Philemon

1. Philemon Titus

2. Philemon

3. During St Paul third missionary trip in Asia Minor among the people of Ephesus he met a visitor who later converted under Paul’s teaching, the man named Philemon, a slave-owner from the nearby city of Colossae. Paul addressed his “beloved brother” as a “fellow worker,” a title given to those who served for a time alongside St. Paul. • Onesimus had escaped from his owner, Philemon, and had run away from Colossae to Rome in the hope that he could disappear into that populous, urban environment. Once in Rome, Onesimus, either by accident or by his own design, came in contact with Paul, who promptly led the runaway slave to faith in Jesus Christ. • St. Paul made a request. He wanted Philemon to forgive Onesimus, to accept the slave as a brother in Christ, and to consider sending Onesimus back to St. Paul, as the apostle found him useful in God’s service St. Paul did not minimize Onesimus’s sin but rather approached the topic with gentleness and care  • The main idea is the conversion St. Paul made in the life of Onesimus from a thief , a running slave to a deacon ,whom he saw useful for preaching the word of God. Introduction

4. Verse 1-3 The apostolic Greeting • Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ : To be a prisoner simply is not comfortable neither honorable; but as Paul was, for the faith and preaching of the gospel, this was true glory, and proper to move Philemon upon the request made to him. • Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier : Apphia (Philemon wife) Archippus : is the son . St. Paul is addressing the family whose property Onesimus was as a slave and they were all impacted by his actions. • Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker. : here St. Paul, in the highest degree of ministry, not only calls Timothy, an evangelist, his brother, but Philemon, an ordinary pastor, his dearly beloved fellow- labourer—an example of humility and condescension Chapter 1

5. Verse 4-7 Philemon's Love and Faith •  I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints : in those verses St. Paul does not immediately at the commencement ask the favor, but having first admired the man, and having praised him for his good actions. Chapter 1

6. Verses 8-22Paul's Plea for Onesimus: • I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, 9 yet for love's sake I prefer to appeal to you: Waiving the authority which yet he had to require, he chooses to entreat it of him. • I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus : The main business of the epistle, which was to plead with Philemon on behalf of Onesimus, that he would receive him and be reconciled to him. Many arguments Paul urges for this purpose • I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it—to say nothing of your owing me even your own self : St. Paul is reminding Philemon on other accounts more in debt to him than what Onesimus owes him. The apostle glances at the benefits he had granted Philemon: "That he should accept the loss and forgive Onesimus. Chapter 1

7. Verses 22- 15 Final Greetings • At the same time, prepare a guest room for me: St. Paul is hopping that his jail time will end soon intending to be Philemon guest also assuming that he will obey the orders and welcome St Paul when he arrives to Colossae Chapter 1

8. St. John Chrysostom said that he wished we had more day to day conversations documented like this epistle because it’s a lesson the taught on how to serve. • If you think about Onesimus status “a criminal running slave” and how people can be labeled and judged in church when St. Paul gave us a lesson on how important this servant’s soul is to God and not only for his salvation sake but also how he can be beneficial to the service and the salvation of other souls too. Paul saved Onesimus soul and he used him to be a servant and save others. Important service lessons learned from the epistle of St. Paul to philemon

9. TITUS

10. St. Paul feels his own ministry is approaching to an end, This feeling is a heavy load on his soul. • Titus was Greek ,At the time when Paul wrote this epistle to him Titus was the bishop of Crete. • This epistle is full of practical advices to Titus. He gave him directions for church administration and warned him against the heretics of his days. • Paul also reminded Cretan believers that while they lived in a sinful culture , they could be transformed into a new humanity by the same grace that Jesus demonstrated when He died to redeem them. • The instructions were given to Titus to appoint new bishops and priests to replace the current corrupted ones. He called them elders. Those leaders are chosen from the Cretans who have bad reputation that is why they needed to be chosen wisely. • Also to stop the Cretans Christian leader from Jewish roots who were calling for the gentiles to become Jews first then become Christians and they use their position in the church to collect money. • Under the corrupted leadership; God’s word wasdiscredited. Introduction

11. Verse 1-5 Introduction and greeting. • Verse 5-9 Appointing Elders (Bishops and Priests) with good reputation . Describing the characters and qualifications of the required bishops in particular. • Verse 10-16 Rebuking the teachers serving a worldly interest under pretence of religion and describing the wrong teaching. • Verse: 12 One of Crete’s own prophets has said it: “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.” 13 This saying is true. The Cretans were know that they are liars but St. Paul did not want to say this known fact so he used a quote from a famous philosopher “Epimenides” so they wont get angry at him. Chapter 1

12. Disciples of Christ must behave in everything agreeably to the Christian doctrine. • Verse 1-2 Teaching for the older men. • Verse 3-5 Teaching for older women. • Verse 6-8 Teaching for the young men. • Verse 9-10 Teaching for the slaves. • Verse 11-15 The doctrine of the works of the grace of God. • Forsake sin denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. • Describing proper way to conduct holy lives • Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ Chapter 2

13. Congregation behavior towards all. • Verse 1 Spiritual privileges do not make void or weaken, but confirm civil duties.. • Verse 2 Christians are to exemplify these godly virtues in their dealings with everyone with Love and purity. • Verse 3-8 How can we have this power to love? • Remember that before Christianity we were under the sin. • If it weren’t for God’s grace to His own, we would all be wicked . • “Through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” refers to the work of the Holy Spirit in the salvation experience that produces new life in the believer. • Verse 9-11 Avoid any distractions which is unprofitable for your spiritual life. • Verse 12 -15 Final Remarks Chapter 3

14. Chapter 2 :7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us. • This verse is considered a law for all servants of Christ as it tells us that life of a servants is an example for others to look at and although the teaching can be creative and attractive but the word of God should be taught respectfully. Important service lessons learned from the epistle of St. Paul to TITUS

15. Chapter 23:9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. • As servants we face situations were we are in a middle of a conversations that are not useful for our salvation such problems disputes between people may be in the church and St. Paul here gave us a commandment to “Avoid these conversations”. Important service lessons learned from the epistle of St. Paul to TITUS