Philemon:

While Philemon may sound like a Jamaican name to us today (EHHEY! Phile-Mon!), alas he was not a Bob Marley fan. Here's what we do know about the man to whom Paul wrote this letter:

• Philemon was a dear friend and worker with Paul and Timothy

  • He heard the Gospel from Paul while in Ephesus

• He worked with Apphia, his wife, and Arrchippus, his son, in Colossae

• He had a home

  • A church gathering took place in his home

  • His home was large enough to have a guest room

• He had a faith in Jesus that gave Paul great joy and encouragement

  • His faith was also refreshing to the hearts of the saints

• He had a slave named Onesimous, who's name means "Useful."

• He also knew Epaphras

 

Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. Entry for 'Philemon'. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. http://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/isb/view.cgi?number=6822. 1915.

 

Niv Archaeological Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005), 1977-80