Book Introduction - Philemon

SCOFIELD REFERENCE NOTES (Old Scofield 1917 Edition)
Read first chapter of Philemon
The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Philemon
WRITER: The Apostle Paul ( 1:1)
DATE: Probably A.D. 64. It is one of the Prison Epistles. See Introductions to Ephesians and Colossians.
THEME: Onesimus ("profitable"), a slave of Philemon, a Christian of Colosse, had robbed his master and fled to Rome. There he became a convert through Paul, who sent him back to Philemon with this letter. It is of priceless value as a teaching

(1) in practical righteousness;
(2) in Christian brotherhood;
(3) in Christian courtesy;
(4) in the law of love.

The divisions are four
I. Greeting 1-3.
II. The character of Philemon, 4-7.
III. Intercession for Onesimus, 8-21.
IV. Salutations and conclusion, 22-25.

CHAPTER 1

Verse 18

account
Philemon 1:17,18 perfectly illustrate imputation: "Receive him as myself"--reckon to him my merit; "If he hath wronged thee or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account"-- reckon to me his demerit.
See "Imputation," Leviticus 25:50. (See Scofield "James 2:23").