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Sample Analysis
Philemon
I. Readers
A. Who
Philemon
B. Description
1:1 Beloved and fellow worker
1.2 There is a church in his house
1:5 Has faith in Christ
1:7 Refreshes the hearts of the saints
1:7 Paul calls him “brother”
1:16 Slave holder
1:19 Knew the Lord through Paul
1:22 Trustee for Rome
II. Antagonists
A. Who
1. Name and description
By implication – The slave holding culture who would view Onesimus as a violator
2. Source of authority
Legitimate authority from Rome
Authority from the culture
3. Motivation
By implication – maintain the salve system for economic, social, and military reasons
B. What they do to the readers
By implication – peer pressure
C. What they teach
By implication and historical research – Run away slaves are to be executed
D. What they are getting the readers to do
Execute Onesimus
III. Author
A. Who
1. Name and description
1:1 Paul and Timothy
1:1 A prisoner of Christ
1:4 Prays for Philemon
2. Source of authority
1:19 Lead the reader to Christ
1:9 His age
1:9 Prisoner of Christ
3. Motivation
1:10 Concern for Onesimus
1:22 To have a place when he is released
B. What he does to/for the readers
1:4 Prays for
1:10, 12, 16 Returns run-away slave
C. What he teaches
1:7-8 Love for Christian brothers transcends cultural norms.
D. What he wants the readers to do
1:17 Accept Onesimus as if he were Paul
1:18 Consider Onesimus’ debts as if Paul’s
1:20 Refresh Paul’s heart in Christ
1:22 Prepare a place for Paul in expectation of his release
IV. Summary statement
Paul writes to Philemon because he is likely to execute Onesimus since he incorrectly believes that run away slaves must be executed. Then Paul tells him that since love is central to Christianity he should receive Onesimus as a brother, which point he reinforces by mentioning many other believers and important people in his life will know of his action concerning Onesimus.
