Paul is in PRISON at the time of this writing as he refers
to himself as "the PRISONER of Jesus Christ" (Philemon 1) and mentions his "BONDS" (Philemon 10)
Paul would have the Philippians to understand that his
IMPRISONMENT was for "the FURTHERANCE of the GOSPEL" (Philippians 1:12-13) and so he encourages them with GREETINGS sent FROM "ALL the SAINTS
... CHIEFLY they that are of CAESAR'S HOUSEHOLD" (Philippians 4:22)
Paul reminded Timothy that although he was in "BONDS"
- "the Word of God is NOT BOUND" (II Timothy 2:9)
Paul acknowledged Philemon as a DEARLY BELOVED brother
and "FELLOW LABORER" (Philemon 1)
This was indeed high praise coming from Paul, since he
viewed Philemon in the same way as his DEARLY BELOVED son Timothy (II Timothy 1:2) - his "FELLOW LABORER in the gospel of Christ" (I Thessalonians 3:2)
Paul also greeted Archippus "OUR FELLOW SOLDIER"
(Philemon 2)
This again is high praise coming from Paul who viewed
both Philemon and Archippus in the same way as he did Epaphroditus ("FELLOW SOLDIER") who was "SICK
NIGH UNTO DEATH" in CARING for Paul's MINISTRY NEEDS (Philippians 2:25-27)
Paul exhorts the believer to "endure HARDNESS as
a GOOD SOLDIER of Jesus Christ" (II Timothy 2:3) by NOT becoming ENTANGLED "with the affairs of THIS LIFE"
(II Timothy 2:4)
Paul exhorts the believer to "FIGHT the GOOD FIGHT
of the FAITH", so as to be able to "LAY HOLD of ETERNAL LIFE" (I Timothy 6:12) by LOOKING at "the THINGS which are NOT SEEN", i.e. the
THINGS which are "ETERNAL" (II Corinthians 4:17-18)
It is God's desire that the believer would "SEEK
those THINGS which are ABOVE" (Colossians 3:1-2), because He SEES the believer RAISED UP and SEATED in the HEAVENLIES
with His Son, according to "the EXCEEDING RICHES of His GRACE" (Ephesians 2:6-7)
GRACE and PEACE (Philemon 3) define the POSITION of each person who has been "JUSTIFIED BY
FAITH" (Romans 5:1-2)