toward his master by returning to him. Since death would normally have been his punishment, Paul wrote this wonderful letter of intercession on Onesimus’s behalf.

Philemon was not the only slaveholder in the Colossian church (Col.4:1), so this letter gave guidelines for other Christian masters in their relationships to their slave-brothers. Paul did not deny the rights of Philemon over his slave, but he asked Philemon to relate the principle of Christian brotherhood to the situation with Onesimus (v.16). At the same time, Paul offered to pay personally whatever Onesimus owed. This letter is not an attack against slavery as such, but a suggestion as to how Christian masters and slaves could live their faith with that evil system. It is possible that Philemon did free Onesimus and send him back to Paul(v.4). It has also been suggested that Onesimus became a minister and later bishop of the Church at Ephesus (Ignatius, To the Ephesians, 1).. This is the most personal of all Paul’s letters.

 

Chapter 1 Greetings, Praise of Philemon, plea and pledge to Philemon

 

1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,

2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:

3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,

5 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;

6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

8 Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,

9 Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:

11 Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:

12 Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:

13 Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:

14 But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.

15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;

16 Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?

17 If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.

18 If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;

19 I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.

20 Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.

21 Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.

22 But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.

23 There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;

24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.

25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

 

『基督耶穌的囚犯保羅，和弟兄提摩太，寫信給所愛的並我們的同工腓利門，』門一1

『和姊妹亞腓亞，並與我們一同當兵的亞基布，以及在你家中的召會：』門一2

『願恩典與平安，從神我們的父，並主耶穌基督歸與你們。』門一3

『我禱告的時候題到你，常常感謝我的神，』門一4

『因聽見你對主耶穌，並對眾聖徒的愛與信；』門一5

『願你信的交通顯出功效，使人充分認識你們裏面為著基督的各樣善事。』門一6

『因為弟兄阿，我因你的愛，大大喜樂，滿受鼓勵，因為眾聖徒的心腸藉著你得了舒暢。』門一7

『為此，我雖然在基督裏能大有膽量吩咐你合宜的事，』門一8

『然而像我這有年紀的保羅，現在又是基督耶穌的囚犯，寧可因著愛懇求你，』門一9

『就是為我在捆鎖中所生的孩子歐尼西母懇求你；』門一10

『他從前對你沒有益處，但如今對你我都有益處。』門一11

『我現在打發他回你那裏去，他乃是我心上的人。』門一12

『我本有意將他留在身邊，使他在我為福音所受的捆鎖中，替你服事我。』門一13

『但未得知你的意見，我就不願作甚麼，好叫你的善行不像是出於勉強，乃是出於甘心。』門一14

『因為他暫時離開你，或者是叫你可以永遠完全得著他，』門一15

『不再是奴僕，乃是高過奴僕，是親愛的弟兄，對我固然是如此，對你，不拘在肉身上，或在主裏，豈不都更是這樣。』門一16

『所以，你若以我為同夥，就接納他，如同接納我一樣。』門一17

『他若虧負你，或欠你甚麼，這都歸在我的賬上；』門一18

『我必償還，這是我保羅親筆寫的。我並不用對你說，連你自己也是虧欠於我.』門一19

『弟兄阿，是的，願我在主裏從你得著益處，願你使我的心腸在基督裏得舒暢。』門一20

『我寫信給你，深信你必順從，知道你所要行的，甚至必過於我所說的。』門一21

『同時，你還要給我豫備住所，因為我盼望藉著你們的禱告，我可當作恩典賜給你們。』門一22

『在基督耶穌裏與我一同坐監的以巴弗問你安。』門一23

『我的同工馬可、亞里達古、底馬、路加，也都問你安。』門一24

『願主耶穌基督的恩與你們的靈同在。』門一25

 

Bibliography,

 

            King James, The Holy Bible, Cleveland, OH: The world publishing company

            Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

            Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986

Roberts, Oral. “Holy Bible” (KJV) Tulsa, OK: Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association, Inc, 1981