STUDYING THE BOOK

Introduction and summary of

Philemon and Jude

These brief letters, like 2 and 3 John, are "postcards" of the New Testament. Each has only a single chapter that can be read in two or three minutes. Philemon, between Titus and Hebrews, is 18th of 27 New Testament books and the last of Paul's 13 epistles. It was written about A.D. 60 from a Roman prison by the aging apostle to Philemon, Apphia, and Archippus in Colosse, a city of Asia Minor (vv. 1, 2; Col. 4:17). In a warm, engaging tone, Paul lodges an earnest, personal appeal with his friends concerning their former slave Onesimus. Jude, before Revelation, is 26th of 27 New Testament books and the last of seven general epistles. Its writer, Jude, may have been one of the twelve apostles (Luke 6:16) but was more likely the half-brother of Jesus and brother of James, who wrote the epistle by that name (v. 1, Gal. 1:19; 1 Cor. 9:5). Jude's vigorous tone and stern warnings link it closely with 2 Peter 2.

Philemon: Fitting the pieces together, we learn the story of a slave, Onesimus, who took money from his master, Philemon, and fled (v. 15). Making his way to Rome, Onesimus came to know Jesus Christ through the witness of Paul (vv. 10, 16). After serving the aged apostle for a while, the runaway is ready to return and make things right with Philemon (vv. 18, 19). Paul's letter vouches for Onesimus' change and urges Philemon and his family to receive their slave gently and with grace (v. 12). This appeal is based not on Paul's authority but on love (vv. 8, 9).

Gospel parables: The theology of Philemon is good news. Justification and reconciliation begin between God and man, through grace, love and faith
(vv. 3, 5). When alienated persons apply these spiritual realities to each other, they put the gospel into action (v. 6). Faith works!

• Just as God loved us when we were slaves to sin, paid all our sin debts through Christ, and receives us back again when we've erred, Philemon will show his love for Onesimus by forgiving the former slave and welcoming him back home.
• Paul's writing helped to undermine slavery in the Roman empire by showing the essential equality, in Christ, of slaves and freemen (vv. 16, 21).
• Using a play on words, Paul shows the power of the gospel to transform lives. Onesimus' name means "useful." Before his conversion, the runaway slave was useless; but now he will live up to his name (v. 11).

 

Philemon in a sentence: An old preacher gently persuades his beloved friends to receive back a runaway slave who has been changed by the gospel and now returns as a brother in Christ.

 

Jude: The strong warnings here reveal that as early as the first century, some people were claiming to be followers of Christ but were actually perverting the gospel to the destruction of themselves and others. This tragic fact led the writer to trumpet a call for his readers to "contend earnestly [i.e., to struggle, to fight strenuously] for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints" (v. 3).

Evil practice and false teaching enter the church through "certain men" who "deny the only Lord God" and "turn the grace of our God into licentiousness" (v. 4). Who are these apostates Jude warns his readers about (vv. 4-19)? They are . . .

• ungodly men who deny God and Jesus Christ
• dreamers, defilers, despisers, grumblers, complainers
• lustful walkers, proud talkers
• sensual dividers, devoid of the Spirit
• followers of Cain, Balaam, and Korah
• men, predicted by Enoch, who fulfill prophecies of evil
• like waterless clouds, fruitless trees, raging waves, wandering stars

The names and places of such people are unknown. We do know, however, that the early church was attacked by teachers - later called Gnostics - who attacked the gospel with their lies and opposed it with their lives. Jude mercilessly exposes these perverters who say it makes no difference how a Christian lives. They are apostates.

After this rousing warning against false teachers, Jude encourages the beloved brethren (3, 17, 20ff) with a wonderful doxology and benediction (vv. 24, 25).

Jude in a sentence: While many abandon the Lord for an empty imitation that will take them to destruction, true believers contend for the faith, build themselves up in it, and are kept by God's mercy unto eternal life.