Refresh My Heart

Sometimes the most powerful messages come in the smallest packages. That’s true in life, and it’s certainly true in the Bible.

Philemon is the shortest letter Paul wrote, just 25 verses. You could read it in under two minutes. But in those 25 verses, Paul lays out a powerful, personal, and deeply challenging message about faith, forgiveness, and what it means to live like Jesus.

Today we’re looking at the first seven verses which his opening greeting and prayer, and what we’ll see is that Paul isn’t just warming up here. He’s laying the foundation for everything that’s about to follow. And I believe that in these opening words, God has something to say to us about how we live out our faith in real, relational ways.

Before we dig into the text, let me give you the context.

Paul is in prison, likely in Rome, writing to a man named Philemon, a leader in the church at Colossae. Philemon is a Christian. He’s wealthy. And he owns at least one slave, Onesimus, who has run away and somehow ended up with Paul. And not just that: under Paul’s influence, Onesimus has become a Christian.

Now, Paul is sending Onesimus back. And he’s not just saying, “Take him back.” He’s pleading for something deeper. He’s asking Philemon to receive Onesimus “no longer as a slave but as a beloved brother” (v. 16).

In that culture, that’s a radical ask.

Slavery was everywhere in the Roman Empire. Historians estimate that nearly 1 in 3 people in cities like Rome were slaves. And while it wasn’t exactly like the race-based slavery of more recent centuries, it was still brutal. Slaves had no rights. A runaway slave could be beaten or even killed. And Paul is asking Philemon to forgive, to reconcile, and to elevate this man he once owned… as family.

But before Paul makes that bold request, he starts with this deeply pastoral, deeply personal introduction. And that’s what we’re going to explore.

Verses 1 – 3 say: Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our dear friend and co-worker, to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Right from the start, Paul sets a tone.

He doesn’t introduce himself as “Paul the apostle,” with all the weight of authority behind it. Instead, he calls himself “a prisoner of Christ Jesus.”

Why? I think it’s because Paul isn’t trying to throw his weight around. He’s not issuing orders. He’s writing as someone who is living in the cost of discipleship; someone whose chains give his words credibility. He’s saying, in essence, “I’m writing to you from a place of sacrifice. I’m asking you to make one too.”

He also includes Timothy, and he names Apphia and Archippus, likely Philemon’s wife and son, and the church that meets in their house.

Why include them? Because this isn’t just a private issue. Onesimus’ return would impact the whole household. Paul wants them all to be part of the conversation. And maybe, just maybe, including them increases the odds that Philemon will respond with compassion.

Think about the weight that greetings can carry. A personal word. A name remembered. A tone of love instead of command. Paul models for us that people matter, and how we approach them matters too.

Verses 4-5 say: When I remember you in my prayers, I always thank my God

because I hear of your love for all the saints and your faith toward the Lord Jesus.

Here’s the thing: Paul doesn’t jump into the issue. He starts with gratitude. And not fake flattery, real thanksgiving.

Paul says, “I hear of your love… and your faith.” Now that’s interesting. Usually Paul lists “faith” before “love,” right? But here, he starts with love.

Why? Because the entire letter is going to hinge on whether Philemon is truly a man of love. Will he show it to Onesimus?

Have you ever had someone ask you to do something… by first reminding you of the kind of person you are?

“You’re someone who always helps others…”

“You’ve always been generous…”

Paul’s doing that here. Not to manipulate, but to encourage Philemon to live up to his own character. And it challenges us too: What do people hear about us?

Paul says, “I hear of your love and faith.” That’s not just private piety, it’s public witness.

When people talk about your life, your leadership, your faith; what do they say?

Verse 6: I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective when you perceive all the good that we may do for Christ.

This verse is a little tricky in translation. Older versions made it sound like Paul was talking about evangelism.