Philemon

Philemon

 

​WHEN FORGIVENESS COSTS SOMETHING

​

You own a slave named Onesimus. He's part of your household. Your property. Then one day, he runs away. Steals from you. Disappears.

 

Months later, you receive a letter. From Paul. The apostle you respect. The man who led you to Christ.

 

Paul's writing about Onesimus. Your runaway slave. Apparently, Onesimus fled to Rome. Found Paul. Heard the gospel. Became a Christian. And now Paul's sending him back to you.

 

With a request. Actually, more than a request. An appeal. Receive Onesimus back. Not as a slave. As a beloved brother. Forgive him. Welcome him. Treat him as you would treat Paul himself.

 

This is Philemon. The shortest of Paul's letters. Just one chapter. Twenty five verses. But it's a masterpiece of pastoral diplomacy, Christian persuasion, and the radical nature of the gospel.

 

Paul doesn't command Philemon to free Onesimus or even to forgive him. He appeals to him. Based on love. Based on the gospel. Based on what Christ has done for both of them. He gently, cleverly, powerfully makes the case that the gospel transforms all relationships, including the relationship between slave and master.

 

Philemon is about forgiveness, reconciliation, and how the gospel changes everything. It's personal, tender, and uncomfortable. Because real forgiveness costs something. Real reconciliation requires change. And the gospel demands we see people differently.

 

If you've been wronged and need to forgive, if you're struggling to reconcile with someone, if you're wondering how the gospel applies to difficult relationships, read Philemon. Paul will show you what grace looks like in action.

 

A note before we begin:

 Philemon is only one chapter, just twenty five verses, but it's a profound example of how the gospel transforms relationships. This summary covers the letter, but Paul's careful appeal and pastoral wisdom deserve your full attention. After this overview, open your Bible and read all of Philemon. It will only take five minutes. Let Paul's example shape how you pursue forgiveness and reconciliation.

 

Paul's Greeting and Thanksgiving

Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy, write 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.

 

Paul's a prisoner. He's writing to Philemon, a dear friend and fellow worker. Also to Apphia, Archippus, and the church that meets in Philemon's home.

 

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.

 

Paul thanks God for Philemon. He hears about Philemon's love for all believers and faith in Jesus. He prays Philemon's partnership in the faith would deepen his understanding. Philemon's love has given Paul great joy. He's refreshed the hearts of believers.

 

Paul's Appeal for Onesimus

Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 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, that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son whilst I was in chains.

 

Paul could command Philemon. He has authority. But he chooses to appeal based on love. He appeals as Paul, an old man, a prisoner of Christ. He appeals for Onesimus, who became Paul's son whilst Paul was in chains.

 

Onesimus was formerly useless. The name Onesimus means useful, so this is a play on words. He was useless to you. But now he's become useful to both of you.

 

I'm sending him, who is my very heart, back to you. I would've liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me whilst I'm in chains for the gospel. But I didn't want to do anything without your consent, so that any favour you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary.

 

Paul's sending Onesimus back. Onesimus is Paul's very heart. Paul would have liked to keep him to help with gospel work. But Paul didn't want to do anything without Philemon's consent. Any favour should be voluntary, not forced.

 

Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little whilst was that you might have him back for ever, no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He's very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.

 

Perhaps Onesimus was separated from Philemon for a while so Philemon could have him back for ever. No longer as a slave. Better than a slave. As a dear brother. He's very dear to Paul. Even dearer to Philemon, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.

 

So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back, not to mention that you owe me your very self.

 

If Philemon considers Paul a partner, welcome Onesimus as you'd welcome Paul. If Onesimus wronged Philemon or owes him anything, charge it to Paul. Paul will pay it back. And by the way, Philemon owes Paul his very self. Meaning, Paul led Philemon to Christ.

 

I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you'll do even more than I ask.

 

Paul wishes he could have some benefit from Philemon in the Lord. Refresh Paul's heart in Christ. Paul's confident of Philemon's obedience. He knows Philemon will do even more than Paul asks.

 

And one thing more: prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.

 

And by the way, prepare a guest room for Paul. He hopes to visit soon.

 

Final Greetings

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.

 

What This Means for You

Philemon is about forgiveness, reconciliation, and how the gospel transforms relationships. Paul appeals to Philemon to receive back Onesimus, a runaway slave who's now a brother in Christ. Paul doesn't command. He appeals based on love, partnership, and the gospel.

 

Here's what Philemon teaches you:

The gospel transforms all relationships. Master and slave become brothers. Enemies become family. What was impossible becomes possible through Christ.

 

Forgiveness is costly. This time its the fight against following the desires of ones flesh. Onesimus wronged Philemon. Stole from him. Ran away. Forgiving him means absorbing the loss, letting go of the offence, welcoming him back.

 

Appeal is more powerful than command. Paul could have ordered Philemon. Instead, he appeals based on love. He persuades rather than coerces. He invites rather than demands.

 

We're all debtors to grace. Paul tells Philemon to charge Onesimus's debt to Paul. But then reminds Philemon that he owes Paul his very self. We've all been forgiven a debt we couldn't pay. That should make us quick to forgive others.

 

The gospel creates a new category: better than a slave, as a dear brother. In Christ, social distinctions don't disappear, but they're transformed. You're no longer defined by your status. You're defined by being in Christ.

 

Partnership in the faith means refreshing the hearts of believers. Philemon's love refreshed hearts. Now Paul's calling him to refresh Paul's heart by welcoming Onesimus.

 

Your Next Steps

Philemon challenges you to forgive, reconcile, and see people through the lens of the gospel.

 

Is there someone who's wronged you? Someone who owes you? Someone you're having trouble forgiving? What would it look like to welcome them as a brother or sister in Christ?

 

Are you holding onto an offence? Demanding restitution? Or are you willing to absorb the loss for the sake of reconciliation?

 

Do you see people through the gospel? Or through their social status, their past mistakes, their usefulness to you? The gospel creates a new category: brother, sister, family.

 

Are you refreshing the hearts of believers? Or causing division, bitterness, unforgiveness?

 

Have you remembered that you're a debtor to grace? You've been forgiven an enormous debt. That should make you quick to forgive others.

 

Read It Yourself

Philemon is only one chapter, twenty five verses. You can read the entire letter in five minutes. But it's worth reading slowly, carefully, multiple times. Notice Paul's pastoral wisdom. His gentle persuasion. His appeal to love. His reminder of grace.

 

Don't just read about Philemon. Read Philemon. Open your Bible and read all twenty five verses. Let Paul's example shape how you pursue forgiveness and reconciliation. Let his appeal challenge you to see people through the gospel.

 

The Gospel Changes Everything

That's the message of Philemon. The gospel changes everything. Including difficult relationships. Including people who've wronged you. Including situations that seem impossible to reconcile.

 

Onesimus was a useless runaway slave. Now he's a useful beloved brother. Not because he earned it. Because of the gospel.

 

Philemon was wronged, stolen from, disrespected. Now he's called to forgive, welcome, and receive Onesimus as a brother. Not because it's easy. Because of the gospel.

 

The gospel transforms master and slave into brothers. Enemies into family. Impossibility into reality.

 

That's what the gospel does. It changes everything.

 

Will you let it change you?

 

 

Scripture paraphrased and quoted from various translations for clarity.

© The Unknown Believer