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. 

Philemon 1:7

Philemon 1:7 says, For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.  Paul told Philemon that he was a great joy and consolation to them because of his refreshing the saints.   He doesn’t specify who was with him at this time nor does he say how Philemon had refreshed the saints, but I believe he may have helped meet their physical needs.  We need people today who are willing to meet not only the spiritual but also the physical needs of others, especially our fellow Christians when they are in need.  

Verse eight adds, Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,  Paul then said he could claim that he had the right in Christ to make a demand of Philemon to do what was convenient for Paul.  Though we may be doing a lot for God today and be in need of something that someone else could provide, we don’t have the right to demand that they do so.  

Verse nine continues, Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.  Paul said that out of love for Christ that he wasn’t going to make a demand of Philemon but was going to ask him for something.  He identified himself as Paul the aged but said that Philemon was a prisoner of Christ as well, not physically but spiritually.  We should never think that we should be able to make demands of other Christians just because we have a need and have been a follower of Christ longer than they have.  

Verse ten states, I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:  Paul said he was writing to Philemon on behalf of his son Onesimus, who had accepted Jesus Christ when Paul witnessed to him, even though Paul was imprisoned at the time.  Our circumstances should never dictate whether we witness for God or not.  We should continue to worship no matter what.  

Verse eleven adds, Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:   Paul said that at one time Onesimus had not been profitable to Philemon, but now he was profitable to both Philemon and Paul.  Onesimus was a runaway slave, and as such he was not profitable to Philemon, but now he was willing to return, still as a slave, and was helping Paul in the meantime, so he was profitable to both of them.  Before we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we are running away from God and are unprofitable to Him spiritually, but once we accept Jesus Christ, we become spiritually profitable to God and should also be a spiritual help to those around us. 

Philemon 1:1

Philemon 1:1 says, Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,  Paul identified himself as a prisoner of Jesus Christ, which could be viewed two ways.  He was spiritually imprisoned or totally controlled by his faith in Jesus Christ, and he was also physically imprisoned for his faith in Jesus Christ.  We as followers of Christ should always be spiritually imprisoned to Him by our faith even if we are never physically imprisoned for our faith in Him.  He also said that this letter was from Timothy as well, so I don’t know if Timothy had come to see Paul or if maybe he too was imprisoned for his faith by then.  He said the letter was to Philemon, who he identified as a fellow laborer.  As Christians, we should all be fellow laborers with all other Christians.  Paul didn’t say that Timothy and he were above Philemon, but that they were all equal by their faith in Jesus Christ, and so are all Christians today.  

Verse two adds, And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:  Paul then identified two other people that he was addressing and called them fellow soldiers.  As followers of Christ, we are spiritually at war with the world today, and we need to be spiritually equipped to fight the good fight of faith, as Paul had said earlier that he had done.  He also stated that a church was at Philemon’s house and greeted the members of it as well.  The early church did not have buildings set aside for the worship of God, but met in the homes of fellow believers, often at great danger to themselves.  In some parts of the world, this is still true today.  We have it so much easier here in America but often act as though we are somehow better than these suffering and struggling Christians in other parts of the world.   

Verse three continues, Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Paul asked that the grace and peace of God be on these fellow believers, just as we should today.  Since we are redeemed and secured by God’s grace, we should be at peace no matter what is happening in our lives, even if we are imprisoned or even killed by our faith.  

Verse four states, I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,  Paul said he always thanked God for them and made mention of them in his prayers.  This should be what we as Christians do for our fellow believers today.  

Verse five adds, Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;  Paul said he had heard of their love and faith, which they had toward God and all other Christians.  We cannot be divided in our faith in Jesus Christ as His followers, but must love not only Him, but all of our fellow Christians.  We could say that we are to have a love for all people because of our faith, but here Paul only mentioned his fellow Christians.  I personally don’t believe that we can be a faithful follower of Christ and not have a spiritual love for all people, no matter how bad we may view them to be, since Jesus Christ died for them just as He did for us.  

Verse six continues, That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.  Paul said he prayed for them so that their faith would become factual to the world by acknowledging every good thing that they did for Christ.  All that we do today as Christians should be done to show the world that we are faithful to God though our faith in Jesus Christ.