The letter to Philemon is sandwiched in between Titus and Hebrews, it is one of a small group of personal letters that Paul wrote. Surely there were more of these but these are the ones in our Bible. They are grouped together and include 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. All of Paul’s teaching letters were sent to churches in certain cities or provinces, but these four letters are directed to specific individuals. So they may give us a more personal view of Paul in everyday life.
Paul wrote the letter to Philemon in approximately 57-60A.D. probably during his first imprisonment in Rome. This letter was written at about the same time that he wrote his letters to the church at Ephesis (Ephesians) and to the church at Colosse (Colossians).
This is a letter written to Philemon by Paul who is accompanied by Timothy at this time.
The recipient is Philemon an influential member of the Church at Colosse in Asia Minor.
The letter is addressed to Philemon, his wife Apphia, and Archippus who was either a son or another influential member of the local church.
The subject of the letter is a runaway slave named Oneisimus who had ‘apparently’ stolen some money or things of worth from Philemon, his master, and fled to Rome where he could blend in with the large population and not be easily found. Somewhere in his travels he became involved with Paul and the Christian Church in Rome. It is apparent that he became a believer and a much loved co-worker with Paul.
1-3 The Greeting
“Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker, (2) to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church that meets in your home: (3) Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (NIV)
Paul identifies himself and mentions Timothy who may have been Paul’s scribe.
Addresses Philemon as a “dear friend and fellow worker” which shows there was a warm personal relationship already established between Philemon and Paul.
For Archippus he uses the term “fellow soldier” which is the term he used for Epaphroditus in Philippians 2:25. Fellow soldier and fellow worker would be interchangeable. Again showing that this was a man of Christian influence.
Verses 4-7. Prayer and thanks
“I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, (5) because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. (6) I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. (7) Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.” (NIV)
Paul reminds Philemon that he is thankful to God for him because, even in Rome he has heard of Philemon’s faith in Jesus Christ and his love for the believers.
Paul prays that Philemon will be active in sharing the faith. To us this would sound like witnessing or preaching. Being active, “so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.”
Again Paul mentions the joy and encouragement he has received because Philemon has refreshed the hearts of the saints. (Probably both spiritually, financially and physically)
Now, if you were going to write a letter to someone requesting a huge favor wouldn’t you use a beginning format like this? A warm greeting, a prayer of thanksgiving for them which builds them up and encourages them to read the remainder of the letter with warmth and a smile in their heart.
Verses 8-11.
“Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, (9) yet I appeal to you on the basis of love. I then, as Paul--an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus—(10) 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.” (NIV)
Paul continues by saying he could use his authority as an Apostle to order Philemon to do what he asks. (Note that he doesn’t, but the fact that it has been written puts the idea in Philemon’s head anyway)
But instead he appeals on the basis of love. “I then as Paul, an old man and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus----I appeal to you for my son Onesimus.
Who became my son while I was in chains.”
Note how Paul is using psychology by still referring to his own sufferings while bringing up the subject of the run away slave.
Vs 11 Formerly he was useless to you (of no value) but now he has become useful both to you and to me. [Onesimus means “useful.”]
Note Paul adding value to Onesimus by relating his usefulness to himself .
Verse 12-16.
“I am sending him--who is my very heart--back to you. (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 will be spontaneous and not forced. (15) Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good—(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 man and as a brother in the Lord.” (NIV)
Notice how Paul puts great value on Onesimus in verse 12. “I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you.” I mean it’s like sending you back a piece of me!
Verse 13. Adding more value to Onesimus. “I would like to keep him so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel.”
I mean he is doing the same kind of job for me that you would do if you were here. He ‘could take your place in helping me’.
Verse 14. But in keeping things proper…. “But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced.”
What is Paul saying here? Is he saying I sent him back to you so that you might do the favor and send him back to me? Or is he just asking for spontaneous acceptance of Onesimus return to Philemon?
Verse 15 & 16. “Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good—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 man and a brother in the Lord.”
Again Paul masterfully appeals to the Christianity of Philemon---if Onesimus is a believer he will be a better man and will be trustworthy and work with you.
Why does Paul make this continuous plea for Onesimus? To us he seems to be over doing it. But there is good reason for Paul’s appeal; it deals with Onesimus very life. Under Roman law (which was the law of the land at that time) a returned slave could be killed if his master determined to do so. Paul was being very sure that Philemon understood his meaning. And we will continue to see Paul’s appealing to Philemon’s Christian character for the remainder of the letter.
Verses 17-19
“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. (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.” (NIV)
Again on a personal level, “So if you consider me a partner (and a comrade in fellowship-AMP ) welcome him as you would welcome me”
Now what more could he ask of Philemon? How much more pressure could he exert to save Onesimus life? Surely he would welcome Paul, his brother in the faith with open arms and Paul is saying welcome Onesimus the same way! Now that is tremendous loving pressure!
And even more! “If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me.” Paul knew about the Good Samaritan didn’t he?
Verse 19. Could it get more personal than that? Yes it could! “I Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self.” NOTE: This is only one of a couple of times in his epistles that Paul actually writes something in his own hand. It is speculated that Paul had some sort of eye trouble—Notice that he says in Galatians 6:11 “See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand.”
So here Paul adds the most personal touch that he can, surely all the believers know about his vision problem but here he says “I am making this as personal as I can by writing it myself”
Verse 20 & 21.
“I do wish brother that I may have some benefit (profit AMP) 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.” (NIV)
Paul is sure of the response he will get, knowing full well that he has completed this task as directed by the Holy Spirit. What a trial lawyer he would have been!
The closure and a point of interest maybe unseen by others.
Verse 22
“And one thing more: Prepare a guestroom for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.” (NIV)
Now this is a seemingly innocent closure statement, “have a room ready for me because I may be restored (or returned) to you.” But if one thinks about it it also is a means of making sure that Philemon follows through with Paul’s request about Onesimus. Philemon would have some tall explaining to do if Paul were to visit him and find out that Onesimus had been killed or treated badly. So is it a nice friendly goodbye or is it a way of saying, “I may be stopping by to check up on you brother Philemon.” Makes you think doesn’t it?
Verses 23-25. Four of the then faithful ministers with Paul are mentioned in the next to the last verse. Mark (John Mark) the writer of the Gospel of Mark, Luke the writer of the letter called the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts, Epapras a faithful Christian and founder of the Church at Colosse. And the fourth was Demas who would later desert Paul (2Tim 4:10)
So here we have a masterfully written letter. One that tugged at the heartstrings, leaned heavily on a Christian’s faith and forgiveness, and trusted heavily in the value of a relationship between two men, Paul and Philemon. Paul going the extra mile for Onesimus is a wonderful testimony to his character. Paul said if this man owes any debt at all charge it to me. And because I say so you should treat him as a brother and forgive him. And because of this Onesimus could stand before Philemon without fear of retribution. Jesus did the same thing when he went to the cross for our sins. We were unworthy and deserving of punishment for our sin but His shed blood covered our sins and paid our debt for us. Now if we accept Him as Lord and Savior, we may stand before our Father God without sin and without fear.
