Philemon

1-7 8-12 13-16 17-21 22-25

This letter by Paul was written to Philemon a fellow believer in Christ on behalf of Onesimus, the name Onesimus literally means useful and was a common name for slaves. But Onesimus was a runaway slave of Philemon who had stolen money from him and fled to Rome in order to blend in with the large population of Rome and all of the people coming and going from the capital city. At the time that Onesimus was in Rome Paul was being detained in his first imprisonment which was in a house where he could receive visitors and not in chains in a dungeon like his second imprisonment. This letter was written at the same time as Paul’s letter to the Colossians, around 60-62 AD, and carried to Colosse along side Colossians by Tychicus, who was mentioned in Titus’ ending, and Onesimus. Colossians 4:7–9 “Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.” Philemon himself was led to Christ by Paul’s teachings as Paul mentions this in verse 19 and by the sovereignty of God Philemon’s runaway slave, Onesimus, meets Paul and also comes to Christ through Paul’s instructions. The overarching theme of Philemon is forgiveness, Onesimus was a slave but slavery is not at the heart of this letter. There are other places in Paul’s own writings that give explicit instruction for a Christian slave, obey your master. But during Paul’s time with Onesimus he came to love the new convert and even desires that he would stay with Paul in Rome as his helper, he even calls him his child and his very heart but he sends him back to his master. Paul sends this letter to Philemon and the church that is in Philemon’s house to plea for forgiveness for Onesimus, going even further saying that Paul himself would repay Philemon for anything that Onesimus owes him, and to receive him back but not as a bondservant but as a beloved brother in the faith.

1-7

1

Paul identifies himself in this personal letter to Philemon as a prisoner for Christ, both saying that he was imprisoned at the time he was writing but also that it was for the sake and at the will of Christ that he was imprisoned. The additional mention of Timothy does not mean that Timothy was imprisoned with Paul or that he was a co-author of the letter, but was with Paul and also give Philemon his greetings and had probably met Philemon with Paul in Ephesus. That Paul addresses Philemon as a beloved fellow worker or fellow labourer, and that a church met in his house implies that Philemon was a fellow pastor to the gathering in his house.

2-3

Apphia is Philemon’s wife and Archippus his son are given greetings as well as the church that met in Philemon’s house signifying that this letter was both a personal address and request to Philemon and was also intended to be read aloud to the whole church. That Paul wanted this letter shared with the church shows that his intention is to not only plea for the release of Onesimus from his bondservant status to Philemon directly but also used as an example of what Christian forgiveness is, especially to fellow Christians. Paul closes his greeting as he does in every other letter and epistle, Philemon 3 “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

4-5

Paul tells Philemon that not only does he pray for him but he thanks God for Philemon and his love and faith in Christ and the saints in the church, that is shown and known outside of Colossae, as Paul says he hears of it from others.

6

Paul continues in his encouragement and honoring of Philemon telling him that he prays for his shepherding and that it would be effective and good for the sake of Christ. Paul prays for other pastors, just as we should, and that what they preach not only comes from and is for the glory of God but also that is it an effectual ministry. This is not to be confused with the notion of numbers of converts though. Effectual ministry and preaching may not be immediately evident, that seed that is given, a good gospel seed, may take time and could be the pebble rolling down a hill at first that joins other pebbles and through the work of the Holy Spirit becomes a land slide of change and belief in the hearers heart.

7

Paul tells him that he derives much joy in that Philemon is preaching and teaching the saints, refreshing their hearts. I personally can relate to what Paul is saying as I also am refreshed and nourished by the meetings of the church, the prayers, the sermons, and being around other fellow believers.

8-12

8

After his greeting, where he does not list his Apostleship status as he does in other letters, but identifying himself as a prisoner for the sake of Christ and a fellow worker for Christ, Paul states that he is bold enough, or he has the authority to command Philemon to do what Paul thinks is required.

9

But Paul, out of love is appealing, pleading to Philemon, and before he reveals what his plea is for Paul adds that he is an old man and at the time of the writing of the letter is in prison for Christ.

10

Paul is appealing, pleading to Philemon for Onesimus, calling him his child, not biologically, but saying that through the teachings of Paul Onesimus had come to the faith and Paul now feels a closeness and love for him, much like that of a father to his son

11

That Paul says that formerly he, Onesimus, was useless to Philemon. The fact that Onesimus stole money and ran away to Rome speaks of his probable uselessness as a servant, but also formerly he was a unsaved sinner and spiritually useless as well. But now Onesimus has been saved and is very useful, both in helping Paul with his ministry but also spiritually useful to both Paul and Philemon.

12

Under Roman law it was unlawful for a slave to run away from his master, Paul was very aware of that, but Paul is sending Onesimus back to Philemon, saying that he is sending his very heart shows the love and care he has for Onesimus. Paul sending Onesimus back to Philemon sets the stage for a beautiful lesson of forgiveness.

13-16

13

This section has the heart of the plea Paul has on behalf of Onesimus, Paul would have been glad to keep Onesimus with him as a fellow worker and aid to him in his duties, saying that Onesimus would have been serving Paul on behalf of Philemon, Paul could have sent in this letter that Onesimus was now a believer in Christ and instead of sending Onesimus to Philemon, Paul in the letter could have asked Philemon for permission to keep his slave with him in Rome in order to aid Paul.

14

But this may have put Philemon feeling like he was being compelled or would feel obligated to aid Paul in whatever way he asked him, Paul would rather send Onesimus back to him to be forgiven, as we have been forgiven much so should we forgive others. Paul does want Onesimus to help and aid him but only if Philemon was willing to forgive him and release him to be able to rejoin Paul.

15

Paul speculates that this could have been why through God’s sovereignty Onesimus parted, ran away, from Philemon, so that he could meet Paul and be saved thus having him back forever.

16

But no longer his slave, Philemon and Onesimus are now brothers in Christ, Paul says especially to him as he feels the love of a father for him, but because of the past relationship between Philemon and Onesimus, if Philemon were to forgive and release Onesimus, how much more of a stronger bond they would have, both personally, in the flesh, but also this would forge a strong spiritual bond between them.

17-21

17

Paul tells Philemon if he considers Paul his partner, if he thinks that they both are working for the same goals, for the same Lord and Savior Christ and for his glory, then receive Onesimus as he would receive Paul, not as a runaway slave but as a fellow worker and now a fellow slave of Jesus Christ working together for the spread of the Gospel and the glory of God.

18

But Paul does not want what Onesimus had taken from him to be yet another stumbling block in the path of his forgiveness so he tells Philemon that whatever wrong Onesimus has done, whatever was stolen, charge that to Paul. Paul now owes Philemon whatever was taken wrongfully by Onesimus.

19

Paul assures Philemon, and the church that it is with his own hand he writes this, he is not being compelled or coerced by anyone. Paul will pay whatever debt is owed by Onesimus. But Paul also adds that whatever material debt was now owed by Paul on the behalf of Onesimus, Philemon’s debt owed to Paul as being the instrument God used to bring him to saving faith was a debt that Philemon could never repay.

20

Paul directly lets Philemon know that he wishes to see some fruit from him with Onesimus. The ESV translates the end of verse 20 as “Refresh my heart in Christ” and the KJV “Refresh my bowels in the Lord” The Greek word splanchnon meaning affection but also also inward parts, entrails, or vicera, the different translations showing the differing thoughts of where emotions are formed in the body, in the bowels during the time of the KJV translation and the heart in modern times. Also the same Greek word was used earlier in verse 12 when Paul said that he was sending Philemon back his very heart.

21

Paul ends his request or plea to Philemon encouraging him that he know that he will do the right thing in this matter, and even more than Paul has requested of him which is to show, practice, and display Christian forgiveness, for the sake of Onesimus, but also for himself and as a shining example to the church and those in his care, and that is the heart of what Paul is requesting of Philemon and by the Holy Spirit all of us.

22-25

22

Paul confident of his impending release asks Philemon to prepare a room for him, telling Philemon that when he is free he will be coming to Colosse to visit Philemon also saying that he is praying for this very thing, his release so he can come to Philemon.

23

Epaphras, who founded the church in Colosse Colossians 1:5–7 “because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf” was there with Paul giving his greetings as well.

24

Mark, the author of the Gospel according to Mark and Acts, who fell out of favor with Paul when he left him and Barnabas in Acts 13:13 there listed with his fill name John Mark, but now their relationship is restored and by mentioning Mark Paul reminds Philemon of his own pattern of forgiveness. Aristarchus also being mentioned in Acts and Colossians, Demas in Colossians and 2 Timothy, and Luke the author of Luke all giving their greetings to Philemon.

25

Paul then ending his letter much like he began it and ends many of his other letters “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit”