Philemon 8-14

Recap:

Theme: The power of the gospel to transform lives and to impact human relationships.

Last week:

The foundation for all effective evangelism: The overflow of a life touched and changed by God.

For Philemon that meant sharing his material things. For others it might be lending your ear or shoulder. The goal is to alway point people to Jesus in any situation, whether good or bad.

vv 8-11) Philemon addressed about Onesimus

[8] Now Paul comes to the main purpose of the letter, and that is to intercede for Onesimus. The question is how will he approach the tricky subject?

As an apostle, could justifiably say to Philemon, “Listen to what I have to say, it is your duty to forgive and restore the runaway slave. So do it.”

Remember in the opening of the letter he didn’t use his title “apostle.”

What does that tell us?

Paul could have ordered him to do it, and Philemon would no doubt have obeyed. But that would have been a shallow victory.

[[Parenting for lasting change]]

[9] If the apostle didn’t win Philemon’s heart, Onesimus might have returned to be put to death.

Paul appeals for love’s sake instead of making a command.

Why would that be more important?

A loving appeal is often better than an authoritative command. Paul wasn’t hesitant to command when the situation demanded it: 1 Corinthians 5:4-5

1 Corinthians 5:4–5 ESV

4 When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.

But in wisdom he knew when to use the loving appeal.

I think we can all agree that loving obedience is much more effective than an authoritative command.

John 14:15 ESV

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

John 14:21 ESV

21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

Paul is hoping that Philemon’s love would reach across the sea where an aged ambassador of Christ was a prisoner for Jesus. (some translations have “aged” while others “ambassador” there is a difference of one letter between the two Greek words.

We don’t know the exact age of Paul during this time. It is estimated to be somewhere between the ages of 53–63.

He wasn’t looking for sympathy, but he did hope that Philemon would weigh these factors in making his decision.

[10] In the Greek this verse reads a little different.

“I appeal to you concerning my child, whom I have birth to while in the bonds, Onesimus.”

By the time Philemon reached the name of his slave, he was completely disarmed. Imagine his surprise when he learned that the “scoundrel” had been converted and, even more surprising, had been led to Christ through Paul’s prison ministry.

It was logical that Onesimus escaped to Rome, the biggest city of the Roman Empire.

“Rome was the natural cesspool for these offscourings of humanity.” -Lightfoot

But at his providential meeting of Paul in Rome, Onesimus met the man who led his master Philemon to the Lord.

One of the hidden delights of Christianity is to see God working in marvelous, miraculous ways, revealing Himself in converging circumstances that cannot be explained by coincidence or chance.

When Paul made this appeal on behalf of Onesimus, he was following deep traditions in the Roman culture, There was an ancient Greek law (inherited by the Romans) allowing any escaped slave sanctuary at an altar. The altar could even be the hearth of a private family home; then the head of the family was obligated to give the slave protection while he tried to persuade him to return to his master. If the slave refused, the head of the family would put the slave up for auction and give the price for the slave to the former master. Paul gave Onesimus protection, and now was working the issue out with Philemon.

Paul often spoke of his converts as his “children.” Timothy, Titus, the Corinthian Christians, and the Galatian Christians were each called Paul’s “children”

[11] This is a play on words. Onesimus means profitable. But when he ran away, Philemon found him to be worthless.

It was only through the saving power of Jesus Christ that Onesimus could live up to what his name meant.

What is the application for us living today?

Paul claims that in Christ the useless person has been made useful.

It has been said that in NT times Christian slaves commanded a higher price on the market than others. it should be true today that Christian employees are more valuable as workers than unbelievers.

vv 12-14) Sending Onesimus back

Something to note is the attitude of the NT toward slavery really comes into focus in this Epistle. We notice that Paul doesn’t condemn slavery or prohibit it either. In fact, he sends Onesimus back to his master. but the abuses connected with slavery are condemned and prohibited throughout the NT.

Forcible revolution is not the Bible way to correct social evils. Why?

The cause of man’s inhumanity lies in his own fallen nature and sin. The gospel attacks the root cause, and offers a new creation in Jesus.

It is conceivable that a slave who has a kind master might be better off than if he were independent.

Is it not true, for the believers, who are bondservants of Jesus? Those who are His slaves enjoy the truest form of freedom.

Paul wasn’t doing an injustice to the slave. Both master and slave were believers.

Onesimus had done something wrong in that he escaped from his master. It was time to set that right, so Paul was willing to send him back.

Yet Paul obviously wanted Philemon to deal gently with Onesimus. However, under Roman law the slave owner had complete and total control over his slave.

“Roman law… practically imposed no limits to the power of the master over his slave. The alternative of life or death rested solely with Philemon, and slaves were constantly crucified for far lighter offenses than this”– Lightfoot

Considering the huge number of slaves in the Roman Empire, they thought the harsh punishment against escaped or rebellious slaves was necessary. In an Empire with as many as 60 million slaves, there were constant fears of a slave revolt.

Therefore, laws against runaway slaves were strict. When captured, a runaway slave might be crucified, or branded with a red-hot iron on the forehead with what would be the equivalent letter “f” for fugitive.

Because both Philemon and Onesimus were Christians. Philemon would be obligated to treat him with Christian kindness. Onesimus would be expected to serve with Christian faithfulness.

Let’s ask ourselves an important question:

Now that Onesimus was saved, was it necessary for him to return to his former master?

The answer is yes. Salvation removes the penalty and power of sin, but it doesn’t cancel debts. The new Christian is expected to settle all unpaid accounts and to make right all wrongs, insofar as it is humanly possible.

Onesimus was obligated to return to his master’s service, and to repay any money which he might have stolen.

[13] The apostle’s personal reference would have been to keep the slave with him in Rome. There were doubtless many things that the converted slave could have for Paul while he was imprisoned for the gospel’s sake.

And this would have been an opportunity for Philemon to minister to the apostle—by providing an assistant. But it would have the drawback of being done without Philemon’s knowledge or permission.

Paul sweetened his appeal in three ways:

First, if Onesimus stayed he could serve Paul on Philemon’s behalf.

Secondly, if Onesimus stayed he helped a man imprisoned.

Thirdly, if Onesimus stayed he helped a man in chains for the gospel.

[14] Paul would not force kindness from the slave’s owner by keeping Onesimus with him in Rome. He would do nothing in connection with Onesimus without Philemon’s consent. The kindness would be robbed of its beauty if it were done by compulsion and not by a free and living willingness.

[application???]

Romans 15:5–6 ESV

5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.