Browse Bible Study Resources

Daily Devotions

Philemon

Philemon 
Day 
Introduction

PAUL AS A WRITER OF LETTERS

Paul was the most prolific writer among all the disciples the Lord Jesus Christ appointed. In total, he wrote thirteen letters (epistles) to both churches and individuals. That’s nearly half of the New Testament!

  1.  Letters to Churches

a) Romans
b) 1 Corinthians
c) 2 Corinthians
d) Galatians
e) Ephesians
f) Philippians
g) Colossians
h) 1 Thessalonians
i) 2 Thessalonians

    2.  Letters to Individuals

a) 1 Timothy
b) 2 Timothy
c) Titus
d) Philemon

A VERY BRIEF LETTER

The letter written to Philemon was rather brief. Nevertheless this letter is informative, instructive and inspirational. Paul was blessed with very good friends. In his epistles, he would write to commend some of these friends as faithful fellow-labourers, or as faithful sons.

The letter to Philemon was tenderly and beautifully written. In this letter written from the heart, Paul exemplified the concept of what it means to have a genuine and strong friendship because of a common faith in the Lord Jesus Christ!

This letter is also particularly poignant almost to the point of being painful. Paul described himself as “aged” (Philemon 9). In all his other letters he has never described himself as “old”.

READING PHILEMON MEANINGFULLY

What should we look out for as we read Philemon? Let us look out for the following:-

1. Features of Christian friendship at its finest.

2. Beautiful expressions of a genuine Christian love.