Get Ready
The last of Paul’s letters is one of the most unusual books in the Bible. It is a very personal letter from Paul to a “dear friend and co-worker” pleading on behalf of an escaped slave named Onesimus, who is a Christian and who has served Paul in prison in Rome.
Author
While there is no question that Paul wrote this brief letter, some authorities, almost from the beginning, have argued about the value of the letter and its place in the New Testament canon. There is no theology, no direction for Christian living, no guidance for church leaders, nor any encouragement to spread the Gospel. There is only Paul’s personal and humble appeal to Philemon regarding his slave, Onesimus.
But the letter shows us a very personal look at Paul and his feelings about how believers should relate to one another, regardless of their respective position or status in the larger world. The character and values that Paul displays are as important today as they were in the first century.
Context
Paul probably wrote this letter at the same time as his letter to the Colossian church, during his imprisonment in Rome (60-61 CE.).
Philemon was a leader and host of a house church in Colossae and a “dear friend and co-worker” of Paul. One of Philemon’s slaves, Onesimus, ran away (and probably stole some money in the process). Evidently he met Paul, who converted him to Christianity. He became an effective associate to Paul, who referred to him as “my child.”
Paul would have liked to keep Onesimus with him to continue spreading the Gospel; but Roman law provided very harsh penalties for escaped slaves – and anyone who harbored them. Further, keeping the slave would disrupt his relationship with a fellow believer. Paul knew returning Onesimus to Philemon was the only way to set things right. He sent the slave and this letter with Tychicus to Colossae.
Structure
Paul opens this very short letter with a greeting and praise for Philemon. The bulk of the letter is Paul’s plea for Onesimus, which is followed by some personal greetings and a blessing.
Major Themes
Paul actually is making two pleas in this letter.
- On the surface he is appealing to Philemon to accept Onesimus back into his service and back into the Christian community in Colossal. He bases his appeal on their relationship as Christians: If you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account, [Phm 17-18]. He even notes he is writing this in his own hand.
- But Paul is also requesting that Philemon release Onesimus and allow him to return to serving him in Rome. He grounds this appeal in the work of spreading the Gospel: I wanted to keep him with me, so that he might be of service to me in your place during my imprisonment for the Gospel, [Phm 13]. He also says: Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ, [Phm 20].
This letter also displays Paul’s humility. Even though he believes he could order Philemon to accept Onesimus, Paul says I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love – and I, Paul, do this as an old man, and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus, [Phm 9]. He also says, I preferred to do nothing without your consent, in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced, [Phm 14].
Get into the Word
1. Who wrote this letter? What is unusual about the letter? Why do some question if it belongs in the Bible? Why is it included?
2. What is the situation that this letter deals with? Where does this take place? Who are the major characters in this incident? What are their roles in the church? In the larger society?
3. When did Paul probably write this letter? Where is he at the time? What is his situation? What does Paul do to try to resolve the situation? Who is involved? Why does Paul take the action he does? What might happen if the situation is not successfully resolved?
4. How does Paul organize this letter? What is he asking Philemon to do? How does Paul explain his request? How does he anticipate a possible objection from Philemon? How do you suppose Philemon felt about getting Paul’s letter? How might you have felt if you had been involved?
5. What is Paul asking of Philemon on a deeper level? Why do you think Paul asks for this “benefit”? What role does Paul want Onesimus to play in his work? How do you think Philemon reacted to this request?
6. What else does this letter show about Paul and the early church? How would you describe Paul’s attitude toward Philemon? Toward the church?
Bible Trivia:
Onesimus means “worthless” or “without benefit” in Greek.
Paul is making a play on words when he describes the slave in v. 11, and then asks for “this benefit” in v. 20.
Notes: The Bible and Slavery
Slavery was a part of human culture throughout the period of time covered by the Bible. In fact, God blessed Noah’s sons, Shem and Japheth, and said Canaan, the son of Ham, would be their slave because Ham looked at Noah’s drunken nakedness [Gen 9:25-27]. The Israelites were slaves in Egypt prior to the Exodus, and then slaves in Babylon after the fall of Israel. In the New Testament, Jesus refers to slaves in several of the parables.
Slavery was an integral part of the culture; it was the foundation of the Greek and Roman economy in Paul’s time. The early church included slaves as well as free people in every commu-nity. Neither Jesus nor Paul advocated for any change in this situation.
But both Jesus and Paul presented the Gospel, which radically changed the believer’s relationship to God. This change was greater and more important than any social, political or cultural change in a person’s status in this world.
While we cannot know for certain Paul’s personal view of slavery, we do know that he encouraged all believers to behave toward one another as citizens of God’s kingdom where there is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male or female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus, [Gal 3:28].
74: Paul’s plea for a slave — Philemon 1-25
Get Ready
How would you respond if you found something you knew was important or valuable to another person, but keeping it would really help you in your current situation? Would you return it as soon as possible without condition? Or might you try to get the other person to accomodate your needs?
The Word
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,
To Philemon our dear friend and co-worker,
2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 When I remember you in my prayers, I always thank my God 5 because I hear of your love for all the saints and your faith toward the Lord Jesus. 6 I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective when you perceive all the good that we may do for Christ. 7 I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother.
8 For this reason, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do your duty, 9 yet I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love—and I, Paul, do this as an old man, and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus. 10 I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful both to you and to me. 12 I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. 13 I wanted to keep him with me, so that he might be of service to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel; 14 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent, in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced. 15 Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back forever, 16 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.
17 So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it. I say nothing about your owing me even your own self. 20 Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ. 21 Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you,
knowing that you will do even more than I say.
22 One thing more—prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping through your prayers to be restored to you. 23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, 24 and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. NRSV
Get into the Word
1. Who is Paul writing to? Who is with him? What does he mention first? What does he say about Philemon? What has he done for the church? How does this affect Paul.
2. What is Paul’s main subject? How does he begin his request? What could he have done? What is the basis for his appeal? What is he asking Philemon to do? On whose behalf does he ask? What is the current situation?
3. What is Onesimus’ role with Paul? What does Paul really want to happen? Why does Paul need Philemon’s agreement? What is changed about the relationship between Philemon and Onesimus? What does Paul offer to do to make things right?
4. What is Paul’s other request? How does Paul end his letter?
Get Personal
How do you relate to different people in your church? How do you respond to difficult situations? How does God help you to see the “saint” in all people?
Notes . . .
1. Paul, a prisoner — Paul follows his usual pattern of identifying himself and mentioning, when appropriate, his co-workers. In this case “prisoner” is accurate – he is under house arrest in Rome.
2. Philemon . . . Apphia . . . Archippus — Philemon is a church leader, Apphia is probably his wife, and Archippus is either a son or another church leader.
Church in your house — Philemon is the host for a group of believers that regularly meets in his house. Practically all Christians worshipped in private homes to avoid the persecutions that would become more frequent in the later part of the first century.
9. Appeal to you on the basis of love — Paul has already commended Philemon for his “love for all the saints,” [vv. 5, 7]; here he asks the same consideration for Onesimus.
Old man . . . prisoner — Paul also uses his age and hardship to encourage Philemon to “do your duty.”
10. My child — teachers often referred to their disciples as “sons.”
11. Useless . . . useful — Paul is using a play on words: “Onesimus” means useless in Greek. Evidently the slave had become part of Paul’s team spreading the Gospel and was, in a sense, serving
in Philemon’s place on the team.
14. Your consent — Onesimus was Philemon’s property; for Paul to keep him or force Philemon to give him up would damage their relationship as fellow Christians, as well as break Roman law.
15. Was separated — Paul implies that God was behind the situation: a fairly short time of loss would lead to a permanent relationship as fellow followers of Christ – “beloved brothers.”
17. Partner — Paul gives Onesimus the same relationship status that he has with Philemon.
19. I will repay it — verses 18-19 are formal language for acknowledging debt; Paul wants to deal with any objection Philemon might have to accepting Onesimus. He also mentions Philemon’s debt to him for his salvation.
20. Benefit — continues the wordplay from v. 11; Paul really wants Philemon to return Onesimus to Rome to continue working with Paul there.
21. Guest room — evidently Paul expects to be released and plans to visit the churches in Asia Minor.
23. Epaphras — founded the Colossian church [Col 1:7]. Mark, Aristarchus and Demas had worked with Paul; Luke accompanied Paul on his last missionary journey and wrote the Gospel of Luke and Acts.
Memory Verse
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, [Philemon 3].
Next Lesson
Hebrews 4, 8: Christ the Great High Priest.
