Philemon
Author: Paul
Paul writes from prison to Philemon, asking him to receive Onesimus, a runaway slave who has become a brother.
Outline
A beloved fellow laborer (1–7)
Paul thanks God for Philemon’s love and for the way the saints have been refreshed by him.
Onesimus (8–16)
Paul could command, and instead he appeals for the child he has begotten in his bonds.
Put that on my account (17–25)
Paul will repay any wrong, asks for a lodging, and leaves the greeting of the fellow workers.
Key verses
Philemon 1:10
Paul appeals for his son Onesimus, whom he has begotten in his bonds.
Philemon 1:16
Onesimus is to be received not as a servant only, but as a brother beloved.
Philemon 1:18
If Onesimus has wronged Philemon or owes him anything, Paul says to put it on his account.
Philemon is one page, and it is a real letter, not a treatise with a story attached. Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy write to Philemon, their dearly beloved and fellow laborer, and to beloved Apphia, and Archippus their fellow soldier, and to the church in Philemon’s house. The greeting already complicates the request that follows. This is not a private note that the church will never hear. The church meets in the house of the man being asked to change his mind. Grace and peace come from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul thanks God, making mention of Philemon always in his prayers, hearing of his love and faith which he has toward the Lord Jesus and toward all saints. The prayer is that the communication of his faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in them in Christ Jesus. Paul has great joy and consolation in Philemon’s love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by him. The appeal will trade on that reputation. A man known for refreshing the saints is about to be asked to refresh one more, and the one more is the hardest case in his household.
Paul could be bold in Christ to enjoin what is convenient, and he chooses not to. For love’s sake he rather beseeches, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. He beseeches Philemon for his son Onesimus, whom he has begotten in his bonds. Onesimus was in time past unprofitable to Philemon, and now he is profitable to Paul and to Philemon. The name means useful, and Paul uses the pun without hiding the history. Onesimus had been Philemon’s slave. He left. Whether he stole when he left, the letter leaves open by offering to cover any debt. He found Paul in prison, or was found by him, and he became a believer there. Paul would have retained him, that in Philemon’s stead he might have ministered to Paul in the bonds of the gospel. Without Philemon’s mind he would do nothing, that the benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly. Perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that Philemon should receive him for ever, not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to Paul, but how much more unto Philemon, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
The request is then stated as a partnership. If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. If he has wronged thee, or owes thee ought, put that on mine account. Paul has written it with his own hand: I will repay it. He adds that he does not say how Philemon owes him even his own self. Yes, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord. Refresh my bowels in the Lord. Having confidence in thy obedience, I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say. At the same time prepare me a lodging, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you. Epaphras, Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, and Lucas salute him. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
The letter does not deliver a general essay on the Roman slave system. It does something more pointed. It puts a particular man, once written off as unprofitable, into the category of son and brother, and it puts the apostle’s own name on the bill. Philemon is not told that nothing has changed in the household. He is told that the change is larger than the household expected. Receive him as you would receive me. The church in the house will know whether he does. Paul’s confidence that Philemon will do even more than he says is part of the pressure and part of the trust. A letter this short can carry that weight because every sentence is aimed at one decision, and the decision is whether a believer will treat another believer as property or as a brother when the second believer is the first believer’s runaway.