P h i l e m o n St u d y
A L E SS ON ON F O RG IV ENE SS
Study Taught by
Rev. Roger Odle,
Northgate Baptist Church,
Tampa, FL
Page 2 Lesson 1 – Intro to Philemon Lesson 2 – Philemon 1:1-7
Who wrote the book? V1 – _________
Who are the main characters in the book? V1- ________, v1 –
_____________, v10 – ______________
Approximately when was it written? Approximately AD _____
Is there scripture to back up when it was written?
_________________________________– Luke was with Paul,
_______________________________ – Timothy visited Paul,
_____________________ – Mark visited Paul
Where was the writer residing at the time of writing to Philemon?
________________________________________
What is the main theme of the book? _____________________
Where did you find all this information?
___________________________________________________
Lesson 2 – Philemon 1:1-7
Who was Philemon (fil-ay’-mone)?
_______________________________________ [Acts 19:10], /
__________________________ / name means “__________”
Who was Apphia (ap-fee’-a)? -
___________________________________________________
Who was Archippus (ar’-khip-pos)? Name means “__________________” /
could have been ____________ son / or an _________ in the Colossian
church
Who was Onesimus (on-ay’-sim-os)? ___________________ / possibly stole
from __________and left / found his way to Paul where he was
_____________ and then sent back to Philemon with a personal letter / name
means “________________” / later accompanied _____________ to deliver
letter to Colossae [Colossians 4:7-9]
Lesson 3 – Philemon 1:8-9 Page 3
How did Paul describe Philemon?
V5 - _____________ – a conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to
God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy
fervour born of faith and joined with it
Faith relating to God
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
_________________
Faith relating to Christ
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
_________________
V6 - _____________ – (KJV-communication) a gift jointly contributed, a
collection, a contribution, as exhibiting an embodiment and proof of
fellowship
V7 - __________________– benevolent brotherly love
Ask yourself this question, “Can people say the same about me that I am
generous, loving, and have great faith?”
Lesson 3 – Philemon 1:8-9
How did Paul approach Philemon about his situation with Onesimus? He
came to Philemon with great __________ and _____________. He called
him a __________, in v4-7 Paul praised him for his _________ and
________ in God, and then made his appeal through a ___________ for
Philemon’s correct response
What is involved with showing respect to others? Respect –
__________________________________________________ | (Cambridge)
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
_____________________________
Look up (EQI.com) Here are some specific ways to show respect:
Asking others "How would you feel if..." before making a decision which
affects them
Voluntarily making changes and compromises to accommodate their
feelings, desires and needs
Not interrupting them
Soliciting and allowing feedback. Trying to understand their beliefs,
values and needs
Page 4 Lesson 4 – Philemon 1:10-12
Giving them the opportunity to solve their own problems without
underestimating them, in particular:
Avoid telling them what to do
Avoid telling them what they 'need' to or 'should do
Avoid giving them unsolicited advice, sermons and lectures
Did Paul have to make a request of Philemon? ______, he had every right to
tell Philemon what he _________ do. But out of respect for Philemon, he
____________.
Request – ___________________________________________ |
______________________________________________________________
________________________________________
Paul provides us with an excellent example of how to handle tuff situtations.
The question is do we follow his example?
Lesson 4 – Philemon 1:10-12
What risk did Paul take by sending Onesimus back to Philemon?
__________________________________________
______________________________________________________
(Wikipedia) Slavery -
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
________
Slaves are held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase, or
birth, and are deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to receive
compensation in return for their labor.
Bakers Dictionary -
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
__________________
What did Paul mean by (in v11) “he is now useful to both of us”?
Remember Onesimus means “___________”
V13 tells us that Paul wanted to keep him to help out there.
Onesimus’ life had changed due to his ____________ with Paul.
By Paul sending him back, _______________ could be made between Philemon
and Onesimus.
Lesson 5 – Philemon 1:13-16 Page 5
Why did Paul call Onesimus “my child”?
_______________________, This was a common saying of Paul with the
converts of Christ under his preaching.
What is involved with giving forgiveness?
Forgiveness – (Greek)
______________________________________________________________
________________________________________
Bakers Dic. - Divine Forgiveness.
___________________________________________________
Easton’s Dic. -
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
__________________
To forgive like God does, we must look at the offense as if it never happened
and chose not to bring it up again or dwell on it or keep count to bring it up
later.
Lesson 5 – Philemon 1:13-16
How easy is it to call someone a close friend (brother) when they have
seriously wronged us?
______________________________________________________________
________________________________________
Could Philemon trust Onesimus after he had done something really bad and
ran away? ____________________________ Would you trust someone
who had wronged you? ________
What word do you think God could use to describe what Paul was asking
Philemon to do?
(redeem)(restore) –
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
_____________________________
Redeemer – ___________________________________________ (Easton’s)
__________________________________________ (Baker’s Dic.) the New
Testament,
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Page 6 Lesson 6 – Philemon 1:17-22
Lesson 6 – Philemon 1:17-22
In verse 21 Paul wrote to Philemon that he had confidence in him. What is
does it mean to have confidence in someone?
Greek ________________________________________________ (Webster)
______________________________________________________________
________________________________________
Describe how you would place confidence in someone?
(Wikipedia)
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
_____________________________
To have faith involves an act of _______. For example, many people saw
Blondin walk across the gorge below Niagara Falls on a tightrope, and
believed (on the basis of the evidence of their own eyes) that he was capable
of carrying a man on his back safely across. But only his manager Harry
Colcord had enough faith to allow himself to be carried.
Are there any risks in placing confidence in someone else?
_________________________________________________________________
________________________________________
The real question for us today is “Do we have confidence in God to do what
He says in the Bible?”
_________________________________________________________________
________________________________________ (ex. What we learn in our
up-bringing)
