PHILEMON Date A.D. 60

The Book of Philemon was a letter written from prison in Rome by The Apostle Paul, to his friend who held church in his home at Colosse. The Book of Philemon is one of four 'prison' letters from Rome, the others being Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians.

Philemon means loving.

The Letter was cleverly written to Philemon, the owner of the slave Onesimus, who had previously stolen from him and ran away which was punishable by death, according to Roman Law. Both Philemon and his slave had been converts to Christianity by Paul.

The work is a help to modern day worker/employee relationships by the transforming power of The Gospel. The letter was meant to have an impact on the whole church is Colosse.

The text is the briefest of all of Paul's letters. It is a tactful petition on behalf of a new Christian and begins with a prayer and thanksgiving for Philemon's love and trust in The Lord Jesus. The Love of Christ eroded the possibility of employees treating their workers as mere property, in making the both equal respect for each other.

The Book of Philemon is the last of four New Testament personal pastoral letters written by The Apostle Paul. These books are also considered Church History Books containing teaching. It is also the eigthteenth of twenty-seven Books of The New Testament.

• CHOSEN BIBLICAL SCRIPTURE

Grace and peace is a greeting that both Jews and Greeks used. Grace was a Greek from of greeting and peace was a Hebrew form of greeting. The standard Christian Greeting appears at the beginning of all thirteen letters of The Apostle Paul. The Christians used this reception because it became widely known as a common form of welcome, which is sincere and not merely a matter of politeness.

The salutation also links grace and peace with The Father and The Son, affirming Christ's deity. Grace includes the undeserved merited favour which God showers upon believers, His people. All the blessings of salvation freely come to believers through Christ.

The result of grace, is peace. As a believer experiences growth through the indwelling Holy Spirit, the greater degree of the peace of God. Peace is a spiritual serenity which stabilises the lives of believers in Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ is given in its full significance of meaning, for if Christ was not fully God, it would be blasphemous to give Him such honour. Every believer requires more than merely human qualities. The customary greeting is a means of grace resulting in peace. God, Himself can only give these gifts Himself for His people.

Jesus is The Great and Merciful

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