Philemon is the shortest of Paul’s letters. This is one of only five books in the Bible with one chapter Philemon has eleven names in the book and has a broad message of reconciliation originally written to the church at Colossae, meaning it is to be read by more than Philemon. It is one of the five one chapter books of the Bible. This one has a special story that helps us understand radical reconciliation.
Philemon 17-22 So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me. 18If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. 19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it—to say nothing of your owing me even your own self. 20Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ. 21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. 22 At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be graciously given to you. 23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, 24and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. 25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Believers are called to a ministry of reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5:18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.
Galatians 6:1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
Paul teaches us how to do this. Paul providentially knew Philemon. Could you imagine how Onesimus must have felt when Paul told him that he had led his former master to Christ? This was an act of a sovereign God.
1. Paul discovers a problem.
Paul wins a runaway slave to Christ. As many as one third of the Roman empire was in slavery. Slavery was not an institution based upon skin color or race at this time. Slavery crossed all barriers. A slave was subject to the master. The runaway slave could be killed by the master.
Paul was not afraid to confront the evils of society. His wants to deal with slavery by calling on Christians to deal with others in love. Nothing in the Bible ordains or sanctions slavery. Slavery is evidence of the human condition of depravity.
Philemon 10-12 I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. 11(Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.) 12I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart.
2. Paul draws attention to the problem by involving the Body of Christ.
Could you imagine how Philemon must have felt when he received this public letter with eleven names in it? This was a public issue. Paul wanted to make Philemon understand that this was a public matter that impacted the Body of Christ.
The idea of the house church is important here. There were no church buildings until the third century. There are eight references in the New Testament to churches meeting in homes.
Philemon 13-16 I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel, 14but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord. 15For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, 16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
3. Paul offers a solution to the problem. Use the right word at the right time to the right person.
Jesus said it this way…
Matthew 18:15 "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.”
Paul uses forceful tact to deal with this situation. Paul was a spiritual, psychological genius. Paul identified himself as a prisoner (five times in this book). This evokes the compassion of Philemon toward Onesimus. Paul identifies Philemon and his family as fellow workers. Philemon is probably angry and bitter. Yet, Paul commends his love for the saints…and then unveils that Onesimus is now a saint also. Paul even identifies Onesimus as his son. Perhaps Onesimus was present at the reading of this letter.
From bondage to brotherhood is the theme. Paul, writing from Rome during his first imprisonment, asks Philemon (his wife is probably Apphia—identified in church tradition as a martyr of the faith) to take back Onesimus—a runaway slave converted by Paul—as a brother, not as a slave. Paul asks him to do this unconditionally.
Paul said that he would personally take care of any debts that Onesimus owed.
Philemon 18-19 If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. 19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it—to say nothing of your owing me even your own self.
Onesimus ran to Rome, possibly with money from Philemon, thinking he would get away from his problems.
4. Paul insists that the problem be addressed and that reconciliation take place.
Philemon 17 So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me.
Paul’s command is as follows…
• Receive Onesimus.
Onesimus placed his life on the line to make things right. Of course he did not want to be a slave. Most sane people would not have wanted to obey Paul and be reconciled to a master. Yet, Onesimus trusted his spiritual leader. Paul exuded Godly wisdom. Paul was confident that a genuine believer would do the right thing—with regards to Philemon.
• Reckon his expenses to my account.
• Refresh my heart (my innermost being)…with your actions.
Philemon 20 Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.
What good are friends if you cannot use them?
Church tradition states that Onesimus was a prominent pastor in Asia Minor. Also, some sources state that Onesimus was a part of the gathering of Paul’s writings. It is assumed that Philemon handled this with humility and compassion…otherwise this book would not have been in the New Testament.
This story presents the Gospel by way of analogy. We were all runaways—sinners running from God. Someone on our behalf has pleaded our case—putting our sin to their account (Jesus). We can be restored. We are slaves becoming adopted as brothers—even more so—adopted as Sons of God.
The Cross and the Gospel must guide every step in reconciling people to God and to each other.
