Although some critics deny its authenticity, the general consensus of scholars recognizes Philemon as Paul’s work. There could have been no doctrinal motive for its forgery, and it is supported externally by consistent tradition and internally by no less than three references to Paul (Phile 1,9,19).
Times: AD 60-61
Key Verses: Philemon 16-18
Theme: Paul wrote this letter to a slave owner in the church at Colosse. Onesimus, the slave of Philemon, had stolen from him and had run away, an act punishable by death under Roman law. Onesimus had since met Paul and become a Christian. Paul’s letter is a personal appeal in an effort to help them reconcile and renew their relationship.
Salutation
Verse 1-3 I, Paul…to Philemon our dearly beloved friend and fellow worker, And to your wife Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier [in ministry], and to the church that meets in your house: Grace to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1-2 Philemon …and to the church. Although Paul addresses this letter to Philemon and the Colossian church, by the use of the singular tense, Paul demonstrates that this is his personal plea to Philemon. It was written the same time as the letter to the Colossians and probably carried by the same messenger.
Archippus may have been either Philemon’s son, or perhaps an elder in the Colossian church (Col 4:17)
Philemon’s Love and Faith
Verse 4 I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers
Verse 5 because I hear of your love and of your faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and towards all the saints (God’s people).
Verse 6 I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective and powerful because of your accurate knowledge of every good thing which is ours in Christ.
Faith may become effective—working faith is a sharing faith; it is the acknowledgment of what Christ has done in the believer’s life. (Eph. 3:17-19)
Verse 9 yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you—since I am such a person as Paul, an old man, and now also a prisoner [for the sake] of Christ Jesus.
Paul, an old man—The apostle is either speaking of his old age, or of the office of an elder.
Verse 10 I appeal to you for my [own spiritual] child Onesimus, whom I have fathered [in faith] while a captive in these chains.
Verse 11 Once he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you as well as to me.
Useless…useful –Paul uses an interesting play of words here. After mentioning Onesimus, whose name means “useful”, the apostle describes him as someone who was formerly useless, but who has become useful through the work of Christ in his life.
Verse 14 but I did not want to do anything without first getting your consent, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will.
By compulsion…free will—Service for Christ is never forced. Paul has given Philemon several good reasons to forgive Onesimus, but he returns to the foundation of his argument which was Philemon’s actions must proceed from his own love (v 9).
Verse 15 Perhaps it was for this reason that he was separated from you for a while, so that you would have him back forever,
Verse 16 no longer as a slave, but [as someone] more than a slave, as a brother [in Christ], especially dear to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh [as a servant] and in the Lord [as a felloe believer]. [Col. 4:9]
Verse 17 So, if you consider me a partner, welcome and accept him as you would me.
Verse 18 But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account.
Wronged you. Onesimus had probably stole something from Philemon when he left.
Charge that to my account. This accounting imagery reminds us of the theological truth that our sins were charged over to Christ even though He had not earned them. Forgiveness is costly. [Is. 53:6]
Verse 19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand. I will repay it in full (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well.)
My own hand. Paul wrote this personal letter himself, and therefore it could be considered a legal document obligating him to pay the damages that Onesimus had caused.
Verse 21 I write to you [perfectly] confident of your obedient compliance, since I know that you will do even more than I ask.
Verse 22 At the same time also prepare a guest room for me [in expectation of a visit], for I hope through your prayers I will be [granted the gracious privilege of coming to you [at Colossae].
Prepare a guest room for me. It is believed that Paul wrote this letter during his imprisonment in Rome (Ac 28), and that he was released shortly afterwards. He was probably not at liberty for very long, but it is possible that he was able to visit Colosse before his second imprisonment and execution.
Verse 23 Greetings to you from Epaphras, my fellow prisoner here in [the cause of] Christ Jesus,
Verse 24 and from Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
Epaphras…Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, These five co-workers are also mentioned in Colossians 4:10-14.
CONCLUSION
In looking at Paul asking Philemon to forgive Onesimus, we should look at God the Father’s divine forgiveness stated in Isaiah 43:23. God not only forgives, but also forgets. This is because He knows that holding on to trespasses keep you in bondage. And being an example to us, He will not allow Himself to be put in bondage.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS
When you forgive, are you willing to forget? And are you led to pursue reconciliation? Are you willing to pay for another’s sins? I welcome your comments.