Worldwide Fellowship – Philemon 1
1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,
To Philemon our dear friend and co-worker, 2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philemon’s Love and Faith
4 When I remember you in my prayers, I always thank my God 5 because I hear of your love for all the saints and your faith toward the Lord Jesus. 6 I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective when you perceive all the good that we may do for Christ. 7 I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother.
Paul’s Plea for Onesimus
8 For this reason, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do your duty, 9 yet I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love—and I, Paul, do this as an old man, and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus. 10 I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment.11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful both to you and to me. 12 I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. 13 I wanted to keep him with me, so that he might be of service to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel; 14 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent, in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced.15 Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back 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 So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.18 If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it. I say nothing about your owing me even your own self. 20 Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ. 21 Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.
22 One thing more—prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping through your prayers to be restored to you.
Final Greetings and Benediction
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, 24 and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
What does the passage say?
Philemon is a letter from Paul to Philemon. Paul is pleading to Philemon to take back his runaway slave, Onesimus. Onesimus seemed to stoled money from this former owner, Philemon and ran away. In Rome, he met Paul and Paul had helped him to turn around his life.
Paul is sending Onesimus back with a letter to his old companion. He is asking Philemon to receive Onesimus back to the household as a brother in Christ. Since Onesimus is a born again follower, Paul is asking forgiveness on behalf of Onesimus. He even says that he will pay back all the damage that Onesimus made.
What does the passage say to you and me?
Why is this odd letter, only one chapter included in the New Testament? It is not a letter for the churches, but instead a personal letter. However, it shares some insights about what forgiveness means.
1. Forgiveness mean returning.
Onesimus could have asked forgiveness, and continued to live the way he wanted. He didn’t have to come back to Philemon. However, We are reminded that the word ‘Repentance’ have a meaning a turning back to the original state. For Onesimus, turning back was to go back to this master.
For us, we are to turn back to God.
2. Paying the consequences
Imagine Onesimus, who was traveling back to his master with the letter, written by Paul. What kind of emotions must be erupting? He must have been mixed with many thoughts. However, the reason he headed back to the master, and somehow we are reading this personal message is because he did return. He knew that he needed to own up to his misdoings.
3. Paul as a redeemer
Onesimus was able to go back to Philemon because of Paul being his redeemer. Not only that he strongly recommended Philemon to forgive him, but he also said that he would pay the price for his sins. “If he [Onesimus] has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it. I say nothing about owning me even your own self” (v. 18-19 NRSV) Doesn’t he sound like our Redeemer, Jesus?
Let’s Pray
Lord, we remember the meaning of true forgiveness, through the letter of Philemon. Help us to live as people, who are forgiven. And like you taught us in your prayer, ‘And forgive us of our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.’
In Christ name we pray, AMEN
What are your thoughts?
Click to subscribe to our Daily Devotion.
You will receive a devotion in your inbox every morning.