Philemon, Hebrews & James Series

PHILEMON, HEBREWS & JAMES

PHILEMON

I. SURVEY

A. Writer: The Apostle Paul

B. Date: 62 A.D.

C. Purpose: To beseech Philemon to receive his unprofitable servant, Onesimus, whom Paul had led to the Lord.

D. Key Verse: “If he hath wronged thee, or oweth the ought, put that on mine account.” vs. 18

II. OUTLINE

A. Paul the Prisoner - 1-7

1. The Book of Philemon, as well as Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians, is a prison letter of the Apostle Paul

at Rome.

2. Paul is writing to Philemon, acknowledging the good works he had done in the past.

B. Paul’s Plea - 8-16 It is believed that Onesimus himself brought this epistle to Philemon without accompaniment

from anyone. Onesimus, as we know, had run away from Philemon and had gotten in touch with Paul at Rome.

There Paul led him to Jesus Christ. Paul instructed Onesimus to do exactly as he had written in his epistle to the

churches concerning the slave’s attitude and behavior toward his master. Although a slave might be a Christian,

yet he must recognize and obey the laws of the empire. The Lord might have set his free from the bondage of

sin, but he was still a slave of his master by the law. Paul appeals to Philemon on Onesimus’ behalf, fully

acknowledging his guilt and the seriousness of his crime. He reminds Philemon that he would not only be

receiving his runaway slave, but also a brother in the Lord.

C. Paul’s Payment - 17-21

1. If there was any indemnity to pay, Paul said put it to his account, and he would repay every bit of it.

2. This truly pictures the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

3. The sinners is the slave who has runaway from God, and it is Jesus who has found him

4. It is Jesus who becomes the Intercessor between God and the sinner, appealing to the Father through the debt

of his Precious blood on the the Cross.

D. Paul’s Prayer - 22-25

1. With these words Paul expresses his desire to visit Philemon in the future.

2. Those with him send their personal greetings, wanting to be remembered in prayer by this man of God.

HEBREWS

I. SURVEY

A. Writer: The majority of Bible expositors believe the writer to be the Apostle Paul. There are some internal

proofs that lead us to say that Paul is the writer of this epistle:

1. The statement “in my bonds” in Hebrews 10:34 characterizes the life of Paul.

2. The Author states in Hebrews 13:23 “Our brother Timothy”

3. Surely the author was a Jew, knowing the history and insitiutions of Judaism.

4. The Author, under divine inspiration, taught the same doctrines as the Apostle Paul

B. Date: it is unknown, but we know that it was written sometime before the destruction of the Temple in A.D. 70,

as the book states that sacrifices were being offered there.

C. Theme: The Eternal Priesthood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Hebrews 7:25

D. Purpose: It is not to denouce Judaism, but to show that, where Judaism is good, Christianity is better!!!

E. Key Word: Better

F. Key Verses:

1. “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the

word of his power, when he had by himself purgedour sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on

high.” Hebrews 1:3

2. “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having

obtained eternal redemption for us.” Hebrews 9:12

3. “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look unto him shall he appear the

second time without sin unto salvation.” Hebrews 9:28

4. “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the

cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2

II. OUTLINE

A. The Preeminence of Christ

1. He’s Greater than the Prophets 1:1-3

2. He’s Greater than the Angels 1:4-2:18

3. He’s Greater than Moses 3:1-4:7

4. He’s Greater than Joshua 4:8-13

5. He’s Greater than Aaron 4:14-5:10

B. The Progression of Believers

1. Milk for the Growing - 5:11-14

2. Meat for the Grown - 6:1-12

C. The Perfection of the Priesthood

1. Substantiated by the New Order 6:13-7:28

2. Seated upon the New Convenant 8:1-13

3. Serviced over a New Tabernacle 9:1-11

4. Satisfied by the New Sacrifice 9:12-10:39

D. The Program of the Ages

1. There has been only one plan of salvation proposed by God, and that is salvatio by grace, through faith.

2. It matters not which time period you look at, it’s still grace.