"... Begotten while in my chains."
Text: Philemon 10
AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE
The apostle Paul was outstanding in many ways! We may examine his life in many ways. Here we offer a different perspective.
1. Paul at Liberty
a) He travelled extensively to preach the Gospel.
i) The Book of Acts records at least three missionary trips.
ii) He founded churches.
iii) He was an effective evangelist.
b) He suffered much for the cause of Christ.
i) He was beaten.
ii) He was stoned.
iii) He wrote about his many sufferings in 2 Corinthians 11.
2. Paul in Prison
a) He led a jailer and his family to faith in Christ.
b) That Onesimus should be led to faith in Christ through Paul is not surprising.
c) He defended the cause of Christ before governors and kings.
d) He wrote many epistles while in prison.
e) A list of the letters he wrote while in prison.
The following are usually known as “Prison Epistles”.
i) Ephesians
ii) Philippians
iii) Colossians
iv) Philemon
f) Another additional list
(This list is disputed by some modern critics. But from the earliest times, these letters were believed to have been written by Paul. We take the conservative position and suggest that the following were also written by the Apostle Paul and not “pious forgeries”!) The internal evidence from reading the Pastoral Epistles would lead us to believe that these were authentically written by the Apostle Paul.
i) 1 Timothy
ii) Titus
iii) 2 Timothy