Philemon Bible Study Resources

Study questions, maps, charts, key words, history, background, outlines, and links to help you study both Paul’s epistle to Philemon.

This little letter to Philemon is a marvelous example of the strongest force in the universe to affect control over someone — grace. It takes up one of the most difficult problems we ever encounter, that of resolving quarrels between family members. We can ignore something a stranger does to hurt us, but it is very hard to forgive a member of our own family or someone close to us. – Ray Stedman

Part of the series: Philemon: How to be a hero

Philemon Study Guide	Philemon Study Text New American Standard	Listen to the MP3
Chronology of Paul from Blue Letter Bible	Philemon Study Text English Standard Version	Chronology of Paul by Krisan Marotta
Philemon Outline 1 from Blue Letter Bible	Philemon Outline 2 from Blue Letter Bible	Colossae from BibleAtlas.org
Philemon – RSB Notes from Bible Gateway	Philemon – Alfords Exegetical from BibleHub	Philemon Analytical Outline by Krisan Marotta
Paul’s 1st Journey from Bible-History.com	Paul’s 2nd Journey from Bible-History.com	Paul’s 3rd Journey from Bible-History.com
Chronology of Acts/Epistles from Blue Letter Bible	New Testament Cities from Bible-History.com	More Maps & Charts
Bible Study 101	Study Software & websites	Interpreting Epistles
Overview of the Book by Ray C Stedman	Author, Date, Background by John MacArthur	Find another series

Maps from Studylight.org

• Paul’s First Missionary Journey
• Paul’s Second Missionary Journey
• Paul’s Third Missionary Journey
• Paul’s Arrest and Imprisonment
• Paul’s Voyage to Rome

Key Words in Philemon

Occurrences are based on New American Standard Text. “4x/3v” means the word appears 4 times in 3 verses. “3x” means the word appears 3 times in 3 verses.

• Christ (8x) – Strong’s G5547 in 1:1, 1:3, 1:6, 1:8, 1:9, 1:20, 1:23, 1:25
• brother (5x/4v) – Strong’s G80 in 1:1, 1:7, 1:16, 1:20; sister (1x) – Strong’s G79 in 1:2; Father (1x) – Strong’s G3962 in 1:3
  
• fellow (4x) – Strong’s G4904 in 1:1 -worker, 1:2 -soldier, 1:23 -prisoner, 1:24 -workers;  partner (1x) – Strong’s G2844 in 1:17
• appeal (2x) – Strong’s G3870 in 1:9, 1:10
• love (3x) – Strong’s G26 in 1:5, 1:5, 1:9
• faith (2x) – Strong’s G4102 in 1:5, 1:6
• slave (2x/1v)- Strong’s G1401 in 1:16
• confidence (2x) – Strong’s G3954 in 1:8; Strong’s G3982 in 1:21
• refresh, refreshed (2x) – Strong’s G373 in 1:7, 1:20
• accept (1x) – Strong’s G4355 in 1:17

Commentaries & Study Bibles

• Top 5 Commentaries on Philemon – Ligonier.org
• Best Commentaries on Philemon – Tim Challies
• Commentary Reviews: Philemon
• Calvin’s Commentary on the Bible: Philemon
• Albert Barnes Notes on the Whole Bible: Philemon
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary on the Bible: Philemon
• Adam Clarke Commentary: Philemon
• Geneva Study Bible: Philemon
• Precept Austin Commentaries & Sermons: Philemon

Dictionaries & Encyclopedias

City of Colossae

Letter

• Philemon, Theology of – Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology
• Philemon, Epistle to – Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
• Philemon, Epistle to – International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
• Philemon, Epistle to – Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature

Paul

• Paul, the Apostle – Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology
• Paul – Holman Bible Dictionary
• Paul, the Apostle – Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
• Paul – Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
• Paul, the Apostle – International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
• Paul- Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature

Philemon

• Philemon – Hastings’ Dictionary of the New Testament
• Philemon – Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
• Philemon – International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
• Philemon – Hitchcock Bible Names: “who kisses”

Onesimus

• Onesimus – Hastings’ Dictionary of the New Testament
• Onesimus – Holman Bible Dictionary
• Onesimus – Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
• Onesimus – International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
• Onesimus – Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature
• Onesimus – Hitchcock Bible Names: “profitable, useful”

Timothy

• Timothy – Holman Bible Dictionary
• Timothy – Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
• Timothy – International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
• Timothy – Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature
• Timothy in Acts: Acts 16:1-3; Acts 17:14-15; Acts 18:5; Acts 19:22; Acts 20:4

Epaphroditus/Epaphras

• Epaphroditus – Holman Bible Dictionary
• Epaphras – Holman Bible Dictionary
• Epaphroditus – Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
• Epaphras – Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
• Epaphroditus – Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
• Epaphras – Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
• Epaphroditus – International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
• Epaphras – International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
• Epaphroditus – Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature
• Epaphras – Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature
• Epaphras in NT:  Colossians 1:7, 4:12; Philemon 1:23;  Philippians 2:25, 4:18

Apphia

• Apphia – Holman Bible Dictionary
• Apphia – Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
• Apphia – International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
• Apphia – Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature
• Apphia  is only mentioned in Philemon 1:2

Archippus

• Archippus – Holman Bible Dictionary
• Archippus – Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
• Archippus – International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
• Archippus – Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature
• Archippus is mentioned in Philemon 1:2 and Colossians 4:17.

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