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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Phm_1:1 a
1a, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,
Phm_1:1 "Paul" The Greek name Paulos meant "little." Several theories have been advanced about the origin of his Greek name.
1. a nickname describing his physical height, from a second century tradition that Paul was short, fat, bald, bowlegged, bushy eyebrowed, and had protruding eyes, which came from a non-canonical book from Thessalonica called Paul and Thekla, is a possible source of the name
2. Paul's personal spiritual evaluation, he often called himself the "least of the saints" because he persecuted the Church as in Act_9:1-2 (cf. 1Co_15:9; Eph_3:8; 1Ti_1:15)
3. most Jews of the diaspora (Jews living outside of Palestine) were given two names at birth; one Hebrew (Saul) and one Hellenistic (Paul)
▣ "a prisoner" The NT specifically states that Paul was in prison three times: (1) in Caesarea; (2) in Philippi; and (3) in Rome (with a possible allusion to imprisonment at Ephesus, cf. 1Co_15:32; 2Co_1:8). This writer assumes a Roman imprisonment in the early 60's.
Because of the loving pastoral nature of this brief letter, many commentators have assumed that Paul chose this title instead of his usual opening affirmation of his apostleship.
▣ "Christ Jesus" The variety of the titles for Jesus used in this short letter is amazing. Notice: Christ Jesus; Phm_1:1; the Lord Jesus, Christ, Phm_1:3; the Lord Jesus, Phm_1:5; Christ, Phm_1:8; Christ Jesus, Phm_1:9; the Lord, and Christ, Phm_1:20; Christ Jesus, Phm_1:23; and the Lord Jesus Christ, Phm_1:25.
"Christ" is the Greek equivalent to the Hebrew term "messiah," which means "an anointed one" (see Special Topic at Col_1:1). It implied "one called and equipped by God for a specific task." In the OT three groups of leaders were anointed: priests, kings, and prophets. Jesus fulfilled all three of these anointed offices (cf. Heb_1:2-3).
"Jesus" meant "YHWH saves" or "salvation is of YHWH" (cf. Mat_1:21). It was the OT name "Joshua." "Jesus" is derived from the Hebrew word for salvation, "hosea," suffixed to the covenant name for God, "YHWH" (see Special Topic at Col_1:3).
▣ "Timothy" His name meant "honored by God" or "honorer of God." He was converted through Paul's witness on the first missionary journey to Derbe/Lystra (cf. Act_26:1). Paul invited him to join the missionary team on the second missionary journey, possibly to replace John Mark (cf. Act_15:36-41). He had a Jewish mother and a Greek father (Act_16:1; 2Ti_1:5). Paul circumcised him to facilitate his work among the Jews (cf. Act_16:3). He became Paul's faithful representative, disciple and troubleshooter (cf. Act_16:1 to Act_17:14; Act_18:5 to Act_19:22; Act_20:4; Rom_16:21; 1Co_4:17; 1Co_16:10; 2Co_1:1; 2Co_1:19; Php_1:2; Php_2:19; Gal_1:1; Phm_1:4; and the two books 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy).
He is mentioned with Paul in several letters (cf. 1Co_4:12; 1Co_16:10; 2Co_1:1; Php_1:1; Col_1:1; 1Th_1:1; 2Th_1:1; 1Ti_1:2; 2Ti_1:2). This does not imply co-authorship, but Timothy's presence and greetings. Timothy may have functioned as Paul's secretary, or scribe, as did Silas, Tertius, and Tychicus.
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Phm_1:1-3
1bTo Philemon our beloved brother and fellow worker, 2 and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
▣ "Philemon" an active member of the church of Colossae. This person is only mentioned in this letter. Apparently the local church at Colossae met in his home. Paul's comments to him imply that he personally knew this man. Epaphras, not Paul, started the church in Colossae (cf. Col_1:6-7), therefore, Paul must have met him earlier, possibly in Ephesus (Phm_1:10; Phm_1:19). However, it is remotely possible that Paul did not know him personally (cf. Phm_1:5) and that Epaphras informed him about this man's ministry.
Phm_1:2 "Apphia" This is possibly Philemon's wife, because her name appears second.
▣ "Archippus" Some think that this was Philemon's son, but he could have been the pastor of the church that met in Philemon's home (cf. Col_4:17) or someone else unknown to us. E. J. Goodspeed and J. Knox postulate that Archippus was the owner of Onesimus, and that Philemon was the local pastor enlisted to help encourage Archippus to have mercy on his runaway slave.
▣ "fellow-soldier" Paul envisioned the Christian life as a military struggle (cf. Eph_6:10-18). He uses this characterization several times (cf. Php_2:25; 2Ti_3:2).
▣ "the church" Ekklesia is from two Greek words, "out of" (ek) and "to call" (kalaô). It was used in Koine Greek (200 b.c.-a.d. 200) to describe any kind of assembly, such as a town assembly (cf. Act_19:32). The Church chose this term because it was used in the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament, written as early as 250 b.c. for the library at Alexandria, Egypt. This term translated the Hebrew term qahal which was used in the covenant phrase "the assembly of Israel" (cf. Num_20:4). The NT writers asserted that they were the "divinely called out ones" who were to be the People of God in their day. They saw no radical break between the OT People of God and themselves, the NT People of God. Christians assert that the Church of Jesus Christ, not modern rabbinical Judaism, is the true interpreter and fulfillment of the OT Scriptures. See Special Topic: Church at Col_1:18.
▣ "that meets in their home" There were no church buildings until the third century (cf. Act_2:40; Act_5:42; Act_20:20; Rom_16:5; 1Co_16:19; Col_4:15). These "house churches" followed the Jewish pattern of local synagogues (scripture readings, prayers, songs, etc.). The Greek text is ambiguous as to which of the two men mentioned in Phm_1:1-2 owned the home where the church met.
Phm_1:3 "Father" This term is not used in the sense of sexual generation or chronological sequence, but of intimate family relationship. God chose family terms to reveal Himself to fallen humanity (cf. Hosea 2-3 as passionate, faithful lover, Hosea 11 as loving father and mother). See Special Topic: Father at Col_1:2.