“Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,
To Philemon our beloved brother and fellow worker, ”
Philemon 1:1 (NASB)
3 times in his brief letter to Philemon Paul refers to His imprisonment in Rome. However, In verse one, Paul refers to Himself as a prisoner, not of Rome, but rather of Jesus Christ. Paul understood that he was not confined because of the Roman authorities but rather because of God’s authority. Paul had surrendered his will to the Lord and was willing to obey Christ regardless of the consequences. Paul knew that the souls of men, the glory of God and advancement of the gospel were more important than his individual rights, comfort or freedom. This knowledge is why Paul was not afraid to boldly and selflessly proclaim the good news of Christ.
Questions for application…
Why was Paul so bold in declaring the gospel?
What does it mean to be a “prisoner of Christ” ?
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