October 26th 2025 PHILEMON
Paul in Rome –a prisoner—under House arrest was still able to preach
He also wrote letters to the churches from there, this is one of them.
He also had servants or companions to visit him and stay a while with him
V 1 Philemon ---- was a rich man --- Well to do in Colosse
Paul never visited Colosse , it was a city 100 miles from Ephesus
He was certainly responsible for Philemon’s conversion
Paul calls Philemon --- a fellow labourer
V 2 The Church at Colosse met in Philemon’s house for prayer and worship
V 4/7
Paul has a delicate job to do
While in prison Onesimus a runaway slave was converted to Christianity, under Pauls ministry,
Onesimus stayed to be with Paul as his servant, this was a problem to Paul as he already was the servant of a close fellow believer. So Paul had to put things right.
He now reminds Philemon of the love and care he has for a FELLOW BELIEVER
Paul has a knack of putting people right even when they are wrong, without causing an offence
He used the same diplomacy to put over to Philemon this case
How easy it is to offend people.
Paul pleads on behalf of Onesimus in 4 ways
Onesimus the runaway slave--- property taken ----he should be killed
V 10 (1) Paul pleads for forgiveness, he came to know the Lord here
V 11 (2) Onesimus means forgiveness.
He was once a bad servant, but now he has changed, he is very good for Paul, and will be good
for Philemon if he returns home
(3) not only a runaway slave ---- but a thief
V12 I have sent him home, accept him as a fellow believer, no longer a slave
V 13 (4) no reason to return him --- courtesy, You cant have somebody else’s slave. He has to be set
free from slavery and only Philemon can do that
V 14 Paul could really do with Onesimus there with him in Rome, but Philemon has to send him back
of his own freewill.
V 16 Not now a servant---but a brother in Christ. A slave now equal in Jesus. Receive him back as if
it were me coming to see you
V 18 any debts I will repay them just receive him as a brother Christian
V 19 a personal IOU----- Pauls eyesight failing. But written 60AD as a promise to repay.
He reminds Philemon how much he owes to himself
V 21 I know you will forgive
What happened to Onesimus, this means the start of a new life
The new found Christian faith made him useful
(1) to Paul
A Messenger of the gospel--- to be his feet --- taking news, & bringing news
(2) to his employer`
Even if he were to remain with Philemon his attitude as employee would be different.
We too are all equal man / woman / boy / girl / rich / poor
As Christs followers our redemption is the same we are equal in God’s sight
some have more responsibility
(1) Just as Philemon had over Onesimus
(2) officers of the Church as leaders of the Church
But we are all equal in Christ with different jobs to do for the Master.
News from the Church New dates
5th November..…..Friendship Group, (this covers all ages and the lonely people)
19th November…. Knit and natter is a time to finish old projects or learn new skills
if you just want to talk well that’s OK too
ANSWERS TO 19th October QUESTIONS
1) Paul 2) Samson 3) Moses 4) Zaccheaus 5) Jeremiah 6) Luke 7)Judas 8) John 9) Esau
10) John the Baptist 11) Belshazzar 12) Noah 13) Stephen 14) Jonah 15) Joseph 16) Rahab
Bible Quiz this week’s Quiz is HOW MANY
1 How many days was Jesus tempted in the wilderness?
2 How many windows in the Ark?
3 How many years did Noah live AFTER the flood ?
4 How many days did God take to create everything?
5 How many pillars did Samson pull down in the temple of Dagon?
6 How many Philistines did Samson slay with the jawbone of an ass?
7 How many Psalms ?
8 How many men came to comfort and advise Job?
9 How many descendants did God promise Abraham?
10 How many people in the Ark?
11 How many chapters in Obadiah?
12 How many men were seen in the fiery furnace?
13 How many plagues were sent on Egypt ?
14 How many daughters did Jacob have?
15 How many waterpots did Jesus use in turning water into wine?
16 How many days of the week were the Israelites to gather Manna?
Hebrews ch 2
V 1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip
V2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
V 3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
God Bless