Trusting One Another in Christ

Introduction:

Paul has brought this very intimate letter to its key point.

The Apostle calls upon Philemon to think of his runaway slave, Onesimus, in Christ.

He wants him to think of his departure from the perspective of the new, closer relationship that he may have with Onesimus in Christ.

Paul has modeled the very kind of behavior he calls upon Philemon to exhibit.

He has foregone any inherent power in the apostolic office to compel action.

He has avoided manipulation based upon age or imprisonment.

Philemon has legal rights, but Paul wants him to look at this situation from a different point of view.

Terms of shared relationships, mutual partnership saturate this letter.

We are reminded that Christianity is public not private.

The only way to demonstrate the private relationship is through public obedience through attitudes and actions that benefit other, fellow believers.

Paul Expresses Confidence in Philemon:

Paul wrote this letter to Philemon in full confidence of his obedience.

Paul does not seem to be trying to manipulate his chief recipient.

Instead, he is stating his view of Philemon’s character.

Biblical Christianity calls us to build confidence in one another. Just our bond with Jesus cannot be slack, so our closeness with one another must be taut. You and I rely on one another to do what God says toward one another. You rely on me to love you as God has loved us. I must have confidence in you too. You ask me to teach you the Word of God. That relationship places a burden on you too, namely, to react in the appropriate way even when the study of the scriptures challenges the way you think or behave. Notice the implications too, that Paul’s confidence is in how Philemon will act not merely in how he will think. Little can replace observable obedience for building the kind of tight-knit relations that we should have in Christ. Notice, also, how vulnerable this requires us to make ourselves. We are open to abuse and being taken for granted by the very people we should be able to trust not to take advantage of us. Mutual trust in Christ should result in an equal expectation of thought and behavior. We don’t just trust one another to share beliefs. We trust one another to value attitudes and behaviors that are consistent with the character of God.

Paul anticipated that the nature of this letter would not prevent future hospitality.

While Philemon complied with Paul’s request, he should also prepare for the future possibility of Paul’s arrival.

Paul, at that time, would benefit directly from Philemon’s hospitality toward him.

He should expect Paul as a guest and thus prepare a place for him to temporarily reside.

Paul expresses confidence in God’s deliverance of him from prison, and he saw this, as usual, as a gracious act of God on behalf of others more than himself.

Through their prayers, the Colossians would ask for Paul’s deliverance so they could be benefited from further instruction.

Paul’s freedom, were it to happen as Paul anticipates, will be a gracious act of God for them.

A Sobering Reminder of the Group around Paul

Paul understand his apostleship did not make him an island.

He routinely wrote of those closest to him and of their concerns for the letters’ respective recipients.

In Philemon 23-24, we get reminded of the ties this letter has to Colossians.

We also see that Paul uses terms of others that he uses of Philemon.

Of special note is Demas (see what will become of him in 2 Timothy 4:10).