Philemon (NIV)
This is a letter from Paul to Philemon about his slave Onesimus. It is about being a prisoner – a prisoner of Christ Jesus or for Christ Jesus. It is about the salvation and transformation of a sinner to a believer and follower.
Onesimus was a slave, “owned” by Philemon. He likely stole from his master and ran away to the “big city”. Of all the people he could have met up with in that city, he ends up hooking up with the Apostle Paul – who ministers to him, leads him to the Lord and he becomes saved. We often forget that God is behind the scenes and has His hand over all of us.
Slavery in Roman times was extremely common – at least half the people in Rome were slaves at that time. The Roman laws were very lenient and allowed the slave owner to do anything he wanted with his “property” – slaves had no rights whatsoever and nothing an owner did to them was against the law.
1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,
To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker— 2 also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your home:
Paul opens his letter by identifying himself as the author, along with Timothy who is with him. He says that the Romans had put him in prison because of his service for and teachings of Jesus Christ.
Philemon (Fie-LEE-mon) was a dear friend, a BFF of sorts and a co-worker. He includes three additional people - Apphia who was probably Philemon’s wife, Archippus (Ar-CHIP-us) their son and to the church – the believers / people who gathered there / Christians. He wasn’t talking about a building as we know a church today. These people (fellow Christians) met in his home. He was obviously rich, wealthy because he owned slaves and a house that was large enough to be used as a gathering place to meet and praise the Lord.
3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Next comes one of Paul’s typical greetings which is a reminder of two of the more important things that comes along with being a Christian – God’s Grace and God’s Peace.
4 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. 6 I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. 7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.
Paul was thankful for Philemon and whenever he prayed he mentioned him. This is a reminder for us to be thankful for and to remember our Brothers and Sisters in Christ in our prayers. Paul tells him why he feels this way about Philemon – because of what he hears about him – because of his love for Jesus and his love for his brothers in the Lord. He keeps praying that the faith they hold in common keeps showing up in the good things they do and that people recognize Christ in all of it. Clearly Philemon had been a blessing to others, probably helped them out in practical ways as well as an encourager. We should pray that we reflect Jesus Christ through our actions and way of life.
8 Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9 yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus—
What Paul is saying here is the same thing we hear today – “do the right thing”. In the relationship Paul actually had the upper hand here – he had the advantage here and he had his authority – BUT he did not use that. Instead of strong-arming Philemon, Paul came from a different approach. Remember at the beginning of the letter he wrote “Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ” – he didn’t write “Paul an Apostle of Jesus Christ” as he did in many of his other letters with authority. The approach he took here was one of love (although we will note that he played “the age card” here and the fact that he was in prison). The lesson for us here is that we could approach things from an authority or strength or a power, but the more successful and pleasing outcome and better relationship would be to approach issues that need resolving with one another from the basis of love.
10 that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
Paul clearly states his request and explains who he is asking this favor for - Onesimus (Oh-NESS-i-mus) his Spiritual son. He says that he was previously worthless and now is useful. Isn’t this a commentary on all of us? That B.C. (before Christ) we were worthless and are now useful. Before we were saved, before we became Christians – in man’s economy we were probably okay, we did good things – we were helpful and kind. But in God’s economy (prior to being saved) we were pretty worthless. Isaiah 64:6 said “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags”.
12 I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you.
Paul went onto say that things had dramatically changed with Onesimus.
He says to receive him (Onesimus) as if he were him (Paul). This is a beautiful picture of how Christ imputes His righteousness to us and God receives us in Christ.
13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary.
Paul actually would have rather kept Onesimus with him but didn’t want to do anything without Philemon’s permission or overstep his boundaries.
15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever—
He casually points out that this short inconvenience of being robbed by his own slave and then by losing him might have just been part of God’s whole plan. Paul is alluding to God’s providence and that He has His hand in all of this with the end result being much better than it ever would have been.
16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.
These verses show the clearest picture of what happens to sinners who accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. Once in Christ, God no longer sees us as sinners, instead He sees us as sinners in Christ – He sees Christ and regards us the same as He regards His Son.
17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. 1
Paul says ‘if you have me as a partner, receive him as a partner. If he has wronged you – put that on my account.’ And that is exactly what Christ did for us. He says “You are now in me” and we can have access to God, to His throne of Grace. All the wrongs that we have done – all our past, present and future sins are on Christ.
The best verse of scripture I know of regarding past, present, and even future sins being taken care of and paid for by the death of Christ on the cross is as follows: "And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses," (Colossians 2:13 NKJV) Note, the important operative word in this verse is the little word "ALL." All means just that, All - past, present, & future.
19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. 20 I do wish, brother, that I may have 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 ask.
22 And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. 24 And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
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The following is a teaching outline I wrote in 2013. Some of you have already seen this but enjoy it again!
Accept My Son With Love, Please!!!
(Philemon 1:8 - 11)
I. Concentration: on obedience – ordered or commanded.
- “Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, . . . “ (v.8)
- “. . . yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul – an old man and now a prisoner of Christ Jesus --“ (v.9)
- “that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains.” (v.10)
- “Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.” (v.11)
II. Meditation: on forgiving and loving.
- From prison Paul writes a letter to his friend, Philemon, a slave owner, that as a brother in Christ he could order him to do what he (Paul) wants him to do.
- Instead, as a Christian, he implores him to love as Jesus commands; Paul reminds Philemon who he is … a follower and captive of Christ for many years into his old age.
- On behalf of Onesimus, who became like a son tending to him while he was in jail, Paul implores Philemon to forgive him for being a runaway slave who stole from him.
- Paul points out that before Onesimus was useless to Philemon as a slave; through conversion to Christianity he is useful to both of them to spread the Good News.
III. Revelation: on usefulness.
- As Christians, we have free will to do what we want – even if ordered to act a certain God-fearing, loving way – it is still our choice.
- We must remember that Scripture tells us Jesus commands us to love our brethren as we love ourselves – to the end of our earthly age.
- Are we slaves and prisoners to the materialism of this earth, running away from God thereby robbing ourselves of salvation or are we turning ourselves over to God and accepting Jesus as our Savior???
- We can either be useful for earthly good or we can be useful to God, focus on His plans and receive eternal life.
IV. Application: As a Christian, I need to:
- Make sure my will is not in conflict with God’s will by searching the Scriptures for the right answers thereby following God’s will.
- As Christ commands, love others regardless of their background, accusations, or crimes.
- Through my actions, show those who have run away from Christ how to run to Christ and be a slave to Him.
- Listen to God’s direction on how to make myself useful for His plan; follow where He leads; allow the Holy Spirit to fill me and guide me.