Philemon
The Book of Philemon is among the shortest books of the bible. But is it the shortest? If we are to determine length by word count alone, 3 John is the shortest (219 words), 2 John is second with 245 words, and Philemon comes in at third with 335 words. Obadiah and Jude round out the top 5, with 440 and 461 words, respectively. But the brevity of this book in no way limits its wisdom. Paul pleas to his friend on behalf of an escaped slave, which opens up questions about grace, mercy and salvation.
1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,
To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker— 2 also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your home:
3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul opens the letter with his personal address. This letter was written when Paul was held in prisoning Rome (Acts 28:30-31). His reference to a prisoner does not denote this; it denotes his devotion the Jesus Christ. As some believe this letter was written while in Ephesus (note Timothy’s inclusion), the evidence points to the time of his imprisonment.
The letter is addressed to Philemon, who was a Christian counterpart living in Colosse. Philemon is a friend to Paul, and this is the only place in scripture we hear this name. The rest of the names - Apphia, and Archippus - are most likely Philemon’s wife ad son. In Paul’s day, the Apphia was probably the slave supervisor. It also references the church that meets in his home, meaning that Philemon and Apphis are Christian leaders.
Thanksgiving and Prayer
4 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. 6 I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. 7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.
Paul remembers Philemon in his prayers. He also hears of the work that Philemon is doing in the name of God. This is evangelism: bringing God’s word to others in the way that you are blessed to do so. Not all of us can stand in front of a congregation; not all of us can write long theological dissertations; we are supposed to bring God’s word to others through the means God equips us. Philemon, in his own way, is reaching out to people in his area, and Paul sees this. But he sees his evangelism as a component of Philemon’s faith, not a result of trying to garner God’s mercy.
Paul’s Plea for Onesimus
8 Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9 yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus— 10 that 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.
Paul’s favor to Philemon is not meant as an order, but as an appeal in love. Aside from the fact that Paul could order him, he instead reminds Philemon of the baseline that all Christians must operate from: love. He furthers this appeal to Philemon’s sympathy.
The slave’s name is Onesimus, and he escaped Philemon to Rome and intersected with Paul. There, Paul (already imprisoned by house arrest in Rome) led Onesimus to faith in Jesus. He also refers to Onesimus as useful to both of them. He isn’t just speaking about the return of a needed slave, but a person who can be useful in building up the faith of others.
12 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 would not seem forced but would be voluntary.
Paul’s appeal to Philemon carries a severe risk to Onesimus. Under Roman law, the master had complete authority over his slaves. It wasn’t unusual for slaves to be crucified for their escape and return. There are many stories of slaves being tortured in elaborate ways for their crimes against masters.
This is why Paul is willing to send him back as “my very heart”. It is to remind Philemon that Onesimus is part of Paul’s ministry, one of his “children” (Galatians 4:19). Paul would rather keep him. He says that Onesimus can “take your place” in helping. He further pleas with Philemon in reminding him that Paul is still imprisoned and serving the gospel. These three items are meant to show that Onesimus can be of great help in spreading the gospel in Rome and elsewhere. But the decision is left with Philemon. The rights belong to the master.
15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— 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 fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.
Appealing to Philemon’s Christian faith, Paul makes a distinction between an escaped slave and someone who was separated for a little while. In other words, Paul is making the case that Onesimus’ escape was really orchestrated by God for the specific reason of this moment. He is not just one of Philemon’s assets, but a vital piece of God’s pan. And part of this plan isn’t to send Onesimus back as a simple slave, but perhaps a brother who can help spread the word of God.
17 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.
The mercy that Paul requests is apparent (put that on my account). Either Philemon will accept Paul’s humble plea for freedom of this slave, or he will not. If Onesimus stole from Philemon during his escape, Paul is offering to pay it. There is also a hint that Philemon owes Paul. There is a great entailing of lives going on here. Onesimus and Paul, Paul and Philemon, Philemon and Onesimus. But in the end, this entanglement shows the very nature of life itself: we are intertwined in the lives of others, just as others are tangled with us. This great braided community must always bring it down to the very item that should bind us: love.
20 I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit 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.
22 And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.
This is not based on his own early desires; he wants to involve God in this decision as well (benefit from you in the Lord). He also draws back to earlier in the chapter when he referred to Philemon as a man who refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people. Now, he is asking Philemon to refresh his own heart. He knows Philemon is a good man and that the hope was for Onesimus to stay and perhaps even show his former slave even more mercy. And finally, Paul reminds Philemon that their friendship will continue, and that they will be together again.
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. 24 And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
This letter has the same names at the end of Colossians. Both letters, Colossians and Philemon, went to the same place (Colosse). This is the same place Philemon lived.
In this letter, Paul may be criticized for not abolishing the practice of slavery. However, when people are changed, systems change. We don’t know the result of this letter, but if Onesimus were to return to Philemon as a brother, doesn’t that change the concept of slavery in one household? And if Philemon, an influential Christian, changed his perspective, perhaps the perspective of others would change. In time, slavery could have a very different look. It’s the same principle the bible often teaches us about. The idea of small, individual changes that affect us, and others, over time. Those fundamental changes are important, because we don’t really have the ability to individually change an entire system. But we do have the ability to change ourselves ad affect those around us by our example. This change is directed by the Spirit of God, which dwells in us. It changes us, if we are receptive to it.
The Book of Philemon is among the shortest books of the bible. But is it the shortest? If we are to determine length by word count alone, 3 John is the shortest (219 words), 2 John is second with 245 words, and Philemon comes in at third with 335 words. Obadiah and Jude round out the top 5, with 440 and 461 words, respectively. But the brevity of this book in no way limits its wisdom. Paul pleas to his friend on behalf of an escaped slave, which opens up questions about grace, mercy and salvation.
1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,
To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker— 2 also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your home:
3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul opens the letter with his personal address. This letter was written when Paul was held in prisoning Rome (Acts 28:30-31). His reference to a prisoner does not denote this; it denotes his devotion the Jesus Christ. As some believe this letter was written while in Ephesus (note Timothy’s inclusion), the evidence points to the time of his imprisonment.
The letter is addressed to Philemon, who was a Christian counterpart living in Colosse. Philemon is a friend to Paul, and this is the only place in scripture we hear this name. The rest of the names - Apphia, and Archippus - are most likely Philemon’s wife ad son. In Paul’s day, the Apphia was probably the slave supervisor. It also references the church that meets in his home, meaning that Philemon and Apphis are Christian leaders.
Thanksgiving and Prayer
4 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. 6 I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. 7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.
Paul remembers Philemon in his prayers. He also hears of the work that Philemon is doing in the name of God. This is evangelism: bringing God’s word to others in the way that you are blessed to do so. Not all of us can stand in front of a congregation; not all of us can write long theological dissertations; we are supposed to bring God’s word to others through the means God equips us. Philemon, in his own way, is reaching out to people in his area, and Paul sees this. But he sees his evangelism as a component of Philemon’s faith, not a result of trying to garner God’s mercy.
Paul’s Plea for Onesimus
8 Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9 yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus— 10 that 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.
Paul’s favor to Philemon is not meant as an order, but as an appeal in love. Aside from the fact that Paul could order him, he instead reminds Philemon of the baseline that all Christians must operate from: love. He furthers this appeal to Philemon’s sympathy.
The slave’s name is Onesimus, and he escaped Philemon to Rome and intersected with Paul. There, Paul (already imprisoned by house arrest in Rome) led Onesimus to faith in Jesus. He also refers to Onesimus as useful to both of them. He isn’t just speaking about the return of a needed slave, but a person who can be useful in building up the faith of others.
12 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 would not seem forced but would be voluntary.
Paul’s appeal to Philemon carries a severe risk to Onesimus. Under Roman law, the master had complete authority over his slaves. It wasn’t unusual for slaves to be crucified for their escape and return. There are many stories of slaves being tortured in elaborate ways for their crimes against masters.
This is why Paul is willing to send him back as “my very heart”. It is to remind Philemon that Onesimus is part of Paul’s ministry, one of his “children” (Galatians 4:19). Paul would rather keep him. He says that Onesimus can “take your place” in helping. He further pleas with Philemon in reminding him that Paul is still imprisoned and serving the gospel. These three items are meant to show that Onesimus can be of great help in spreading the gospel in Rome and elsewhere. But the decision is left with Philemon. The rights belong to the master.
15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— 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 fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.
Appealing to Philemon’s Christian faith, Paul makes a distinction between an escaped slave and someone who was separated for a little while. In other words, Paul is making the case that Onesimus’ escape was really orchestrated by God for the specific reason of this moment. He is not just one of Philemon’s assets, but a vital piece of God’s pan. And part of this plan isn’t to send Onesimus back as a simple slave, but perhaps a brother who can help spread the word of God.
17 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.
The mercy that Paul requests is apparent (put that on my account). Either Philemon will accept Paul’s humble plea for freedom of this slave, or he will not. If Onesimus stole from Philemon during his escape, Paul is offering to pay it. There is also a hint that Philemon owes Paul. There is a great entailing of lives going on here. Onesimus and Paul, Paul and Philemon, Philemon and Onesimus. But in the end, this entanglement shows the very nature of life itself: we are intertwined in the lives of others, just as others are tangled with us. This great braided community must always bring it down to the very item that should bind us: love.
20 I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit 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.
22 And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.
This is not based on his own early desires; he wants to involve God in this decision as well (benefit from you in the Lord). He also draws back to earlier in the chapter when he referred to Philemon as a man who refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people. Now, he is asking Philemon to refresh his own heart. He knows Philemon is a good man and that the hope was for Onesimus to stay and perhaps even show his former slave even more mercy. And finally, Paul reminds Philemon that their friendship will continue, and that they will be together again.
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. 24 And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
This letter has the same names at the end of Colossians. Both letters, Colossians and Philemon, went to the same place (Colosse). This is the same place Philemon lived.
In this letter, Paul may be criticized for not abolishing the practice of slavery. However, when people are changed, systems change. We don’t know the result of this letter, but if Onesimus were to return to Philemon as a brother, doesn’t that change the concept of slavery in one household? And if Philemon, an influential Christian, changed his perspective, perhaps the perspective of others would change. In time, slavery could have a very different look. It’s the same principle the bible often teaches us about. The idea of small, individual changes that affect us, and others, over time. Those fundamental changes are important, because we don’t really have the ability to individually change an entire system. But we do have the ability to change ourselves ad affect those around us by our example. This change is directed by the Spirit of God, which dwells in us. It changes us, if we are receptive to it.