Philemon Bible Study

Bible Study – Philemon
It may seem strange that such a short and personal letter is included in the Bible however Philemon can be very useful for us (see verse 11)!
Paul probably wrote it at the same time as Colossians, about AD60, while he was in prison in Rome or Ephesus, and delivered it with the same travelers, Onesimus and Tychicus. The recipient of the letter, Philemon, was a member of the Colossian Church and a slave owner. One of his slaves, Onesimus, had apparently stolen from him and run away. Whilst on the run, met Paul and become a Christian.
Verses 1-3 Greetings
Q1 What does the greeting reveal about the kind of relationship Paul has with Philemon and his church?
Verses 4-7 Thanksgiving and Prayer
Q2 What two personal qualities of Philemon does Paul draw attention to, and why?
Verses 8-22 Paul´s plea for Onesimus
Q3 Why does Paul believe he has the right to order Philemon to do the right thing? Why does he choose not to exercise this right?
Q4 Why do you think the name of Onesimus is not even mentioned until verse 10?
Q5 What change in Onesimus’s life had enabled him to start living up to his name (which means ‘Useful’ or ‘Profitable’?
Q6 In what ways has our acceptance of the Christian faith made us useful (a) to those who helped us come to believe or (b) our employers and neighbours?
Q7 What do you make of Paul’s appeal in verses 12 to 16? Is he being manipulative or does he have a purer motive?
Q8 In what ways does Paul pile on the pressure in verses 17 to 22? How do you think you would feel if you received a letter like this?
Verses 23-25 Final Greetings and blessing
Q9 So how did Philemon respond? Does the fact that the letter was included in the Bible prove anything?
Q10 How can Christians challenge, correct and bring out the best in each other? Can this kind of activity only begin to take place in a mature Christian community, or is it the way to build one?