Philemon Review

 Philemon Review

Paul was writing to another Christian about a runaway slave who had been helping him.  Onesimus, the runaway slave, had been converted to Christianity by Paul’s preaching, but that didn’t change his status in the world.  If we are saved today by accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, that does not change who we are in the eyes of the world.  We will still have to accept the consequences of our actions.

Paul wished for Onesimus to stay with him and help him, but he did not demand that Philemon allow him to do so.  We cannot demand that other Christians give us something that is theirs in the view of the world, but we can let them know how allowing us to have whatever it is might help us.

Paul was imprisoned even though he had never been a slave.  In fact, he had been Roman, a devout Jew before he became a devout Christian   Onesimus had been a slave, but was now physically free, but just as they were both spiritually free, this did not free Paul physically and Onesimus could not just ignore his earthly status, no matter how much they might both want this.  Just because we are spiritually free as followers of Christ, this doesn’t free us from our earthly situation.  We must live in obedience to God’s word, which tells us that we should live by the laws of the world, unless they contradict His word.

Paul was sending Onesimus back to Philemon and asked him to allow him to return to continue to help him, but he left the decision up to Philemon.  Though Paul was a well know preacher, he didn’t allow this to make him think that he was superior to Philemon.  No matter how important we may think we are as a Christian nor no matter how we might be viewed as important by the world, we are all equal in the eyes of the world. 

Paul asked Philemon to have a place ready for him to stay if he got his desire and was allowed to return.  We should always be ready to help our fellow believers, though they should never demand help from us.

Next, we will look at the book of James.

Philemon 1:19

Philemon 1:19 says, I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.  Paul said he wrote this letter by his own hand and that he would repay Philemon if he thought Paul owed him anything for keeping Onesimus with him for a while.  We cannot just keep things that belong to others even if they are useful to us in carrying out God’s word without their permission.  This is not to say that Onesimus was a thing instead of a person, but we generally don’t have slaves to keep today.  Then Paul seems to remind Philemon that he owed his own life to Paul, which I think would be his spiritual conversion, though Paul may have saved his life at some point in time.  Though we might remind someone that we have led to the Lord that we did this if we need something from them, I don’t believe that we should.  

Verse twenty adds, Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.  Paul asked that Philemon allow him to have joy in him in the Lord and refresh his bowels or heart as we would say.  This was a continuation of Paul appealing to Philemon to act in faith in Christ in dealing with Onesimus and with Paul himself.  It is always a good thing for us to ask for other Christians to act out of faith in Christ as they deal with us if they think we owe them something.  

Verse twenty-one continues, Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.  Paul then said that he had confidence in Philemon’s obedience to God, knowing that he would do even more than Paul asked.  We should always expect the best of our fellow Christians as we interact with them, and they should always expect the best from us. 

Verse twenty-two states, But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.  Paul then asked Philemon to prepare a place for him to stay since he hoped that prayers would be answered and he would be able to come to Philemon soon.  We shouldn’t be ashamed to ask our fellow believers for help if we need it to accomplish God’s purpose, but it should always be done in prayer.  Likewise, they shouldn’t be ashamed to ask us for help if they need it. 

Verse twenty-three adds, There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;  Paul asked Philemon to salute Epaphras, whom he referred to as a fellow prisoner in Jesus Christ, which implies he had also been imprisoned for his faith.  We should always uplift those who are imprisoned for their faith in Christ today in prayer, even if we have never been imprisoned ourselves.  

Verse twenty-four continues, Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.  Paul then mentioned four men that he referred to as fellow laborers that Philemon was to salute as well.  These four were listed as different from Epaphras, which would imply they had never been imprisoned for their faith.  Once more, we should always be in prayer for our fellow believers and lift them up in prayer as they do God’s work.  

Verse twenty-five concludes, The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.  Paul closed by asking that the grace of their Lord Jesus Christ be with Philemon in his spirit.  This should always be our prayer for our fellow believers.

Philemon 1:12

Philemon 1:12 says, Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:  Paul told Philemon that even though Onesimus had been a help to him, he was sending him to Philemon once more since Philemon was his master.  He asked that Philemon receive him as though he was Paul’s own son.  Paul did not just allow Onesimus to remain with him even though he might have wanted to, but he did what would leave the decision up to Philemon.  Since we are servants of Christ, we should do what is best for Him when we interact with other Christians instead of just wanting what we think is best for us.  We must leave their calling to service up to God. 

Verse thirteen adds, Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:  As just discussed, Paul said he would have rather kept Onesimus with him that he might have continued to minister with him in the bonds of the gospel in Philemon's place.  The implication was that Philemon himself could have been there to support Paul, but since he couldn’t then Onesimus could have served in his place.  We really can’t serve in anyone else’s place in spreading the gospel, but if we can’t go to a certain place, we should be willing to support those who can and are called to do so, even if they are someone we would like to keep with us.  

Verse fourteen continues, But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.  Paul said that without Philemon’s agreement to allow Onesimus to remain with him, he could do nothing, since he would only allow Onesimus to remain with Philemon’s blessing.  We may desire to keep someone close to us to help us as we do God’s work today, but we must leave the decision up to God.  

Verse fifteen states, For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;  Paul said that possibly Onesimus left Philemon for a season so that he could return to him forever willingly to serve him.  We as Christians, servants of God, may leave serving him out of rebellion for a while, but if we do, we need to return to him willing so that we might be profitable to him once more.  

Verse sixteen adds, Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?  Paul said that Onesimus would return not just as a servant but as a brother in Christ.  He asked how much more Onesimus would be worth both as a servant and a brother in the faith.  No matter what our relationship might be with other Christians in the eyes of the world today, we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. 

Verse seventeen continues, If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.  Paul said that if Philemon regarded Paul as a partner to receive Onesimus as he would receive Paul.  We should always receive or view all Christians as equals, no matter what their standing might be in the world.  

Verse eighteen concludes, If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;  Paul told Philemon that if Onesimus owed him anything to put it on Paul’s account.  Jesus Christ put all that we owed as a sacrifice for sin on His account, so we should not think that anyone else is in anyway indebted to us for their salvation.