A look at Onesimus
Philemon
Paul is in prison
This is the first time that Paul was imprisoned at Rome (Acts 27 & 28). We believe that he was released from this prison sentence and worked for another four years or so before he was imprisoned in Rome again and executed.
The letter is written to a church leader in Colosse named Philemon (v.2). You can learn a lot more about this church by reading Colossians to see what kind of issues Paul addresses. We learn more about Philemon’s companions by comparing the names mentioned in Colossians which was delivered to that church at the same time.
Philemon is a man of demonstrated love, kindness, hospitality and generosity. We can tell this by reading verses 5, 7 and 20 - 22.
I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment, 11who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me.
12I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart, 13whom I wished to keep with me, so that on your behalf he might minister to me in my imprisonment for the gospel; 14but without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will.
15For perhaps he was for this reason separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever, 16no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
17If then you regard me a partner, accept him as you would me. 18But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account; 19I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand, I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well). 20Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. 21Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, since I know that you will do even more than what I say. (NASB)
The book of Philemon is about love, specifically about grace and forgiveness founded in love. Let’s look at the love theme by doing a fly-by of the book look closely at the following verses:
Verse Love Theme
1 Brother, Beloved, Fellow laborer
2 Beloved, Fellow Soldier
5 love
6 fellowship
7 love, hearts
9 Love
10 Child, begotten
12 heart
13 ministered
14 consent
16 brother, beloved
17 partner, accept
20 benefit, heart
23 fellow prisoner
24 fellow workers
All this surrounds a man named Onesimus. We learn from this book that Onesimus came to Paul in prison, he was converted and sent back by Paul.
Onesimus as we know him
10
• Onesimus is in need of mediation
• He is a new Christian
11
• He has a questionable past (18)
• He is a changed man
• He is entering a tense situation
16 & 17
• He is a slave
God can overcome the past
12 & 13
• He is close to Paul
• He has demonstrated a genuine change
14
• He is in the power of another (16)
15
• God’s hand is on his destiny
• He needs reconciliation with Philemon
16 & 17
• His relationship to his owner has undergone a radical transformation that Philemon has not yet recognized.
• His relationship to Philemon affects more than just the two of them.
19
• The issue was important enough to Onesimus’ welfare for Paul to intervene.
• There is nothing unique about his situation. He needed Christ just like others. (Philemon owed Paul his “own self?” Does this suggest that Philemon too became a Christian under Paul’s ministry?)
This is where the importance of comparing Philemon and Colossians becomes clearer. The degree of trust Paul has placed in Onesimus is more evident in Colossians 4:9 - Paul talks about other people on the “delivery team,” but personally described Onesimus as “faithful and beloved”
Finally we can look beyond the NT
The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians
We may have evidence of even further development in Onesimus:
I received, therefore, your whole multitude in the name of God, through Onesimus, a man of inexpressible love, and your bishop in the flesh, whom I pray you by Jesus Christ to love, and that you would all seek to be like him. And blessed be He who has granted unto you, being worthy, to obtain such an excellent bishop. (Ignatius 1)
This first century letter describes a bishop of Ephesus who visited Ignatius in Rome while he was awaiting martyrdom. He may have been the same man.
God can overcome the past
What was required of Philemon?
Hear a conversation between Philemon and Paul
. I have every reason to hate him
. You have a history of love and service
. I have the legal right to beat him
. Treat him as you would me
. How can I ever trust him
. God’s hand is on him
. He is my most valued possession, and he ran away
. now he’s more valuable than ever
. I don’t want him back
. I would do anything to keep him
. He stole from me
. I’ll pay it back
. My household has been crippled since he left
. My ministry has benefitted
. He is my slave, he’s supposed to obey
. He now serves the same master as you
. I am his master
. He is your brother
God can overcome the past
Which of us has not been Onesimus?
Is your past less than perfect?
Have you ever wronged someone?
Have you been truly sorry for a misdeed when you had no reason to expect forgiveness?
Have you been at a person’s mercy who did not understand your situation?
Have you ever needed one more chance, knowing that you were a changed person?
Did you ever know deep inside that a relationship could be healed if the other person would just believe it?
In the mid 80s I was working as a stockman in a department store. My acceptance to college had just come through. I was talking with a coworker about it, and she asked me: What are you going to study?
I told her that I was studying to be a pastor.
She got real quiet. I didn’t know about her faith, so I wasn’t sure what the problem was.
Finally, she turned and said. There is no church ready for you.
God can overcome the past
Which of us are not now called to be like Philemon?
What does Philippians chapter 2 say?
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond servant . . . He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Can you hear the great eternal conversation? Reason asks God why he should embrace humanity.
. Didn’t man reject you?
. Many times.
. Doesn’t he disobey you?
. All the time.
. Doesn’t he constantly follow other gods?
. Chronically.
. You know Jesus will be killed
. Without a doubt.
. You know that after that, many will still reject you?
. Inevitably.
. Don’t you have every reason to reject man
. Absolutely.
. Then Why don’t you?
. Because my love for him is too pressing!
God has overcome our rejection of Him
Francis Scheaffer in The Mark of the Christian tells the story of the Brethren church in Germany at the start of World War 2. “In order to control the church, Hitler commanded the union of all religious groups in Germany, drawing them together by law” (202) The denomination split over this issue, half followed Hitler’s order and half did not. The Christians in the half that followed Hitler’s command remained safe and were unmolested during the persecution that followed, while many Christians in the ones that rebelled were taken to concentration camps and some were executed. The compliant half experienced a spiritual drought, a deadness of spirit and the deterioration of their belief system. The half that remained outside the law remained spiritually strong and full of spiritual vitality.
After the war was over and the issue that divided them was mute, elders were appointed to meet and discuss the reunification of the group. This group had worked together for more than a generation before the war and now were divided by resentment on one side and great spiritual need on the other.
The meetings began with several days devoted to personal soul searching and reflection on the command of Christ regarding unity and love. When the days of prayer and meditation were over they met together and one delegate described the proceedings that took place by saying, “we were just one.”
The church is a place for transformation and for faith in the power that transforms.
Only in that atmosphere can the fullness of Christ’s power to change gain fruition.
That faith must be placed in Christ’s ability to transform even those we have reason to distrust.
Forgiveness and reconciliation are to be preferred above obtaining what is rightfully ours.
"By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."(John 13:35 NNAS)
• We do not have the option of rejecting our brothers or sisters
• Any wrong they have done has been overcome by God
• We have no right to reject what God has accepted
Regardless of our feelings
Regardless of our infringed upon rights
Regardless of every instinct for survival
God can overcome the past
