Philemon: An Introduction is in Order

Introduction

The People — There are five people mentioned in the first two verses of the letter to Philemon...

Paul — Literally a prisoner. He was imprisoned in Rome because of his witness for Christ.

Timothy — Co-worker with Paul and likely acquainted with Philemon

Philemon — The actual recipient of the letter itself

Apphia — Likely the wife of Philemon

Archippus — Likely the son of Philemon and Apphia

These three individuals, Philemon, Apphia and Archippus were of the same household…one in which a church met…the church at Colosse.

This letter was a personal one to Philemon but it was also to be read to the church in Colosse along with the Epistle to the Colossians which Tychicus and Onesimus also carried with them from Paul.

The Occasion — Onesimus has been a slave belonging to Philemon…He had escaped and run as far as Rome. While in Rome he came to know Paul and became a Christian. Ironically and coincidentally to some…but not to us…we see God’s hand in everything…Paul had led his owner, Philemon to faith in Christ as well! Paul was now writing a letter on behalf of Onesimus in order to reconcile the two men.

Slavery — Everyone reading the book of Philemon is left with the question, “Is the Bible supporting slavery here?” “Paul is asking a slave owner to take back a slave!” The answer to this is an emphatic NO! The Bible does not advocating slavery!

Slavery in the Roman world was a fixture of the culture as it was throughout Biblical times. It had nothing to do with race…it was reprehensible but often less so than what we saw in 19th century America. It was horrible and immoral but it was also very different than what we usually associate with the practice in the United States.

Slavery in ancient Rome played an important role in society and the economy. Besides manual labor, slaves performed many domestic services, and might be employed at highly skilled jobs and professions. Accountants and physicians were often slaves. Slaves of Greek origin in particular might be highly educated. Unskilled slaves, or those sentenced to slavery as punishment, worked on farms, in mines, and at mills.

Slaves were often highly valued, well treated and given a great deal of freedom over their affairs. Many times they owned property and conducted business for themselves in addition to their servitude to an owner.

While important to note the differences that could be found throughout history and the Roman empire…it was still slavery…reprehensible, evil and a sin against both God and fellow man…Paul knew this! But it is important to remember something...

There were over 650,000 slaves in Rome during the time of Paul’s writing and the entire society rested upon the foundation of slavery. It could not be summarily abolished without throwing the entire society into chaos and creating a humanitarian crisis both for the slaves and the society as a whole.

So Paul does not come out with a blanket demand for Onesimus’ freedom and an end to the institution of slavery. This of course would be something our 21st century eyes would love to read in order to quiet our own conscience and sensibilities...

Instead, Paul lays the groundwork for an anti-slavery movement within the church. A movement, which in time, helped to end slavery in places all over the world but especially in the western world and our own country.

Social change comes when the hearts of people are changed. When people come to Christ and grow in their relationship with Him a genuine, lasting, powerful, eternal change happens.

Remember, Paul is the Apostle who said there is no slave or free in

Galatians 3:27–28 NASB95

For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Let’s not forget the power of those words and the theology they represent! The equality of all people is a bedrock tenant of our Christian faith. It represents how we are meant to live and see one another.

We are going to see something beautiful unfold in these three weeks…we are going to see a Christian leader encourage another Christian man to continue growing in his faith...to the point he would forgive, love and treat all people, even one of his former slaves, with equality as a fellow human being and brother in Christ.

Philemon 15–17 NASB95

For perhaps he was for this reason separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever, 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. If then you regard me a partner, accept him as you would me.

This is where we end up…Paul calling for Onesimus to be freed and received as an equal…a man…and even more…a brother in Christ…but first things first...

Philemon

He and Paul were good friends, brothers in Christ and co-workers for the Kingdom. This is what we are all meant to be with and for one another. This is more than words…I am not just to call you my friend or brother…I am not just to call you a fellow Christian…words have meaning!

A minister was asked to conduct the service of a godless man who was a member of his congregation, and the family insisted that a public funeral be held in the church. This was the brief and powerful sermon preached by the minister. Pointing to the coffin in front of him, he said, "This corpse has been a member of my church for twenty-five years."

He wasn’t just on the roll…Philemon was a believer and an active member of the church…he was a co-worker for the Kingdom.

This relationship led Paul to give thanks for Philemon, his friend and brother in Christ, every time he thinks of him. I think it is a worthy goal for all of us to illicit such sentiments from those around us when they think of us!

Far too often we are looking at what we get out of the people around us but not so with Paul…He is reminded of all the reasons he has to be thankful God put them in his life.

Great men and women of the faith should be an encouragement to us on at least two levels…when we see their strengths…and…when we see their weaknesses(they are not superhuman)…we see both sides of this coin in the life of Philemon.

The Strengths — Philemon was an outstanding man of faith and Paul compliments him in glowing terms...

Love — Paul says, “I hear of the love you have for Jesus and all of your brothers and sisters in Christ.” He was known to be a man who loved deeply. What does this really mean?

People are never commanded to love one another with φιλέω or φιλία, but only with ἀγαπάω and ἀγάπη. φιλέω and φιλία are likely to focus upon love or affection based upon interpersonal association, while ἀγαπάω and ἀγάπη focus upon love and affection based on deep appreciation and high regard. On the basis of this type of distinction, one can understand some of the reasons for the use of ἀγαπάω and ἀγάπη in commands to Christians to love one another.

Philemon had a deep love for God…not because of what God had done for Him but because of who God was to him. He recognized that God was God and deserved, on the basis of who He was, to be loved.

There is, however, one significant clue to possible meaningful differences in at least some contexts, namely, the fact that people are never commanded to love one another with φιλέω or φιλία, but only with ἀγαπάω and ἀγάπη. Though the meanings of these terms overlap considerably in many contexts, there are probably some significant differences in certain contexts; that is to say, φιλέω and φιλία are likely to focus upon love or affection based upon interpersonal association, while ἀγαπάω and ἀγάπη focus upon love and affection based on deep appreciation and high regard. On the basis of this type of distinction, one can understand some of the reasons for the use of ἀγαπάω and ἀγάπη in commands to Christians to love one another.

Philemon didn’t just love others because he liked them or because the two of you had common interests or tastes. Philemon loved you because he had a deep appreciation for you…he had a high regard for you…because you were a brother or sister in Christ.

Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 293). New York: United Bible Societies.

Faith — He lived his life with a trust and reliance upon God that was noteworthy to all who knew him.

We have been around people like that haven’t we? People of extraordinary faith who seemed unmoved by their circumstances because in all things they recognized God is God, is in control, He loves them and He can be completely trusted. This was the life of Philemon

The Bad — He was a slave owner. He owned another human being. This cannot be overlooked can it? We cannot give him a pass simply because he loved well and had strong faith in the Lord.

What this tells us is simply this…none of us are perfect and even the most faithful among us can have some glaring blind spots…sins…areas in which there needs to be repentance and recognition of Christ’s Lordship over us.

None of us attain perfection on this earth but we are all becoming perfected...we are all growing into the image of Christ as our mind, will and emotions are sanctified.

The Prayer — Paul says in verse 6 that his prayer for Philemon is that as he grows in the knowledge of his faith this knowledge will become active…will produce power and right living in him...that he will obey God more completely and actually live more and more perfectly.

In Ohio, one Saturday evening, a blacksmith sat down to his supper. He was supporting a girl in a mission school in India. On his plate had been placed a letter just received from India. He began to read, but soon said, "Wife, I must pray." The letter in question told that this girl was not only resisting Christ for herself, but was standing seriously in the way of others accepting Him. Unless a change should come very shortly in the girl, the missionary wrote, they would be obliged, for the sake of the other girls, to send her from the school altogether. The blacksmith entered into his closet and prayed. Saturday night in Ohio is Sunday morning in India. On that Sunday morning the missionary gathered with her class of girls in Sunday school as usual. The lesson, however, had not proceeded far until this incorrigible girl leaped from her seat, flung herself in tears at the feet of the missionary, and wept her way to the Saviour. The other girls were deeply moved. One by one they followed her example, and salvation came to the whole class that morning. Vital energy had been put forth by prayer in Ohio, and, as a result, great things came to pass in India.

Never underestimate the power of prayer for those whom you pray!

This prayer is a set up…Paul is setting Philemon up for a challenge to his way of living…He is going to challenge Philemon with regard to the subject of slavery and specifically his runaway slave Onesimus. Paul will challenge Philemon to forgive, see Onesimus as a human being not property and and set him free!

Don’t you love how God does this in our life? We know our faith but then God begins to apply it to the specifics of our life so we might more perfectly follow Him! He honors the prayers of those praying such for us!

For Christ’s Sake — These words are often used inappropriately. Someone, in a moment of frustration will implore someone to do something “for Christ’s sake” when of course the desired action has little or nothing to do with Christ. But there is a time when our actions are just that…for Christ’s sake!

Paul is going to ask Philemon to do something and it will be for the sake of Christ…for His name, honor and glory.

Conclusions

Christ Has Changed Us — You may not see it in yourself as readily as others can but if you are a believer in Christ there are things about you that are noteworthy already. he has changed you and made you different. All of us are a new creation and as new creatures in Christ we have been made more like Him than we were when we were lost.

None Of Us Are Perfect Yet — There are blind spots and perhaps not so blind spots in our life. God loves us so much that He will address these and challenge us to not only know our faith but to live it out as well…to repent and give up our sin.

For Christ’s Sake — Are you living your life for Christ’s sake? Perhaps this is the big take away this morning…that each of us would walk out of here asking ourselves if our life is reflecting what we say we believe for the sake of Christ’s honor and glory before a lost world.