As we come to the end of the Bible study of Philemon, we must recognize that no study of the Scripture is complete until the main point of the passage in its relationship to your life is understood. Therefore, I’m now going to help derive the main principle or theme from the text.

I order to accomplish this, I will use five principles of correlation and clearly show each step. The final result is principles stating theological truths and a simple statement of the main theological proposition of the passage in Philemon 4-7.

Step 1: Six Interrogative Questions

Who

Paul

Philemon

God

Jesus Christ

Saints

What

Thank

Mention

Prayers

Love Faith

Fellowship

Knowledge

Joy

Comfort

Love

Hearts

When

Present tenses

thank my God always

making mention of you in my prayers

hear of your love

have toward the Lord Jesus

have come

Future tense

may become effective

Past tense

have been refreshed

Where

Why

Love and faith toward the Lord Jesus and all the saints

For Christ’s sake

Come to have much joy and comfort in love

The hearts of the saints have been refreshed

How

Making mention of you in my prayers

Pray fellowship of faith become effective through the knowledge of every good thing

Come to have much joy and comfort in love

Step 2: Record All Truths of the Passage

Believers should thank God.

Christians should pray about others.

Believers should have love and faith toward the Lord Jesus.

Christians should have love and faith toward other Christians.

The Lord Jesus and the saints are not the same.

It should be evident to others of a believer’s love and faith.

Fellowship of faith can become effective through the knowledge of every good thing.

We should pray for other believers to have their fellowship of faith to become effective.

The knowledge of every good thing is in all believers.

The knowledge of every good thing is for Christ’s sake.

Joy and comfort can be found in love.

Believers can experience joy and comfort.

Believers can experience other believers’ love.

Hearts of saints can be refreshed.

Hearts of saints can be refreshed through other Christians.

Step 3: Group Truths Together

Prayer

Believers should thank God.

Christians should pray about others.

We should pray for other believers to have their fellowship of faith to become effective.

Love and Faith

Believers should have love and faith toward the Lord Jesus.

Christians should have love and faith toward other Christians.

It should be evident to others of a believer’s love and faith.

Fellowship of faith can become effective through the knowledge of every good thing.

Joy and comfort can be found in love.

Believers can experience joy and comfort.

Believers can experience other believers’ love.

Jesus

The Lord Jesus and the saints are not the same.

Knowledge

The knowledge of every good thing is in all believers.

The knowledge of every good thing is for Christ’s sake.

Hearts Refreshed

Hearts of saints can be refreshed.

Hearts of saints can be refreshed through other Christians.

Step 4: Set Aside All Non-Demanding Truths

Believers should thank God.

Christians should pray about others.

We should pray for other believers to have their fellowship of faith to become effective.

Believers should have love and faith toward the Lord Jesus.

Christians should have love and faith toward other Christians.

It should be evident to others of a believer’s love and faith.

Step 5: Theological Principles

Believers should thank God always in their prayers.

Christians should pray for other Christians to have their fellowship of faith to become effective.

Followers of Jesus should have love and faith toward Him.

Believers should have love and faith toward each other.

Love and faith in a Christian should be evident to others.

Step 6: Main Theme

Believers should have faith and love in the Lord and practice the same with one another.

Now that you know the main theme, how will you apply it to your life?