Through the Bible - Philemon

Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer... Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ... I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me... If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account... (Philemon 1-25)

A short, personal letter that turns a runaway slave's return into a living picture of the gospel.

Why Philemon Is in Our Bibles

You may have wondered how to say the name—Philemon, or Philemon. The name matters less than what the Lord speaks through Paul in this letter. There is little contest that Paul wrote it, but many have wondered why it belongs in our Bibles, since it carries no real doctrinal exhortation as most of Paul's letters do. It is a very personal letter to an individual. Yet in these 25 verses the Lord teaches us important things.

Paul writes to a man who very likely lived in either Colossae or Laodicea, during his first imprisonment at Rome (A.D. 60-61). Remember Paul wrote four letters during that house arrest—to Ephesus, Colossae, Philippi, and to the man Philemon. He calls Philemon "our dearly beloved and fellowlabourer," a man in the ministry, serving God. He also greets Apphia—believed by many to be Philemon's wife—and Archippus, "a fellowsoldier," possibly Philemon's son, "and to the church in thy house."

Grace and Peace from God

As in many of his letters, Paul opens with "grace and peace unto you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." That grace and peace always comes from God. I love that Paul always calls Jesus his Lord. He recognized his position of submission—he was an apostle, a laborer, a bondservant of Jesus Christ.

When you consider Paul's former life, this is remarkable. Before he was Paul the apostle, he was Saul the Pharisee, who sought to destroy the followers of Jesus. Now he himself preached the gospel he once tried to destroy. He received great grace, peace, and mercy, for he persecuted the church in ignorance, and God gave him mercy. Paul reveled in that mercy because he knew he was not worthy of it.

It is important for us to remember where we came from. Many of you did not follow God—you rebelled, you were stubborn for years—and yet God in His grace has saved you. That is a testimony worth sharing. Throughout Acts, Paul regularly drew on his own testimony of persecuting the church and being saved on the road to Damascus, always centering on the grace, peace, and mercy of God.

Prayer Even in Chains

"I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers." I believe Paul spent much of his Roman imprisonment in prayer. Though he was chained, the gospel was not chained. He still had visitors—at the end of Acts we read of Jews coming to him under house arrest—but his primary ministry there was prayer, a theme woven through all the prison letters.

Notice the same opening in the letters written at that same time. To the Philippians he writes of always praying for them; to the Colossians, "praying always for you." Though Paul was in chains, he was not bound in the sense that he could do nothing.

This matters for us. Sometimes we feel bound even when we're not in a physical prison—our flesh convinces us we cannot do what we want to do. Paul certainly wanted out; he was like a muzzled ox longing to preach. Yet while there, he ministered enormously through prayer. We too often treat prayer as a last resort: "I guess all we can do is pray." That phrase bugs me more and more. Paul's life shows that prayer is of the utmost importance—"pray without ceasing," "pray always."

Faith and Love Shown in Works

"Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints." Paul knew Philemon personally and had led him to the Lord. Even far away in Rome, he still heard testimony of him: "for we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother." People passing through his city and his house testified that Philemon refreshed the hearts of the saints.

Paul heard of his love and his faith—both displayed in action. How do you know a person has faith? James tells us faith without works is dead. The love God has shed abroad in our hearts works itself out in practical ways, and so does our faith. Philemon had a worldwide reputation as a man of faith and love.

Paul prays "that the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus." Jeremiah said the heart of man is desperately wicked; Jesus said out of the heart come evil thoughts; Paul said "in my flesh dwelleth no good thing." Yet when Christ dwells in us, good things are produced—the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, kindness, gentleness, self-control. The more we draw near to God and acknowledge who He is, the more these good things become effectual and pour out from us. That is the mark of a mature believer, and Philemon clearly had it.

The Purpose of the Letter

In verse 8 the letter turns. There are three sections: the prayer and salutation (verses 1-7), the appeal (beginning verse 8), and the closing. Paul says, "Though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient, yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee." He could command, but instead he begs—for love's sake, because Philemon is a loving man.

"I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds." This was not a physical son but a spiritual one, as Timothy and Titus were. Onesimus came to faith through Paul. And Paul plays on his name: Onesimus means useful or profitable. "Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me." Now he truly lives up to his name.

A Runaway Slave Under a Death Sentence

We must understand the cultural context. In the first-century Roman Empire, perhaps 60 million people—about half the population—were slaves, some captured in conquest, some sold into slavery because of debt. It is likely Onesimus had become a slave through debt. Philemon, though a Christian with a church in his house, was a master of slaves.

Onesimus ran away from Philemon, made his way to Rome, and came upon Paul under house arrest. Paul shared the gospel with him, and Onesimus became a Christian. But Rome feared its enormous slave population rising up, so the penalties were harsh. Slaves were the complete property of their masters, and a runaway who was caught and returned could legally be put to death. So in one sense, sending Onesimus back was a death sentence.

An Exhortation to Integrity

One thing this letter shows is an exhortation to honesty and integrity. Paul could have kept Onesimus, who was now profitable to him in Rome. But the right thing in Christ was to send him back.

Pastor Richard once told me of a man saved at Calvary Chapel Ramona who came from selling drugs and had stolen money. He wanted to give it to the church, but Pastor Rob told him, "No—take this to the police, turn yourself in, because that's the right thing in integrity to do." Pastor Rob even offered to stand by his side. Paul does the same: "Onesimus, you are called to be honest and filled with integrity. You need to go back. I cannot stand by your side, but I will send a letter with you—even though Philemon may disregard it and punish you, this is the right thing to do in Christ."

So Paul says, "Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels." "I would have retained him with me... but without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly." Paul wanted Philemon to act not under command but from his own willing heart.

Used for Good, Received Forever

"For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever." I put a star next to that verse. Perhaps Onesimus ran away for the very purpose that he would come to faith and be with them forever in eternity. The Lord used what was wrong for good—just as with Joseph, whose brothers sold him into slavery, yet who later told them, "What you intended for evil, God used for good." Onesimus's flight was wrong—Paul elsewhere exhorts slaves to obey their masters—yet God used even that to bring him to true faith.

"Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved... both in the flesh, and in the Lord." Some teachers even believe Onesimus was Philemon's physical brother. It was possible: if you couldn't pay a debt and a family member paid it, you could become indebted—even enslaved—to him. Interesting, because Someone paid my debt and yours, and now we have become the bondservants of Christ. Whatever the case, Onesimus now returns as a brother in Christ, with the same spiritual father.

Put It to My Account

"If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself." Imagine the apostle Paul writing that to you. Even though Philemon had the full legal right to punish, even put Onesimus to death, Paul asks him to receive Onesimus as he would receive Paul himself.

"If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account; I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it." Then comes Paul's gentle humor: "albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides." If Onesimus owes you anything, charge it to me—but remember, you owe me your very life.

"Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord." Back in verse 7, Philemon had refreshed the hearts of the saints; now Paul, in prison, asks Philemon to refresh his heart by receiving Onesimus. "Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say."

The Closing—and a Gospel Picture

"Withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you." Paul wrote the same to the Philippians, and indeed he was released for a time from his first imprisonment, traveling again before his final arrest and beheading. He sends greetings from Epaphras, Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, and closes, "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen."

Do you see the correlation? You and I were slaves to sin, runaways trying to escape the punishment, yet the punishment followed us. An accuser stands against us, and a penalty awaits us for breaking God's law. Yet our Lord Jesus Christ stands with us and says, "Put it to my account." Jesus already paid the price. We who were once unprofitable are now profitable; we who were under death will live forever because of His work.

The Rest of the Story

Paul told Philemon, "I know you'll do more than I say." Decades later, near the end of the first century, the early church father Ignatius was arrested and taken to Rome to be martyred. On the way he wrote letters we still have, including one to the church at Ephesus—addressed to its bishop, Onesimus. Ignatius even notes one who was once unprofitable but now profitable. Many believe it was the very same Onesimus.

Who was the first overseer of the church at Ephesus? Timothy, whose letters we looked at recently. It is quite possible that after Timothy, Onesimus was left in charge—meaning Philemon not only spared him but freed him as a brother in Christ, profitable in the ministry. And Ephesus was the first church to gather all of Paul's scattered letters into one collection. Perhaps it was Onesimus himself who said, "This little book, Philemon—we must hold on to this one, because by this book God set me free."

Closing Prayer

Father, I thank You tonight that we have been set free, just as this man Onesimus, who had once been unprofitable, who had once been a slave. Lord, every one of us standing here was once unprofitable, a slave to sin, headed toward death; Your punishment for sin abode upon us. But God, You saved us, and You have stood by us and will stand by us in every trial we face. Thank You that we don't stand alone or in our own strength, but that we have been given grace, mercy, and peace by You, our King of kings and Lord of lords. Thank You for saving us, for calling us with a holy calling, and for giving us new life. As we go from here tonight, remind us of the great grace You've given, and help us to stand strong in the ministry You've called each of us to—even when we don't recognize that our family, our job, or our school is our place of ministry. Help us to stand strong as bright lights, for we ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.