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    Slavery was a fact of life in Paul's day-a fact Paul couldn't change. But Paul could show slaves and masters how they were to behave toward one another as those redeemed by Jesus, the One who had become a bondservant on their behalf. In his epistles Paul shared these principles.

    Now, however, something else had come up. Paul had to appeal to Philemon, a believer from Colossae, about a very personal matter: One of Philemon's slaves had run away, and according to Roman law he could be put to death by his master. So at about the same time Paul wrote Colossians, he wrote to Philemon from his rented quarters, where as a prisoner of Rome he also could be put to death. It was about A.D. 61 or 62.

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How to Study Philemon (NASB)

1. Read through Philemon and mark every reference (including pronouns and synonyms) to the author (Paul) in one color and every reference to the recipients in another.

   1. When you finish reading and marking, go back and note everything y learn about Paul on the Observations Chart. Watch for Paul's reason for writing and how he goes about achieving his propose. Record his reasons on the Structure of Philemon.

   2. Also note everything you learn about the recipients of Paul's letter and record this information in the appropriate section of the Observations Chart.

   3. Record on the Observations Chart everything you learn about Onesimus.

2. Carefully read the book again, marking in the text each of the key words (whit their synonyms and pronouns): love, appeal, slave. Then observe what you learn from marking these words.

3. Record the theme of Philemon on Structure of Philemon. Because Philemon is only one chapter, it is divided into paragraphs on the Structure. Read the book paragraph by paragraph and record on the chart theme of each paragraph.  Then fill in the rest of the chart.  

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Application o Philemon

1. Are you willing to appeal to someone on behalf of another-to assume the role of an advocate?
2. What can you learn from Paul’s example in the way he appealed to Philemon?
3. Is there someone whom you need to forgive and offer restoration?
4. Can someone appeal to you to do the right thing on the basis of your character, or do they have to force your hand through rules, regulations, or some sort of “bribe”?

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