Philemon
(The Readings - May 1999)
The hurt to Philemon
By running away, Onesimus greatly embarrassed and wronged his master. He may have even
increased the injustice by stealing his master’s goods (v. 18). Philemon certainly
would have been upset by Onesimus’ unlawful actions. Putting the hurt aside and
extending his love to this erring slave would not be easy for him, but Paul urged him to
do so (vv. 9,10). Since Philemon had already shown much love to the saints at Colossae,
Paul was confident he would also treat Onesimus kindly (vv. 5,7). Paul’s confidence
was based on the fact that as Philemon had already shown love to his neighbors, he would
love his enemies as well (Matt. 5:43,44).
How had Paul "chanced" to meet up with Onesimus, we may wonder? No details of this encounter are given in his letter. Paul knew the circumstances and he was convinced that God was behind their meeting. He gently hints of this to Philemon by his use of the word perhaps: "For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever" (v. 15). If Philemon accepted Paul’s suggestion (the record is silent), his slave’s return may have paralleled that of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). Paul definitely wanted their reunion to go well, so he exhorted Philemon to receive Onesimus as he would receive Paul (vv. 10,17).
God brings good out of evil
Although losing a slave was distressing, God has often taken advantage of the
adversity of some to further His purpose with others. Indeed "...we must through
much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22). Joseph, who became
a slave through his brothers’ folly, later consoled them by saying "for God
did send me before you to preserve life" (Gen. 45:5). Although their wicked act
led to a providential outcome, the brothers were not innocent. Joseph confirms this by
saying that they "thought evil against me." Only because God allowed it
and "meant it unto good" were his words comforting to them (Gen.
50:20). It is clear then that Onesimus, like Joseph’s brothers, was expected to make
amends.
While Onesimus had fled one master, through God’s providence he soon encountered another, our Lord and Master Jesus Christ. God turned his escape into good for both him and his master. Although Onesimus was now valuable to Paul, the apostle’s first obligation was to see that he was returned to Philemon (vv. 11,12; I Cor. 7:24).
Onesimus’ reluctance to return
A new brother or sister in Christ is more conscious of their faults than ever before.
For this reason Onesimus may have been reluctant to return to his former master. He was
now comfortably close to Paul, who regarded Onesimus as his son (vv. 10,12). Had Paul and
Onesimus not met up, he might have kept his "freedom" longer, or if
neither of them had been in Christ, the obligation to separate might not have arisen. But
Paul was brother to both Onesimus and his master and he needed to consider carefully how
justice could be done (vv. 1, 20).
If Philemon knew Onesimus had been "captured," he must have expected he would be sent home. In the meantime, Onesimus had become useful to Paul. Why should Paul then trouble himself by returning him to his former master? Was not Onesimus already at work in the Lord (v. 13)? Had not God’s providence guided him to Paul (15)? Why should Philemon be informed of his whereabouts?
How effortless it would have been for Paul and Onesimus to remain together and neglect their obligations to Philemon. Paul certainly "would have been glad to keep him" (v. 13 RSV). There was even a scriptural precedent in Deuteronomy: "Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant which is escaped from his master unto thee: He shall dwell with thee, even among you, in that place which he shall choose in one of thy gates, where it liketh him best..." (Deut. 23:15,16). A lesser man than Paul might have kept Onesimus.
Paul’s generous approach
It is not always easy to forgive someone. Paul, who had seen Onesimus’ better
side, might be inclined to forgive him while Philemon, who had suffered loss, might not.
To be sure that Philemon would not hesitate because of his loss, Paul offered this
generous solution -- "I will repay it" (v. 19).
Perhaps it is a foregone conclusion that Philemon would not take Paul up on his offer. But we miss the point if we don’t consider that Paul, like the good Samaritan, was willing to pay (Luke 10:35), even though Paul had already contributed to the well-being of Philemon - "albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides" (v. 19).
Some practical lessons
It was very necessary that Onesimus, the new brother, face up to his obligations.
Although baptized into Christ, he could not simply shrug off his former misdemeanors. He
was still a slave and belonged to his earthly master. He needed to be reconciled and give
even better service than he had in the past (I Tim. 6:1,2).
Philemon, an older brother, needed to forgive his erring slave. The sins of Onesimus belonged to his past and his willing return to his master was to be a cause for rejoicing (Luke 15:7). Onesimus needed to be received in love and forgiveness and proper recognition must be given to the fact that people do change (Matt. 6:12; Eph. 4:31,32).
Paul’s letter is an excellent illustration of his diplomacy. Although he may have wanted to keep Onesimus for himself he quickly realized that Onesimus did not belong to him. Paul’s concern then became one of assisting Onesimus to return to Philemon’s good graces. The letter is a case study in solving brotherly conflicts and also a good example of an older member helping a younger one. Paul does all he can to ease Onesimus’ return, even though he would have liked to have Onesimus by his side.
Reflecting on our own lives
The letter is a reminder of God working behind the scenes. Looking back on "coincidences"
in our lives, they later can be seen to form part of a larger design. Both pleasant and
unpleasant circumstances contribute and the outcome is never as clear in the early stages.
By interpreting the pleasant as approval and the unpleasant, disapproval, we can misdirect
ourselves. God has said: "...all things (i.e., both good and bad) work together
for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose"
(Rom. 8:28).
Jack Robinson