Ep 039 (S2E20) The Ones - Part 2: Philemon

References:

• Paul’s letter to Philemon vss. 1-25
  • Context for the letter
    • Connections to the church in Collosae
      • Epiphras starts a house church with Philemon
      • Onesimus wrongs his master, Philemon and flees
      • Onesimus is converted by Paul in Rome while Paul’s imprisoned there
    • Paul sends Onesimus back to Collosae with Tychicus (Col 4:7-9)
  • Vss. 1-7: Opening prayer
    • Recognition & encouragement
    • v 6: κοινωνία - (koy-nohn-ee'-ah)
• Vss. 8-20: Paul’s request/instruction
  • Application of the Koinonia principle
    • An ask, not command
    • Fracturing of fellowship to unity
      • No more Jew/Gentile, slave/free
      • Colossians 3:11
    • v 17: κοινωνός - partner
    • v 19: a friendly reminder of the koinonia blessing
• Vss. 21-25: Final greeting
• Application
  • What is your experience of koinonia?
    • Have you experienced the fracturing of koinonia?
    • How would Jesus (and Paul) have you work to reconcile and recover a partnership (koinonia)
      • Remember that this letter is the only of Paul’s letter in which he doesn’t mention Jesus death and resurrection.
    • Remembering how Paul modeled Jesus’ work on the cross, how is your heart impacted and inspired?