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.