Philemon Bible Study Resources
Study questions, maps, charts, key words, history, background, outlines, and links to help you study both Paul’s epistle to Philemon.
Bible Study: Philemon: How to be a hero
The 10-page Philemon Study Guide includes an analytical outline.
Jump to: Background; ** Maps; ** Key Words; ** Encyclopedias; ** Commentaries; ** Articles; ** GotQuestions ** Next **
Philemon Basics
- Author: Paul the Apostle
- Who was Paul?
- Date & Place: Written from prison in Rome 60-62 AD, along with Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians.
- Genre: a personal letter
- Purpose: Onesimus, a slave, ran away from his master, Philemon. Both have are now believers. Paul urges Philemon to accept Onesimus back as a brother.
Philemon Structure
- 1:1-3 – Greeting
- 1:4-7 – Thanksgiving
- 1:8-20 – Plea for Onesimus
- 1:22-25 – Greetings & Farewell
Genre: Understanding Epistles
Background & Outlines
Paul’s use of the Old Testament
Blue Letter Bible: Chronology of Acts/Epistles
Blue Letter Bible: Philemon Outline 1
Blue Letter Bible: Philemon Outline 2
Ray C. Stedman: Overview of the Book
John MacArthur: Author, Date, Background: Philemon
ESV: Intro to Philemon
ESV: Global Message of Philemon
Synthetic Bible Studies – Philemon – James Gray (1906)
Keys to Philemon – William Orr
Through the Bible – Philemon – Myer Pearlman (1935)
Philemon: Introduction – James Van Dine
Philemon: Introduction – Charles Swindoll
Philemon: Introduction, Argument, and Outline – Daniel Wallace
Philemon – Notes and Outlines – J Vernon McGee
David Malick (Bible.org): An Introduction To The Book Of Philemon
David Malick: Argument Of The Book Of Philemon
Maps
Journeys
Paul’s Conversion and Early Ministry– Holman Bible Atlas
Paul’s 1st Journey – Bible-History.com
1st Missionary Journey of Paul– Holman Bible Atlas
Paul’s 2nd Journey – Bible-History.com
2nd Missionary Journey of Paul– Holman Bible Atlas
Paul’s 3rd Journey – Bible-History.com
3rd Missionary Journey of Paul– Holman Bible Atlas
Paul’s Journeys– Holman Bible Atlas
Paul’s Arrest and Imprisonment– Holman Bible Atlas
Paul’s Voyage to Rome– Holman Bible Atlas
Pentecost and the Jewish Diaspora– Holman Bible Atlas
Apostles’ Journeys – Bible-History.com
Geography
Israel in New Testament Times – Bible-History.com
New Testament Jerusalem – Bible-History.com
Herod the Great’s Kingdom – Bible-History.com
Herod’s Kingdom Divided – Bible-History.com
The Kingdom of Herod Agrippa I – Holman Bible Atlas
The Kingdom of Agrippa II– Holman Bible Atlas
Expansion of the Early Church in Palestine– Holman Bible Atlas
Key Words in Philemon
Occurrences are based on New American Standard Text. “4x/3v” means the word appears 4 times in 3 verses. “3x” means the word appears 3 times in 3 verses.
Christ (8x) – Strong’s G5547 in Phm 1:1; Phm 1:3; Phm1:6; Phm 1:8; Phm 1:9; Phm 1:20; Phm 1:23; Phm 1:25
brother (5x/4v) – Strong’s G80 in Phm 1:1; Phm 1:7; Phm 1:16; Phm 1:20; sister (1x) – Strong’s G79 in Phm 1:2; Father (1x) – Strong’s G3962 in Phm 1:3
fellow (4x) – Strong’s G4904 in Phm 1:1 -worker; Phm 1:2 -soldier; Phm 1:23 -prisoner; Phm 1:24 -workers; partner (1x) – Strong’s G2844 in Phm1:17
appeal (2x) – Strong’s G3870 in Phm 1:9; Phm 1:10
love (3x) – Strong’s G26 in Phm 1:5; Phm 1:5; Phm 1:9
faith (2x) – Strong’s G4102 in Phm 1:5; Phm 1:6
slave (2x/1v)- Strong’s G1401 in Phm 1:16
confidence (2x) – Strong’s G3954 in Phm 1:8; Strong’s G3982 in Phm 1:21
refresh, refreshed (2x) – Strong’s G373 in Phm 1:7; Phm 1:20
accept (1x) – Strong’s G4355 in Phm 1:17
Commentaries & Study Bibles
Top 5 Commentaries on Philemon – Ligonier.org
Best Commentaries on Philemon – Tim Challies
Calvin’s Commentary on the Bible: Philemon
Albert Barnes Notes on the Whole Bible: Philemon
Alfords Exegetical Commentary: Philemon
Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary on the Bible: Philemon
Adam Clarke Commentary: Philemon
Reformation Study Bible Notes: Philemon
Precept Austin Commentaries & Sermons: Philemon
RC Sproul Devotionals
Philemon 1-3 To Philemon and Company
Philemon 4-5 A Personal Yet Public Faith
Philemon 6 The Effective Sharing of Faith
Philemon 7 Joy and Comfort in Christ
Philemon 8 Sin’s Reality and the Ideal
Philemon 9-10 Apostolic Authority
Philemon 11-13 Onesimus’ Return
Philemon 15-16 Sovereign Separation
Philemon 17-18 Receiving Onesimus
Philemon 17-18 The Costs and Demands of Love
Philemon 19-20 Paying the Cost
Philemon 21-22 Going Above and Beyond
Philemon 23-25 Final Greetings for Philemon
Dictionaries & Encyclopedias
City of Colossae
American Tract Society Colosse
Fausset Bible Dictionary Colosse
Hitchcock Bible Names Colossae
People’s Dictionary of the Bible Colosse
Watson’s Theological Dictionary Colosse
Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia Colosse
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary Colossae
Easton’s Bible Dictionary Colossae
Fausset Bible Dictionary Colossae
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible Colossae
Hastings’ Dictionary of the NT Colossae
1911 Encyclopedia Britannica Colossae
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Colossae
McClintock and Strong’s Bible Encyclopedia Colossae (2) Colossae
Paul
Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary: Paul the Apostle
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary: Paul
Easton’s Bible Dictionary: Paul
Fausset Bible Dictionary: Paul
Holman Bible Dictionary: Paul
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Paul the Apostle
Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature: Paul
Morrish Bible Dictionary: Paul
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Paul, the Apostle
McClintock and Strong: Paul
The Nuttall Encyclopedia: Paul
The Jewish Encyclopedia:
Philemon
Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary: Philemon, Theology of –
McClintock and Strong: Philemon, Epistle to
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Philemon, Epistle to
Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature: Philemon, Epistle to
American Tract Society: Philemon
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary: Philemon
Easton’s Bible Dictionary: Philemon
Fausset Bible Dictionary :Philemon
Holman Bible Dictionary: Philemon
Hitchcock Bible Names: Philemon
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Philemon
Hastings’ Dictionary of the NT: Philemon Epistle to; Philemon
1911 Encyclopedia Britannica: Epistle to Philemon
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Philemon
McClintock and Strong: Philemon
Philemon – Hitchcock Bible Names: “who kisses”
Onesimus
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Onesimus
Holman Bible Dictionary: Onesimus
McClintock and Strong: Onesimus
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Onesimus
Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature: Onesimus
Onesimus – Hitchcock Bible Names: “profitable, useful”
Timothy
American Tract Society: Timothy
Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary:
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary: Timothy
Easton’s Bible Dictionary: Timothy
Fausset Bible Dictionary: Timothy
Holman Bible Dictionary: Timothy
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Timothy
Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature: Timothy
Morrish Bible Dictionary: Timotheus, Timothy
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Timothy
McClintock and Strong: Timothy
The Nuttall Encyclopedia: Timothy
Timothy in Acts: Acts 16:1-3; Acts 17:14-15; Acts 18:5; Acts 19:22; Acts 20:4
Apphia
Holman Bible Dictionary: Apphia
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Apphia
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Apphia
Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature: Apphia
Apphia is only mentioned in Philemon 1:2
Archippus
Holman Bible Dictionary: Archippus
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Archippus
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Archippus
Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature: Archippus
Archippus is mentioned in Philemon 1:2 and Colossians 4:17.
Articles
James: Dennison: Paul, Philemon, Onesimus and the New Creation in Christ Jesus
Danny Oligner: A Redemptive-Historical Consideration of Philemon
John Mcray: Philemon, Theology of
David Malick: An Argument Of The Book Of Philemon
David Malick: An Introduction To The Book Of Philemon
Jerry Dodson: An Exegetical Overview of Philemon 18-20
John Piper: How Paul Worked to Overcome Slavery
Fred H Wright: Slavery in the Bible
Norman Geisler: Doesn’t Paul approve of the institution of slavery?
GotQuestions.org
“What are the prison epistles?”
What should it mean to be a Christian employer?
Does the Bible condone slavery?
Why does the Bible allow slave owners to beat their slaves?
What does the Bible have to say to victims of human trafficking?
Next: Hebrews
Previous: Titus
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