A STUDY OF PHILEMON

A STUDY OF PHILEMON

INTRODUCTION

This is probably the least known of Paul’s letters. It is intensely personal and emotional. It also displays aspects of Paul’s character with which we are otherwise unfamiliar. The church is most probably in Colosse. Philemon is likely an officer in the church. He was obviously a man of means because he possessed slaves. This should not elicit judgment from us. In the Roman Empire all conquered people became slaves. This was a worldwide practice in an unenlightened time. But, this slave has escaped and he is the main subject of this letter. His name is Onesimus which in the Greek means “profitable.” We look now at four themes which will reveal the importance of this letter. They are the greetings, the guile, and the grace.

I THE GREETINGS

As in all of Paul’s epistles we find at the outset more than friendly words. We find an outpouring of blessings and confidence and compliments as in verses 1-7, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker—also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your home: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. 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. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people. This is common in Paul’s letters: he always builds people up with appreciation and praise. He prays for their progress, and he lists their accomplishments, and encourages them to persevere in the way. All of this positive reinforcement as MacLaren notes comes “from a man who had turned his back upon all the brilliant prospects of distinction which were opening to him. He had broken with countrymen and kindred. And what had he made of it? He had been persecuted, hunted, assailed by every weapon that his old companions could fashion or wield; he is a solitary man, laden with many cares, and accustomed to look perils and death in the face; he is a prisoner, and in a year or two more he will be a martyr.” If anyone in the whole world deserved to be what we now call a “downer” it was Paul. And yet, here we find him boldly encouraging others. That tells us a lot about what the grace of God can accomplish in a man’s life.

II THE GUILE

I use the word guile in the most positive sense, meaning sly and clever. The man who is currently our President was formerly a Real Estate empire builder and wrote a book entitled “The Art of The Deal.” Let me tell you that the Apostle Paul could have written such a book. He has all the skill and artifice of a dealmaker. Paul has already set the scene for dealmaking when he expressed admiration and praise for Philemon. He comes as a dear friend. Now the aspects of this deal are unfolded in verses 8-21. 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 ( Step one, verse 8, he is negotiating in love, and plays the sympathy card even though he is negotiating from a position of strength),— 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. ( Step two, verse 9-11, he clearly delineates what his goal is and what he needs out of this negotiation. He also does it in good humor since his words are a pun on the name Onesimus that literally means “useful.”) (Next, he emphasizes in step three what he is giving up, and the emotional cost in verses 12 and 13. 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. (In verses 14-16, Paul reminds Philemon, that he is asking for something that he has a perfect right to command, and he also points out how much Philemon has to gain.) 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. 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. (In verses 17-20 he cites Philemon’s obligation which is a profound spiritual debt that he can never fully repay. Also, he spends a few words explaining in love that it would be shameful if Philemon doesn’t live up to his obligation to the Apostle.) 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. 20 I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. (In verses 20-22,the Apostle encourages in prayer again and thenadds the caveat that he is coming and will probably pursue this matter face to face.) 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.

III THE GRACE

We know that grace is the dominating theme of all of Paul’s life, ministry, and writings. He begins with grace and he ends with grace as in verses 23-25, Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Mark, Aristarchus, and Luke always remained faithful to the Lord, but Demas, we later learn in II Timothy 4:9-11, abandoned Paul at a critical time, Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Associates for Biblical Research writes that Aristarchus and Demas were probably both scions of well-to-do families in Thessalonica. One was faithful to the end and the other apostatized. The grace of God made the difference. This is a truth we must get hold of and cling to. Gordon Franz an associate says, “The apostle Paul was a “people person.” He ministered to people, he trained people, he prayed for people. When one of those people, whom he had poured his life into, deserted him, he must have felt devastated and alone. This seems to be reflected in the verse where he wrote, “Only Luke is with me.” And yet he pressed on to his high calling in Jesus. He finished his course with his assurance of glory intact. In his own words he was more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus.

CONCLUSION

In this letter we are looking at the triumph of grace. In the life of Paul, and Onesimus, and Philemon, and others, and all in different ways. Let us make sure we understand this grace. It is found in only one place and one person. The person is Jesus and the place is Calvary’s cross. There He silently, as a sheep before her shearers is dumb bore the punishment for our sin. There the sovereign eternal creator God chose to humble Himself to the death of the cross to show us the answer to all our problems. This is grace, and the answer is humility, and the kindness and compassion that flows from it. Whether you need a fix for your life, or your family, or your community or church, this is it. In Proverbs 11:2 we read When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. And Paul reminds us in Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. And this was written to Philemon’s church. Finally in Proverbs 22;4 we read, Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life. Surely grace is the cure for society’s problems and ours, and will bring civility into our discourse.