Study questions, maps, charts, key words, history, background, outlines, and links to help you study both Paul’s epistle to Philemon.
Bible Study: Philemon: How to be a hero
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Basics
- Author: Paul the Apostle
- Date & Place: Written from prison in Rome 60-62 AD, along with Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians.
- Genre: a personal letter
- Purpose: Onesimus, a slave, ran away from his master, Philemon. Both have are now believers. Paul urges Philemon to accept Onesimus back as a brother.
Structure
- 1:1-3 – Greeting
- 1:4-7 – Thanksgiving
- 1:8-20 – Plea for Onesimus
- 1:22-25 – Greetings & Farewell
Background & Outlines
- Philemon NSAB Study Text
- Philemon ESV Study Text
- Chronology of Paul
- Paul’s use of the Old Testament
- Blue Letter Bible: Chronology of Acts/Epistles
- Bible Atlas: Colossae
- Philemon Analytical Outline
- Blue Letter Bible: Philemon Outline 1
- Blue Letter Bible: Philemon Outline 2
- Ray C. Stedman: Overview of the Book
- John MacArthur: Author, Date, Background: Philemon
- Synthetic Bible Studies – Philemon – James Gray
- Keys to Philemon – William Orr
- Through the Bible – Philemon – Myer Pearlman
- Overview – Precious Seed
- Philemon: Introduction – James Van Dine
- Philemon: Introduction – Charles Swindoll
- Philemon: Introduction – NIV Study Bible
- Philemon: Introduction, Argument, and Outline – Daniel Wallace
- Philemon – Notes and Outlines – J Vernon McGee
Maps from Bible-History.com
- Paul’s 1st Journey
- Paul’s 2nd Journey
- Paul’s 3rd Journey
- Israel in NT Times
- Kingdom of Herod the Great
- Herod’s Kingdom Divided
- New Testament Jerusalem
- New Testament Cities
- Apostles’ Journeys
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
- Alfords Exegetical Commentary: Philemon
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary on the Bible: Philemon
- Adam Clarke Commentary: Philemon
- Geneva Study Bible: Philemon
- Reformation Study Bible Notes: Philemon
- Precept Austin Commentaries & Sermons: Philemon
RC Sproul Devotionals
- Philemon 1-3 To Philemon and Company
- Philemon 4-5 A Personal Yet Public Faith
- Philemon 6 The Effective Sharing of Faith
- Philemon 7 Joy and Comfort in Christ
- Philemon 8 Sin’s Reality and the Ideal
- Philemon 9-10 Apostolic Authority
- Philemon 11-13 Onesimus’ Return
- Philemon 14 Free Consent
- Philemon 15-16 Sovereign Separation
- Philemon 17-18 Receiving Onesimus
- Philemon 17-18 The Costs and Demands of Love
- Philemon 19-20 Paying the Cost
- Philemon 21-22 Going Above and Beyond
- Philemon 23-25 Final Greetings for Philemon
Dictionaries & Encyclopedias
City of Colossae
- Colossae – Hastings Dictionary of the Bible
- Colossae – Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
- Colossae – International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
- Colossae – Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature
Philemon
- 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
- American Tract Society Philemon
- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary Philemon
- Easton’s Bible Dictionary Philemon
- Fausset Bible Dictionary Philemon
- Holman Bible Dictionary Philemon
- Hitchcock Bible Names Philemon
- Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible Philemon
- Hastings’ Dictionary of the NT Philemon Epistle to Philemon
- Hawker’s Poor Man’s Dictionary Philemon
- People’s Dictionary of the Bible Philemon
- Watson’s Theological Dictionary Philemon
- 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica Epistle to Philemon
- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Philemon
- Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia Philemon epistle to
- McClintock and Strong’s Bible Encyclopedia Philemon
- Philemon – Hitchcock Bible Names: “who kisses”
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
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.
Articles
- James: Dennison: Paul, Philemon, Onesimus and the New Creation in Christ Jesus
- Danny Oligner: A Redemptive-Historical Consideration of Philemon
- John Mcray: Philemon, Theology of
- David Malick: An Argument Of The Book Of Philemon
- David Malick: An Introduction To The Book Of Philemon
- Jerry Dodson: An Exegetical Overview of Philemon 18-20
- John Piper: How Paul Worked to Overcome Slavery
- Fred H Wright: Slavery in the Bible
- Norman Geisler: Doesn’t Paul approve of the institution of slavery?
GotQuestions.org
- Book of Philemon – survey
- “What are the prison epistles?”
- What should it mean to be a Christian employer?
- Does the Bible condone slavery?
- Why does the Bible allow slave owners to beat their slaves?
- What does the Bible have to say to victims of human trafficking?
- What is a bondservant?
Bible Study Help
- Bible Study 101
- Interpreting Epistles
- Study Software & websites
- More Maps & Charts
- Greek Word Studies by Precepts Austin
- Books on how to study the Bible
Next: Hebrews
Previous: Titus
Series: Resources by Book
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