The Letter to Philemon
Written by the apostle Paul
Written in prison, probably at Rome
Written to Philemon, a leading Christian of Colossae in Asia Minor about A.D. 62
Written to intercede in behalf of Onesimus, Philemon's runaway slave, now returning to his owner with this letter
PAUL GREETS PHILEMON FROM JAIL Read Philemon 1-3
This brief classic, the shortest of Paul's New Testament letters, begins on a familiar theme. The apostle refers to himself as a prisoner for the sake of Jesus Christ, and extends greetings to Philemon, his beloved Phrygian fellow worker, and to the church in your house [in Colossae].
I THANK GOD FOR YOU Read 4-7
We have heard [Paul says] of the wonderful way you have treated the other Christians in your community, providing them with fellowship and spiritual rest in the Lord. Believe me, I pray for you and thank God for you, Philemon.
I AM SENDING ONESIMUS TO YOU Read 8-11
Now, as an ambassador of Christ, I am approaching you on behalf of my spiritual son, Onesimus. Once, as a runaway slave, he was useless to you, but since his conversion he is now useful both to you and to me.
NOT A SLAVE BUT A BROTHER Read 12-21
I am sending him back to you with this letter. Take him to yourself, I beg of you, as my very life, for I would have preferred
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to keep him here, helping me in my prison ministry. You are getting him back no longer as a slave, but as a brother who is beloved in Christ. So treat him as you would treat me; and if he owes you any money, put that on my account, and I will take care of it. I know you will follow through in this matter.
I HOPE SOON TO VISIT YOU Read 22-25
Have a place ready for me to stay in, for I hope to be released and to be able to visit you. Epaphras, Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke send greetings. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Paul's letter to Philemon has been called the perfect model of letter-writing. It conveys a mood of affectionate tactfulness which is blended with the delicate assertion of authority. Paul's striking influence over the minds and hearts of men is better understood as we examine the way he deals with this personnel problem in which he is involved.
The letter has more than an antiquarian interest, however. It says something to us in our own complex of human relationships. Unless you can isolate the inner message of Philemon cleanly and sharply, you have missed the real reason for its inclusion in the New Testament canon.
What is that message? Study these 25 verses in the light of the death of Jesus Christ, and you will make some startling discoveries. Onesimus becomes you and me, fugitives from God. Verse 18 becomes the practical outworking of the atonement. Paul's letter becomes a symbol of grace. This is normative Christianity, but notice how unobtrusively the message is presented. Paul does not "preach" to Philemon. Suppose you had been handed the problem — what kind of a letter would you have written to this slave owner?
A Bible class studying this letter could broaden out into a fruitful discussion of the relation between justice and mercy at the cross (compare James 2:13). It could even examine the question of slavery.
