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Structure
Interesting Questions, Facts and Information
- There are a total of 20 general entries.
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 Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information
 Philemon
| In his salutation, Paul mentions where he is writing from. It's an ironic place indeed, considering his past as a persecutor of Christians. Where is Paul penning this letter? | Letter to Philemon
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From prison. "Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus," is how he identifies himself in verse 1. Later, he mentions his "imprisonment for the gospel" (verse 13) and passes along the greetings of a "fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus" (verse 23). Paul's tone shows confidence and optimism; he does not appear anxious about his time in jail.
| In addition to Philemon, Paul extends his greetings to several others, including "the church in your house" and which two early martyrs? | Letter to Philemon
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Apphia and Archippus. "To Philemon our dear friend and coworker," Paul writes in verses 1 and 2, "to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house." Apphia, the wife of Philemon, was later martyred with him at Colossae, in Phrygia. Archippus -- himself an eventual martyr -- was also mentioned in the final part of Paul's letter to the Colossians: "And say to Archippus, 'See that you complete the task that you have received in the Lord'" (Colossians 4:17). Paul's salutations emphasize the fact that the early church really was a community, of friendship as well as of faith.
| After the salutation, Paul describes his prayers for Philemon and his gratitude for his devotion. He expresses a desire that the "sharing of [Philemon's] faith" will be more fruitful; what does Paul hope will make his correspondent more effective as a missionary? | Letter to Philemon
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The knowledge of "all the good that we may do for Christ". "When I remember you in my prayers," writes Paul, "I always thank my God because I hear of your love for all the saints and your faith toward the Lord Jesus" (verses 4-5). Having delivered such a lovely compliment, he reminds Philemon that the stakes are high and that the time has come to work still harder.
The quotations in the incorrect answer choices come from verse 7 of this passage, and refer to the pleasant results of Philemon's faith and labor thus far: "I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother."
| Paul is writing to Philemon in order to instruct him to do something. "Though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do your duty," he says, "yet I would rather appeal to you on the basis of ____." On what does Paul want to base his request? | Letter to Philemon
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Love. After extolling Philemon's love in verses 4-7, Paul appeals to it in verses 8 and 9. "I, Paul, do this as an old man, and now also as a prisoner," he writes. How can anyone refuse such a request?
| Paul's instructions center on a man named Onesimus, known to Philemon and considered as "a son" by Paul. While explaining the situation, Paul makes a pun on the man's name. What does "Onesimus" mean? | Letter to Philemon
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Useful. "I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus," Paul writes in verses 10-11, "whose father I have become during my imprisonment. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful both to you and to me." Having repented of his sins, converted to Christianity, and dedicated himself to the service of God, Onesimus is finally living up to his name.
Tradition holds that, accepted and forgiven by Philemon, Onesimus eventually became Bishop of Ephesus before being martyred in Rome; stories disagree as to whether he succumbed to stoning or to beheading.
There was another famous Onesimus who lived much later. Enslaved by Puritan minister Cotton Mather, he is credited with saving lives during a 1721 smallpox epidemic in Boston. He recalled undergoing a form of smallpox inoculation (using a thorn to convey the infectious material) as a child in Africa, and suggested it to Mather. With the aid of Dr. Zabdiel Boylston (subsequently elected to the Royal Society in London), some 244 people were inoculated.
| "I wanted to keep him with me, so that he might be of service to me in your place," Paul writes of Onesimus in verse 13. Why does Paul decide not to keep Onesimus with him, instead sending him back to Philemon? | Letter to Philemon
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He wants Philemon to do a good deed of his own free will.. Paul has the ability to give Onesimus almost everything he needs: freedom, forgiveness, fellowship, and a belief in the Gospel of Christ. Freedom and forgiveness, however, are rightly Philemon's gifts to give. "I preferred to do nothing without your consent," Paul writes in verse 14, "in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced." Onesimus, "that is, my own heart" (verse 12), is Paul's messenger. Of course, Paul expresses no doubt of Philemon's eventual choice: "Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say" (verse 21).
| Paul wants to involve Philemon because he knows that he and Onesimus have a history. What is that story? | Letter to Philemon
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Onesimus, a slave of Philemon's, ran away -- and may have stolen something in the process.. We do not know for certain whether Onesimus stole anything from Philemon, although Paul alludes to the idea that he may have in verse 18. Paul does, however, explicitly state that Onesimus was Philemon's slave, who had run away and who later learned the Gospel from Paul: "Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother" (verses 15-16).
This history explains Philemon's prominent position on both sides of the slavery debates. Abolitionists pointed to the fact that Onesimus was to be welcomed as a brother, and that Paul clearly saw him as Philemon's equal. On the pro-slavery side, it was argued that -- despite ample opportunities to proclaim slavery contrary to the Gospels -- Paul chose instead to frame the letter as a personal appeal, and Onesimus's emancipation as a decision only Philemon could make.
| Recognizing that Philemon has reason to be angry with Onesimus, Paul offers him a way to save face. What is Philemon supposed to do with Onesimus's debts and wrongdoing? | Letter to Philemon
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Charge them to Paul's account. "If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything," Paul writes in verses 18-19, "charge that to my account. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it." And then Paul, not one to miss an opportunity, casually notes "I say nothing about your owing me even your own self," in verse 20. It is easy to see why Christian tradition is so confident that Philemon did as Paul asked, despite there being no follow-up to this incident in the Bible: it is almost impossible to imagine Philemon doing otherwise!
| Toward the end of the letter, Paul expresses confidence that he will soon be freed from his plight. What does he tell Philemon that he will do afterward? | Letter to Philemon
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Visit him. Verse 22 reads "One thing more -- prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping through your prayers to be restored to you."
This line, the last in the body of the letter, is a beautiful example of Paul's persuasiveness. In a subtle and friendly way, he lets Philemon know that he expects to be in town soon to see how he has treated Onesimus. If Philemon needs any more nudging to do the right thing, this ought to do it!
| Paul closes the letter by sharing greetings from his companions, and by bestowing a final blessing on Philemon. Whom does he name as a "prisoner in Christ Jesus"? | Letter to Philemon
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Epaphras. "Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit" (verses 23-25). These are familiar names! Mark and Luke are thought to refer to the writers of those two Gospels. Along with Demas, Aristarchus, and Epaphras, they all earn a mention in Paul's letter to the Colossians (where he also mentions Onesimus's journey home); Aristarchus is Paul's "fellow prisoner", and Epaphras "is always wrestling in his prayers on [the Colossians'] behalf." (Colossians 4:9-14)
Thank you for joining me on a visit to a brief but beautiful book of the Bible.
| Paul, in his introduction, indicates that he is writing alongside somebody else. Who is this other person, who was a travelling companion on at least one of Paul's missionary journeys?
| Quizzing the New Testament : Philemon
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Timothy. "Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother..." (Philemon v. 1)
Acts records that Paul first met Timothy in Lystra (Acts 16 v. 1), who then accompanied Paul on his travels. There is a tradition that Timothy later became a bishop of Ephesus before being martyred.
| The letter is addressed to "Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker, to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church that meets in your home." Then comes a customary prayer of greeting in which Paul prays which two blessings upon them? | Quizzing the New Testament : Philemon
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Grace and peace. "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." (Philemon v. 3)
Paul uses this same introductory prayer in Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus - in other words, all of his epistles. It is also used in four of the nine New Testament letters written by other authors.
Whilst he was imprisoned. "I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains." (Philemon v. 10)
Paul does not record where he met Onesimus. The most likely location is Ephesus. Other proposed possibilities include Rome and Caesarea.
| "Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me." (Philemon v. 11)
How, with these words, is Paul trying to crack a joke? | Quizzing the New Testament : Philemon
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The word "Onesimus", in Greek, means useful.. Paul is not often noted for his humor but he does attempt to use it, on occasions, in his letters. Possibly the clearest example of this comes in Galatians. Paul has been arguing against those Jewish Christians that still insist that circumcision is necessary. He then adds that he wishes the knife would slip, in the act of circumcision, and castrate them instead. (Galatians 5 v. 12)
Onesimus. "I am sending him — who is my very heart — back to you." (Philemon v. 12)
It's a high-risk strategy. Paul is hoping, even though he very carefully develops the argument that it is all about Philemon's choice, to back him into a corner in which he can't refuse.
His very self. "If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back — not to mention that you owe me your very self." (Philemon v. 18-19)
Paul doesn't expand upon this claim and the name of Philemon doesn't appear anywhere else in the Bible. We are, therefore, left to presume that what Paul means is that Philemon became a Christian under his ministry.
He is personally writing part of the letter.. "If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back — not to mention that you owe me your very self." (Philemon v. 18-19)
On four other occasions, Paul draws attention to the fact that he is personally writing a particularly significant segment of a letter. Most scholars have taken this to mean that the rest of the letters were probably dictated to a scribe. Here Paul is emphasising his personal promise to act as a guarantor for Onesimus. For those who like chapter and verse, the other occurrences where Paul highlights his own handwriting are 1 Corinthians 16 v. 21; Galatians 6 v. 11; Colossians 4 v. 18 and 2 Thessalonians 3 v. 17
| Onesimus appears in another of book of the New Testament, in which he is recorded as accompanying Tychicus in delivering one of Paul's letters. Which book is this? | Quizzing the New Testament : Philemon
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Colossians. "Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you." (Colossians 4 v. 7-9)
This leads to the assumption that Philemon lived in Colossae and that it was the Colossian church that met in his home. The first-century Christian writer, Ignatius, records that there was a bishop of Ephesus named Onesimus. Ephesus is about 100 miles from Colossae. Some traditions have made the link to Philemon's slave, but with no direct evidence, and it should be remembered that Onesimus was a common name of its time.
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