Paul’s Post Card to Philemon
Over thirty years ago, Gary was on his way to a mission trip in Europe and stopped at an art Museum in Amsterdam to see Rembrandt’s masterpiece The Nightwatch. As Gary scrutinized this painting he realized that he was standing in the presence of greatness. In the spaces between the huge canvas masterpieces there there were displayed several miniature paintings. The closer he looked the more he realized that these miniatures were also masterpieces. This is like the book of Philemon. In the midst of the gallery of the great Pauline epistles is a little postcard, the book of Philemon. This little postcard is about a runaway slave named Onesimus.
In Gibbon’s The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, the author mentions that there were 60 million slaves in Ancient Rome. Some were teachers, others were mine workers or other occupations. For a slave to steal from his master and run away was a death sentence for the slave.
Paul wrote this post card from a Roman prison. Paul travelled from Cesarea to Jerusalem. He had appealed to Rome as a Roman citizen since he had been falsely imprisoned in Philippi which was a Roman colony. Philemon was a slave owner who lived in Colosse not far from Ephesus. His slave Onesimus had stolen from his master and fled to the massive city of Rome where Paul was under house arrest. Onesimus had repented, and became a faithful and trusted believer. Paul wrote a letter to Onesimus’ master Philemon. He told Onesimus to go back to his master and give him this letter.
Philemon 1 says, “PAUL, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer, 2. And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house: 3. Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Unlike Paul’s other epistles, he drops his title as an apostle. He mentions himself as a prisoner and bondslave of Jesus Christ. This was a letter of encouragement. In Verse 7 Paul writes to Philemon, his dear friend and fellow laborer in Christ, “For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.”
When researchers examined what differentiates happy people from unhappy people there was one common factor that stood out: happy people have deep loving and meaningful relationships. A study shows that children who play in close proximity with their mothers are more creative and happier than children who play at a distance. Proximity with our loved ones emotionally, physically, and spiritually is a key to happiness. Fellowship and friendship with like-minded believers in the body of Christ is a source of joy and rejoicing. One of the themes of the Pauline epistles is “fulfill ye my joy that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” (Philippians 2:2)
Verse 8 moves from Paul’s intercession for Onesimus to a plea to Philemon. “8. Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do. 9. yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you—being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ— 10. I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, 11. who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me. 12. I am sending him back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, 13. whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel. 14. But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary.”
Paul as an Apostle could have commanded Philemon to accept Onesimus back into fellowship. However he appeals to grace, mercy and love instead of his authority as an Apostle. The Christian life is walking in the power of the Holy Spirit on the razor’s edge between boldly wielding God’s authority and humbly serving others as serving the Lord.
Continuing in verse 15: For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, 16. 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 17. If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me.
Paul’s appeal to Philemon is to receive back his slave as a brother in Christ. In verses 18 and 19, Paul offers to repay anything that Onesimus had stolen. He also reminds Philemon that he himself also was indebted to Paul as a minister of the Word.
Onesimus had been Paul’s loving servant bound by the bond of love. Paul could have been heavy handed and commanded Philemon to receive back his servant. However, the meaning of a bondslave is one who is bound by the bonds of love. The bonds of obligation and authority are only secondary.
Philemon had probably forgotten about his runaway slave. The relationship of slave and owner had been severed long ago. The lesson is that reconciliation is more important than emancipation. Grace and mercy triumphs over judgement. God always honors principle over expediency.
This little letter is an example of the Gospel of Christ. Instead of living according to our God given call, we’ve run away from our responsibility. A slave had one right. He could flee to a friend of his master, not to escape, but for advocacy. This is what Onesimus had done when he entered into fellowship with Paul. Likewise, we run to our Lord and Master Jesus Christ as our advocate. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
The bible doesn’t say whether or not Philemon accepted back his slave Onesimus. However Ignatious while in prison waiting for his execution as a martyr wrote a letter to the church at Ephesus not far from the church at Colosse. In this letter he makes mention of the bishop at the church of Ephesians named Onesimus and quotes verse 11: Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me.
The name Onesimus means “useful” or “profitable.” This is the story of a slave who became “fit for the Master’s use” first as a minister and then a bishop at the church in Ephesians.
How did this little post card end up in the canon of scripture? Of Paul’s prolific writings, the New Testament Canon was compiled in Ephesus. It may have been when Onesimus was a bishop in Ephesus that he included this letter in the canon by the spirit of God to illustrate the meaning of reconciliation. This illustrates that no one is too far gone to be included in body of Christ and to be reconciled unto Him.
The other theme of this epistle is to illustrate the meaning of a bond slave. The world thinks that the word “slave” connotes a form of evil. Biblically speaking, when we’re saved and confess “Jesus is Lord,” this means that he is our Lord or owner and we are his slaves, bound by the bond of love. In the Old Testament law according to Deuteronomy 15, a slave could be purchased to serve his master for six years. Most slaves couldn’t wait to be freed from their obligation to serve. However, some slaves after being freed chose to continue to do their master’s bidding. A bond servant does not serve his master by obligation. Rather, he serves his master from a heart of love. A bondservant was marked with a permanent mark in his ear. This earmark identified him as a willing and loving servant who belonged to his Lord and Master.
The little postcard of a letter to Philemon on behalf of his bond slave Onesimus by his advocate Paul was an example of true freedom in Christ. A bond servant is dedicated to serve his Lord Jesus Christ as a willing slave for his Master bound by the bond of love. We ultimately serve our lord Jesus Christ by serving others for Jesus said, “in that ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
The greatest truth is paradoxical to the wisdom of this world. One such paradox is that the greatest freedom is the greatest captivity… when we surrender ourselves captive to his will. The essence of Christianity is not who we are but rather WHOSE we are! Therefore, according to the lyrics of an old hymn:
Make me a captive Lord, and then I shall be free.
Force me to render up my sword and I shall conqueror be.
I sink in life’s alarms if by myself I stand, Imprison me within thine arms and free shall be my stand.
As bond slaves of our Lord Jesus Christ, May we ever live to the praise of the Glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael