Philemon, Reconciling a Former Slave

As we end our study of Paul's letter to the church in Colossae, it is appropriate that we look at another letter of Paul's, sent to Colossae, but sent to an individual names Philemon.  The letter was apparently written about the same time as Paul's letter to the Colossians as the carrier (and subject) of this letter is the same individual, Onesimus, who carries Paul's letter to Colossae.

The letter to Philemon usually appears in the New Testament at the end of a sequence of personal letters of Paul addressed to individuals, after the letters to Timothy and Titus.  

This is an interesting letter, steeped in the first century culture, indicative of Paul's emphasis on the gospel over all things, but making clear his wishes regarding a certain escaped slave. (Wikipedia has an interesting article on this letter.)

Philemon 1-3, Greeting
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker, to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church that meets in your home: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Archippus is mentioned in the letter to Colossae; presumably the church mentioned here is the church in Colossae.  If so, one might note that these churches were relatively small at the time.

Philemon 4-7, May your faith continue to grow!
I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.

Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.

This paragraph is one of both prayer and confidence, typical of Paul.

Philemon 8-10, An appeal to Philemon
Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, yet I appeal to you on the basis of love. I then, as Paul--an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus--  I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains.

Onesimus apparently means "useful".  But it is most likely a proper name here.

Philemon 1-3, Greeting
Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me. I am sending him--who is my very heart--back to you.  I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel.  But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced.

Paul is playing on the word "Onesimus" or "useful."  Now Onesimus, a Messiah-follower and hopefully soon freed, is useful.  Formerly as a slave and pagan he was not.

Philemon 15-16, Please recognize Onesimus as a (free) brother!
Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good-- no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.

Paul's request is clear.  But it is a request, not a command.

Philemon 17-18, Restitution
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.

To press his case, Paul offers to cover any debts (financial or otherwise) carried by Onesimus.

Philemon 19-21, Greeting
I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back--not to mention that you owe me your very self.

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 will do even more than I ask.

In most of his letters, Paul has a scribe (amaneusis) write out his letters.  Then, towards the end of the letter, he signs it, writing in his own hand.  If Paul had eye problems, he presumably wrote this part rather largely on the expensive papyrus page. Most likely Timothy is the scribe here.

Philemon 22, Allow me to stay with you
And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.

Paul presses his case even further by asking to stay in Philemon's house.  

Philemon 23-25, Other 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.

Here is more evidence that this letter is traveling with the more general letter to Colossae: the same people are mentioned at the end of both letters.

One might wonder how Paul's strong request was received.  Did Philemon, recipient of both a personal letter and the more general letter to the Colossian church, agree to Paul's requests?  I am not aware of any documented response but the very existence of these letters today, recopied in the church in Colossae and passed on to history, would indicate that Philemon was eager to agree to Paul and happy to pass on these letters to others.

Paul's Letter to the Colossians

After the letter to the Philippians in the New Testament is Paul's letter to the Colossians.

The city of Colossae was in Asia Minor (modern Turkey), in the region of Phrygia, inland from Ephesus.  There were residents of Phrygia at Pentecost (Acts 2: 5-12) and Paul traveled through Phrygia in Acts 16 (see Acts 16:6) on Paul's second missionary journey, enroute to Greece.

While in prison (probably in Rome?) Paul wrote a letter to the church in Colossae.

The Colossians letter is concerned with a high view of the work of Jesus and with various heresies and philosophies floating around the Gentile churches.

Paul's letter to the Colossians has a lot in common with his letter to the Ephesians. Some (Bob Utley, for example) have suggested that Colossians was written before Ephesians and that Ephesians expands on the themes in the book of Colossians. In both books, Paul lays out a high view of Christ as eternal Creator.  In both he describes his prayer for the readers, emphasizing their growth in understanding their position in Christ.  In both he has a short set of instructions on relationships. There are enough parallels that one can set out a careful list of parallels between the two letters; see here.  A more general exposition on these parallels between the two letters is here.

As for resources for the book of Colossians, I like the material at OverviewBible -- here is their link on Colossians.

At the end of Colossians, Paul explains that Tychichus and Onesimus are carrying the letter to Colossae.  It turns out that Onesimus is carrying another letter, one written to his former slave-owner, Philemon.  In that letter, Paul urges Philemon to free Onesimus. I wonder what Onesimus thought as he carried both letters....  Paul clearly has a high view of Onesimus, and the very fact that we have both letters preserved in the New Testament is evidence that the faithfulness of Onesimus was honored.

Colossians 4, Conclusions and Personal Notes

(I am a day behind on my blogging, so I will use Sunday to catch up! Today we will look at Colossians 4, finishing up the letter to Colossians.  Tomorrow we look at a related letter, Paul's letter to Philemon.)

Paul began a list of relational instructions in Colossian 3:18.  That passage parallels Ephesians 5: 21-6:9.

Colossians 4: 1, Instructions to slave masters

Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

The modern Christian is repelled by even an admission of the existence of slavery in the New Testament; I want Paul to say, "Masters -- FREE YOUR SLAVES!"  But Paul is not trying to directly shake up the socio-political environment in his letters; he is trying to get people, each in their current station, to submit to the Messiah and join the kingdom of God.  Paul's opinion on slavery will slip out in his letter to Philemon (studied here next week) when he gently requests the Philemon free his slave Onesimus.

Colossians 4: 2-4, Prayer requests

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.  

And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.  Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.

When we pray, how are we to be "watchful"?

Colossians 4: 5-6, Thoughtful actions and conversations

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

"Outsiders" are presumably those outside the church, not yet in the kingdom of God.  Paul emphasizes wisdom and grace in actions and speech in friendships with those who do not yet know the Gospel.  

Colossians 4: 7-15, Personal greetings and instructions

Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.

He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.

My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.)

Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me.

Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis.

Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings.

Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.

This passage of personal, intimate instructions gives us lots of insight into Paul's letters.  They often have particular individuals in mind, strongly relational.  Although most of Paul's letters develop some type of theological, philosophical viewpoint, their main goal is to strengthen the life of individuals.

There are a number of now famous New Testament characters in this list, two of them authors of a Gospel, Mark and Luke.

The former slave, Onesimus, will also carry a letter to his former owner, Philemon.  That letter is the next in our study of Paul's epistles.

Colossians 4: 16-18, Focus on the things of Christ

After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea. 

 Tell Archippus: "See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord."

I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.

This letter is not just for the church in Colossae but is to be passed around to nearby communities.

Paul has a final admonition to Archippus, to "hang in there!"  Then, as he did with the letter to the Galatians, Paul takes the pen from the scribe (Timothy?) writing down the letter and adds his own personal signature.