Inductive Study of Philemon

[messenjah]

Well, I'll see how far I get on this. I'm currently in a School of Biblical Studies with YWAM (Youth With A Mission) in Montana, and we are studying Ezekiel this week, but I miss studying the NT and so I figured I'd go back to a small book (Philemon) and study it inductively again. I figure why not include others in my study of Philemon, so here goes. If you have any questions, I'll try my best at answering them, but no promises.

So, what is an inductive method of study? Inductive Bible Study is essentially coming at the text and reading it for what it says. Instead of trying to use the scriptures to prove my already concluded theses, I will read the scripture with no conclusions and allow it to form my conclusions. It also seeks to read the text from the Original Readers (OR's) perspective. Instead of viewing Philemon as a book that was written to me, Jonathan Ullberg, in the 21st century, I will read it from the perspective of Philemon and the situations that he, Onesimus and Paul were going through. By examining their problems and studying it through their eyes, I can find God's answers to them and glean the Timeless Truths (TT's) that God wants to teach all cultures, rather than the truths that God meant only for Philemon and Paul.

I hope you enjoy this as much as I do and I hope it blesses you as I study through the book of Philemon.

Jonathan

 

[messenjah]

So, the first step in studying the book of Philemon is to find out who wrote the book. At first glance it seems clear from what is in the text that Paul wrote the book, but lets check with external sources and see if they have that same conclusion.

The author calls himself Paul in 1:1, 9, and 19. Also, in 1:1, 9, 13, and 23, the author claims that he is a prisoner for the gospel. Timothy's name is also mentioned in the first line of Paul's introduction (1:1).

Zondervan's Bible Dictionary (pg. 780-781) say that Paul is clearly the author and that his authorship is not seriously disputed. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia goes even further and shows that the only two arguments against the authenticity of the book were easily dismissed. The language, style, and argument of the letter are clearly Pauline.

In conclusion, it is clear from the internal evidence and the external sources that Philemon was clearly written by Paul. Of all the Pauline letters, Philemon has some of the strongest evidence towards its authenticity.

 

[messenjah]

The next key part to studying Philemon is figuring out who the book was written to. By figuring out who it was written to and what circumstances led to their situation, we can get a clear picture of the problems that Paul was writing for and begin to see God's heart behind this book.

Internally, we see three different people named in the address of the letter. Philemon (1:1), Apphia (1:2) and Archippus (1:2). The letter is also written to the church that was in their house. It seems that the three are a family because of the way Paul says the church that is in their house, as in the collective group. Many scholars believe that Philemon and Apphia were husband and wife, and Archippus was their son. Zondervan's states that it was most likely written to the home church. Most churches of the time were located in people's homes.

Because he hosted the church and because he owned slaves, chances are Philemon was a very wealthy person. It seems that the church was in Collosae as the name Onesimus and Archippus are mentioned again in the farewell greeting in the letter to them as well. Chances are that Paul wrote two letters, one to the church in general, and one to Philemon directly, although both were read in the presence of the church.

In conclusion, this letter was written to a rich slave-owner named Philemon who hosted a church in Colossae. It was written to him directly but was read in front of the whole church.