Difference between revisions of "Philemon"

<p> <strong> [[Philemon]] </strong> Known only as the person addressed by St. Paul on behalf of the runaway slave <strong> Onssimus </strong> (&nbsp; Philippians 1:1 ). The closeness of the personal tie between him and the Apostle is expressed in the terms ‘beloved and fellow-worker,’ and appears in the familiar confidence with which St. Paul presses his appeal. From &nbsp; Colossians 4:9 it seems that Onesimus, and therefore Philemon, resided in Colossæ; <strong> Archippus </strong> , too, who is joined with Philemon in the salutation, is a Colossian (&nbsp; Colossians 4:17 ), and there is no reason to doubt the natural supposition that St. Paul’s greeting is to husband, wife ( <strong> [[Apphia]] </strong> ), and son, with the church in Philemon’s house. That he was of good position is suggested not only by his possession of slaves, but also by his ministry to the saints and by Paul’s hope to lodge with him (Philem v. 22). He apparently owed his conversion to St. Paul (v. 18), possibly during the long ministry in Ephesus (&nbsp; Acts 19:10 ), for the Apostle had not himself visited Colossæ (&nbsp; Colossians 2:1 ). </p> <p> S. W. Green. </p>

<p> [[Philemon]] ( ''Fî-Lç'Mon'' ), Epistle to. [[Written]] by Paul from Rome, probably near the close of a.d. 62. It is cited by Tertullian, Origen, and Eusebius. Onesimus, a servant of Philemon, had fled to Rome, was there converted, serving Paul for a season, but was sent back to his former master by Paul, who wrote this epistle, chiefly to conciliate the feelings of Philemon toward his penitent servant, and now fellow-disciple. Philem. 1. </p>

<p> ( '''''Φιλήμων''''' '', Affectionate),'' a Christian to whom Paul addressed his epistle in behalf of Onesimus. A.D. 57. He was a native probably of Colosse, or at all events lived in that city when the apostle wrote to himi; first, because Onesimus was a Colossian (&nbsp;Colossians 4:9); and, secondly, because Archippus was a Colossian (&nbsp;Colossians 4:17), whom Paul associates with Philemon at the beginning of his letter (&nbsp;Philemon 1:1-2). Wieseler (Chronologic, page 452) argues, indeed, from &nbsp;Colossians 4:17, that Archippus was a Laodicean; but the '''''Εἴπατε''''' in that passage on which the poilnt turns refers evidently to the Colossians (of whom Archippus was one therefore), and not to the Church at [[Laodicea]] spoken of in the previous verse, as Wieseler inadvertently supposes. [[Theodoret]] ''(Proaem. In Epist. [[Ad]] Phil.)'' states the ancient opinion in saying that Philemon was a citizen of Colossme, and that his house was pointed out there as late as the 5th century. The legendary history supplies nothing on which we can rely. It is related that Philemon became bishop of Colossae (Constit. Apost. 7:46), and died as a martyr under Nero. From the title of" fellow-workman" ( '''''Συνεργός''''' ) given him in the first verse, some (Michaelis, ''Einleit.'' 2:1274) make him a deacon, but without proof. But, according to Pseudo- Dorotheus, lie had been bishop in [[Gaza]] (see Witsius, ''Mliscel. Leidens.'' page 193 sq.). The Apphia mentioned in the epistle was nearly connected with Philemon, but whether or not she was his wife there are no means of determlining (comp. esp. Hofmann, Introd. in Epist. ad Colos. page 52 sq.; Bertholdt, Einleit. 6:3631 sq.). It is apparent from the letter to him that Philemon was a man of property and influence, since he is represented as the head of a numerous household, and as exercising an expensive liberality towards his friends and the poor in general. He was indebted to the apostle Pa!l as the medium of his personal participation in the Gospel. All interpreters agree in assigning that significance to '''''Σεαυτ''''' '''''Ν''''' '''''Μοι''''' '''''Προσοφείλεις''''' in &nbsp;Philemon 1:19. </p> <p> It is not certain under what circumstances they became known to each other. If Paul visited [[Colosse]] when he passed through Phrygia on his second missionary journey (&nbsp;Acts 16:6), it was undoubtedly there, and at that time, that Philemon heard the [[Gospel]] and attached himself to the Christian party. On the contrary, if Paul never visited that city in per son, as many critics infer from &nbsp;Colossians 2:1, then the best view is that he was converted during Paul's protracted stay at Ephesus (&nbsp;Acts 19:10), A.D. 51-54. That city was the religious and commercial capital of Western Asia Minor. The apostle labored there with such success that "all they who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus." Phrygia was a neighboring province, and among the strangers who repaired to Ephesus, and had an opportunity to hear the preaching of Paul, may have been the Colossian Philemon. It is evident that on becoming a disciple, he gave no common proof of the sincerity and power of his faith. His character, as shadowed forth in the epistle to him, is one of the noblest which the sacred record makes known to us. He was full of faith and good works, was docile, confiding, grateful, was forgiving, sympathizing, charitable, and a man who on a question of simple justice needed only a hint of his duty to prompt him to go even beyond it ''('' '''''Ὑπὲρ''''' '''''Ὃ''''' '''''Λέγω''''' '''''Ποιήσεις''''' .). Anly one who studies the epistle will perceive that it ascribes to him these varied qualities; it bestows on him a measure of commendation which forms a striking contrast with the ordinary reserve of the sacred writers. It was through such believers that the primitive [[Christianity]] evinced its divine origin, and spread so rapidly among the nations. (See Paul). </p>

<p> ''''' fi ''''' - ''''' lē´mon ''''' , ''''' fı̄ ''''' - ''''' lē´mun ''''' ( Φιλήμων , <i> ''''' Philḗmon ''''' </i> ): Among the converts of Paul, perhaps while at Ephesus, was one whom he calls a "fellow-worker," Philemon (&nbsp; Philippians 1:1 ). He was probably a man of some means, was celebrated for his hospitality (&nbsp;Philippians 1:5-7 ) and of considerable importance in the ecclesia at Colosse. It was at his house (&nbsp;Philippians 1:2 ) that the Colossian [[Christians]] met as a center. It is more than probable that this was a group of the Colossian church rather than the entire <i> ''''' ekklesia ''''' </i> . His wife was named Apphia (&nbsp;Philippians 1:2 ); and Archippus (&nbsp;Philippians 1:2 ) was no doubt his son. From &nbsp;Colossians 4:17 we learn that Archippus held an office of some importance in Colosse, whether he was a presbyter (Abbott, <i> ICC </i> ), or an evangelist, or perhaps the reader (Zahn), we cannot tell. He is called here (&nbsp;Philippians 1:2 ) Paul's "fellow-soldier." </p> <p> The relation between the apostle and Philemon was so close and intimate that Paul does not hesitate to press him, on the basis of it, to forgive his slave, Onesimus, for stealing and for running away. See Philemon , Epistle To . </p> <p> Tradition makes Philemon the bishop of Colosse ( <i> [[Apostolical]] Constitutions </i> , vii, 46), and the Greek [[Martyrology]] (Menae) for November 22 tells us that he together with his wife and son and Onesimus were martyred by stoning before Androcles, the governor, in the days of Nero. With this the Latin Martyrology agrees (compare Lightfoot, <i> [[Ignatius]] </i> , II, 535). This evidence, however, is unsatisfactory and cannot be trusted as giving unquestionable facts as to Philemon. The only sure information is that in the epistle bearing his name. </p>