Introductory Greetings. Philemon 1-3.
Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker And Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Dear Family,
We begin today our meditations in Paul’s letter to Philemon, a rich citizen of the City of Colossae the Roman province of Asia, about 200 kilometers East of Ephesus.
Bondage (v. 1a).Paul identifies himself as a prisoner for Christ Jesus, meaning that he is in prison for preaching the gospel of Christ Jesus. This is not a complaint. On the contrary, Paul wears his inmate status as a badge of honor. Timothy is with him but Timothy was not a prisoner. He was visiting with and serving Paul.
Brotherhood (‘s. 1b – 2). The letter is addressed to Philemon but it is expected that Apphia, most likely his wife and Archippus, most likely their son or a significant worker – like a steward/manager of their household, and the church that met in their house, would read or have this letter to them, also. Christian communities met in homes and Philemon had obviously opened his to the church. It is not clear if this was the church of Colossae or a small group. It is most likely the latter. There would have been several such small congregations meeting in homes, that together formed the Colossian church.
Blessings (v. 3). Paul’s usual greetings comprise wishing the recipients grace, a common Greek greeting which in the Christian context means God’s unmerited favor on sinners; and peace, a typical Jewish greeting that in the Christian context comes from sinners being reconciled to God through the work of Christ, by which he paid for our sins so that we might be able to draw near to him. This is only effective if we come to Christ and accept what he did for us. Peace is not the absence of war but the presence of Christ.
Your Loving Pastor Chris.