THEME: CHRISTIAN FORGIVENESS

KEY VERSES: 15,16 - For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, no 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. (NKJ)

INTRODUCTION - A private letter of intercession written by Paul probably from Rome, and sent to Philemon at Colossae, (Col.4:7-9).

A. FACTS CONCERNING PHILEMON. He was apparently a member of the church at Colossae, which seems to have met in his house, v. 2. His benevolence (vv. 5-7) and Paul's request for him to prepare a lodging (v. 22) indicate that he was a man of some means. As Paul had never been in Colossae (Col.2:1), Philemon must have met him elsewhere, possibly in Ephesus, which was not far away. He probably owed his conversion to the apostle, v. 19.

B. THE STORY OF ONESIMUS. He was a runaway slave of Philemon. It is implied that he robbed his master and fled to Rome, v. 18, where he came under the influence of Paul and was converted (cf. v. 10). He became a devoted disciple of Christ, (Col.4:9). Paul wanted to keep him in Rome as a helper (v. 13), but not having the consent of Philemon (v. 14), he felt it his duty to send the slave back to his master. So the apostle writes this beautiful letter of intercession, pleading with Philemon to forgive and restore Onesimus to favor.

C. SPIRITUAL LESSONS from Paul's example.

1. The importance of concern for the unfortunate.

2. The duty of obedience to the law by converts: Onesimus must return to his master.

3. Christian brotherhood obliterates all social and class distinctions.

[This introduction was adapted from Thompson's Chain Reference ­ Analysis of Paul's Letter to Philemon.]

I. APPRECIATION (vv. 1-7) "I thank my God."

A. Paul's love (vv.1-3) - In addition to expressing his love Paul also reminds his friends that he is a prisoner for Christ. Paul often includes the names of his current associates in the greeting of his letters. It was common for the churches of the New Testament to meet in homes (Ro. 16:5, 23; 1 Cor. 16:19). Perhaps some of the Christians at Colossae assembled at Philemon's house (Col. 4:15).

B. Paul's thanksgiving (vv. 4,5,7) - As was his usual custom Paul opens his letter with words of thanks and praise to God. Paul describes Philemon as a man of love and faith towards Christ and God's people. He refreshed the saints by his words and his works.

C. Paul's prayer (v. 6) - Paul prays on behalf of Philemon; giving thanks for what he had already done for the cause of Christ and praying that his friend will come to even a deeper understanding of Christ.

II. APPEAL (vv. 8-16) "I beseech thee."

A. Philemon's character (vv.8,9) - Paul will intercede on Onesimus' behalf by presenting five strong appeals.

1. He appeals to Philemon's reputation as man who brings blessings to others.

2. The next appeal is to Philemon's Christian love, based on Paul's situation as an aged (senior) apostle and a prisoner of Rome.

B. Onesimus' conversion (vv.10-14)

3. Paul's next appeal is Onesimus' conversion. Onesimus was still a slave, but now he was also Paul's son in the faith and Philemon's brother in Christ. In Christ there is neither bond nor free (Gal. 3:28), but in the world there are both. As Philemon's brother in the Lord, Onesimus would be due whatever consideration that entails.

4. Here Paul appeals to Onesimus' value to him for the cause of Christ. If the slave is to live up to his name ("Profitable"), then the master must live up to his ("One who is kind") as well. Paul asked Philemon to volunteer to release Onesimus to him. This would profit Philemon more than if Paul ordered him to give up Onesimus.

C. God's providence (vv. 15,16)

5. Finally, Paul appeals to God's providence. Perhaps Onesimus was guided to Rome by God so that he might become a believer under the teaching of Paul. He would be gone only a short time so that he might return and be "profitable" for a lifetime. The political climate of the day would not make it easy for Philemon to forgive and forget what Onesimus had done. Paul understands the dilemma facing Philemon and in the next section we will see how he proposes a way for Onesimus' life to be spared and his status among the household of Philemon be maintained.

III. ASSURANCE (vv. 17-25) "I will repay"

A. Paul's partnership (vv. 17-19) - Paul volunteers to help Philemon solve the problem of Onesimus by making two suggestions: 1, Receive him as myself and 2, Put on my account anything that he owes you. In sending Onesimus back to Philemon, Paul requests that the slave be received as Paul himself would. Paul understood that it might take more than love to pay the debt incurred by Onesimus and he was willing to pay that price out of his own pocket.

B. Paul's confidence (vv. 20-22) - Nowhere in this letter (nor any other of his writings) does Paul condemn slavery and often taught on how a slave should behave (Eph. 6:5-9; Col. 3:22-4:1; 1 Tim. 6:1,2; Titus 2:9,10). However, he did encourage Christian slaves to obtain their freedom if they legally could (1 Cor. 7:21-24). An open crusade against slavery by the Christians in the first century could have caused the Way to become with a social or political program. For slavery to end, it would have to be through the influence of individuals to teach and be examples of God's principles for man's interaction with man. In the meantime, it is a Christian's responsibility to be content in whatever state he might find himself.

C. Paul's greeting (vv.23-25) - Paul was expecting to be released from prison, thus allowing him to finally visit Colossae. It is possible that Epaphras was the evangelist of the church that met in Philemon's house. A lesson can be learned from Paul's references to Mark (Col. 4:10; Acts 12:12, 25; 15:36-41; 2 Tim. 4:11) and Demas (Phile. 24; Col. 4:14; 2 Tim. 4:10). Paul closes with his "official signature" (2 Thes. 3:17,18), and it magnified the grace of God (Eph. 2:1-10).

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

A. Even though God loves the whole world, the whole world will not be saved. Sinners are saved through the grace of God and grace is love that pays a price. Compare Paul's willingness to pay the debt for Onesimus to Christ's willingness to pay our spiritual debt.

B. "If slavery is so wrong why did Jesus and the Apostles say nothing against it?" Here is the explanation given by Alexander Maclaren found in his commentary on the letter to the Colossians in The Expositor's Bible (1940 ed. Vol. VI, p. 301).

First, the message of Christianity is primarily to individuals, and only secondarily to society. It leaves the units whom it has influenced to influence the mass.

Second, it acts on spiritual and moral sentiment, and only afterwards and consequently on deeds and institutions.

Third, it hates violence, and trusts wholly to enlightened conscience. So it meddles with no political or social arrangements, but lays down principles which will profoundly affect these, and leaves them to soak into the general mind.

[These notes were adapted from Warren Wiersbe's The Bible Exposition Commentary (NT vol. 2 pp. 270-273).]

FOR FURTHER STUDY

Barclay, William, The Letters to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon (Revised Ed., pp. 267-283).

Henry, Matthew, Matthew Henry's Commentary (vol. 6, pp. 707-715).

Lightfoot, J.B., St. Paul's Epistles to the Colossians and to Philemon (pp. 301-329)

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