Bible Diary - Philemon 8-25
April 13, 2008
The runaway slave of Philemon, Onesimus, has become a Christian and is now with Paul. Here is how Paul deals with the situation
Paul’s Request for Onesimus
1:8 So, although I have quite a lot of confidence in Christ and could command you to do what is proper, 1:9 I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love – I, Paul, an old man and even now a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus – 1:10 I am appealing to you concerning my child, whose spiritual father I have become during my imprisonment, that is, Onesimus, 1:11 who was formerly useless to you, but is now useful to you and me. 1:12 I have sent him (who is my very heart) back to you. 1:13 I wanted to keep him so that he could serve me in your place during my imprisonment for the sake of the gospel. 1:14 However, without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your good deed would not be out of compulsion, but from your own willingness. 1:15 For perhaps it was for this reason that he was separated from you for a little while, so that you would have him back eternally, 1:16 no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a dear brother. He is especially so to me, and even more so to you now, both humanly speaking and in the Lord. 1:17 Therefore if you regard me as a partner, accept him as you would me. 1:18 Now if he has defrauded you of anything or owes you anything, charge what he owes to me. 1:19 I, Paul, have written this letter with my own hand: I will repay it. I could also mention that you owe me your very self. 1:20 Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ. 1:21 Since I was confident that you would obey, I wrote to you, because I knew that you would do even more than what I am asking you to do. 1:22 At the same time also, prepare a place for me to stay, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given back to you.
Concluding Greetings
1:23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you. 1:24 Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my colaborers, greet you too. 1:25 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Philemon the slaveholder is a Christian. His slave, Onesimus, ran away and then became a Christian, but he is still accountable before God for his rebellion against Philemon. They are now Christian brothers, and reconciliation is necessary, so Paul boldly sends Onesiums home and pleads with Philemon to receive him as a brother, even as he would receive Paul himself. What a tall order! As far as I know, no one knows how this all worked out.
The message I see here for me is that changed lives means changed relationships. There can be no enmity between Christian brothers and sisters. In some cases, supernatural intervention is the only solution, but this cannot happen unless both hearts are touched and are made willing. In the case of Philemon and Onesimus, perhaps this is what happened.
Dave
-sdg-
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