Philemon

While in prison, Paul helped a runaway slave, Onesimus, come to know the Lord and be born again.  Philemon was most likely a leader in the church at Colossae. It is not completely clear, but it is inferred that Onesimus was a slave of Philemon and may have stolen some money from Philemon.  Paul sent Onesimus back to Philemon with this letter and urged Philemon to receive him as a brother, now that both have come to know the Lord.  The letter is about forgiveness and reconciliation. A reference to Onesimus is found in Colossians 4:7-9, where he was called a faithful and beloved brother.

Philemon 1-7 “Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer, ² to the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: ³ Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ⁴ I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, ⁵ hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, ⁶ that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. ⁷ For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.”

Verse 6 says that the sharing of our faith becomes effective as we acknowledge every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus.  When we are born again, God comes to live and dwell in us by the Holy Spirit.  The kingdom of God is within us when we are born again.  God is able to dwell with us because He has given us the free gift of righteousness in Christ Jesus.  As we tell others about the sacrifice of Jesus for us and the righteousness that He has given to us and that He lives in us, the sharing of our faith becomes effective.  

Philemon 8-25 “Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting, yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you—being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ— ¹⁰ I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, ¹¹ who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me. ¹² I am sending him back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, ¹³ whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel. ¹⁴ But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary. ¹⁵ For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, ¹⁶ no longer as a slave but more than a slave—a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.” ¹⁷ If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me. ¹⁸ But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account. ¹⁹ I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. I will repay—not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides. ²⁰ Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord. ²¹ Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. ²² But, meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you. ²³ Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, ²⁴ as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers. ²⁵ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.”

Paul urged Philemon toward forgiveness and reconciliation.  Apparently Philemon was gracious enough to follow Paul’s appeal, since Onesimus was acknowledged as being a faithful and beloved brother in the church at Colossae.  

We all need grace from our Lord and from one another.  Jesus said in Matthew 5:7, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”  Without a doubt, we all need mercy and grace from the Lord.  When we extend that same mercy toward others, we obtain mercy from others ourselves.  Even if others don’t extend that mercy back to us, we have peace in our hearts.  This letter is a wonderful example of the grace of God being worked out in the lives and relationships of people.

Keith Oliver