June 10, 2022
Changing Fugitives Into Family
Philemon
Bekah Schouten
Central Truth
A relationship with Christ is Life-Transforming.
Key Verse | Philemon 16-18
[N]o longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me. If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account.
Philemon
Greeting
1 Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,
To Philemon our beloved fellow worker 2 and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and 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 I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, 6 and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. 1 1:6 Or for Christ's service 7 For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.
Paul's Plea for Onesimus
8 Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, 9 yet for love's sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus— 10 I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, 2 1:10 Onesimus means useful (see verse 11) or beneficial (see verse 20) whose father I became in my imprisonment. 11 (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.) 12 I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. 13 I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel, 14 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord. 15 For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, 16 no longer as a bondservant 3 1:16 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; twice in this verse but more than a bondservant, as 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, receive him as you would receive me. 18 If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. 19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it—to say nothing of your owing me even your own self. 20 Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.
21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. 22 At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be graciously given to you.
Final Greetings
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.
Listen to the Podcast
Listen NowDive Deeper | Philemon
Philemon may be the shortest of all Paul's letters in the Bible, but what it lacks in length it makes up for in substance. The key theme here is that a relationship with Christ changes everything . . . and everyone.
Paul is writing to his friend Philemon, whose servant Onesimus ran away to Rome, likely stealing from Philemon in the process. Onesimus was "useless" to Philemon before he left (Philemon 1:11). But while in Rome, Onesimus came face to face with Paul, and Paul led him to a relationship with Christ. Onesimus' newfound faith transformed him, and he began to help Paul in his work for the kingdom of God. Paul sent Onesimus back to Philemon with this letter, pleading for Philemon to see the transforming power of Christ in Onesimus' life and urging him to welcome Onesimus back home not as a servant but as a "beloved brother" (Philemon 1:16). Not only that, but Paul made himself personally accountable for any debt Onesimus owed (Philemon 1:18); and in that day, even the smallest servant offense could result in execution.
Does that story sound familiar? Aren't we all Onesimus? We all have run from God, our Master, and carry guilt for our sins. Just like Onesimus found refuge with Paul, who interceded for Onesimus with Philemon, we can find refuge in Christ, who intercedes for us with God. And just as Paul contracted for Onesimus' debt and said, "[C]harge that to my account" (Philemon 1:18), so also did Christ take upon Himself the payment for our sins. Because of Paul's intercession, Onesimus became reconciled in heart to Philemon and returned to his master not as a servant but as a brother. Because of Christ's intercession, we can come to God not as enemies but as His children (1 John 3:1).
When we accept Christ as our Savior, He changes everything. He changes people like Onesimus, who was a "useless" criminal, into a man of God who was useful in furthering the gospel. He changes relationships like the one between Onesimus and Philemon, which transformed from servant and master to brothers in Christ.
Discussion Questions
1. If you were Philemon, would you accept Onesimus back as a brother? As a servant? At all?
2. What relationships do you need to surrender to the Lord for Him to change?
3. Is the transforming power of Christ evident in your life? How have you been changed from "useless" to "useful"?