Philemon 1

• Philemon 1:8-9 – Paul could have ordered Philemon (he had authority as an apostle) but instead appealed to him in love.
  
  
  
  • See II Corinthians 8:8
  
  
  • See also Philemon 1:14
  
  
  • What precisely was Paul asking Philemon to do here? Possibly, he was asking Onesimus to be allowed to stay and minister to Paul. Or he may be asking Philemon to simply receive Onesimus (Philemon 1:17 ).
  
  
  
  


• Philemon 1:10-11 – The name “Onesimus” means “useful.” This is apparently a play on words. Paul seems to indicate here that he converted Onesimus while he was in prison.
  
  
  
  • See Colossians 4:7-9.
  
  
  
  


• Philemon 1:14 – Paul did not want to be presumptuous with his handling of Onesimus. He wanted to operate out of love rather than authority.


• Philemon 1:15-16 – Despite the previous relationship between Philemon and Onesimus, Paul is reminding them that they are now brothers in Christ.


• Philemon 1:17-19 – The literary device in verse 19 is called a paralipsis, in which something is mentioned by saying you are not mentioning it. See other uses of this device in I Thessalonians 4:9; 5:1.
  
  
  
  • The meaning of verse 19 is not entirely clear. Paul could mean that he converted Philemon.
  
  
  
  


• Philemon 1:21 – Paul continues to appeal out of love.


• Philemon 1:22-25 – Paul was hoping to be released from prison. Colossians was written after Philemon and Paul was still in prison at that time. Paul was thriving and being productive, even in prison.

Jude – quick overview

Observations

Error is a serious problem, and not unique to Jude.

• Compare II Peter 2. Some of the same examples as Jude are used.

The Holy Spirit inspires Jude to use a lot of triads and triplets.

• Jude 1:1, 2, 5-7, 8, 11, 19, 22-23

There are several things mentioned here that are not mentioned elsewhere (at least, not in any great detail).

• Don’t run wild with curiosity and speculation. John 21:20-23; Deuteronomy 29:29