20160924 Saturday, September 24 2016
Philemon 01: What Did Paul Do With A Runaway Slave?

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the LORD?"

The apostle Paul's letter to Philemon was a petition ("A formal message requesting something that is submitted to an authority") for the freedom of a runaway slave - Philemon's runaway slave, Onesimus. It was a bittersweet request - Paul wrote the epistle when he was himself a prisoner, held in chains by the politically-malignant Romans (see Romans: In The Heart Of The Beast).

Paul was appealing to a fellow Christian, for the freedom of another fellow Christian, while being held in chains himself.

"1:1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother [see 1 Timothy: Godliness With Contentment and 2 Timothy: In The Last Days Perilous Times Shall Come], unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,

1:2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house [see Houses Of The Holy and Can You See The Church?; also the complete series about the true meaning and purpose of the "Church of God": The Church In The Garden, The Church In The Wilderness, The Church Today, The Church In The End Time, The Church In The Kingdom Of God and The Church: Mission Accomplished]:

1:3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." (Philemon 1:1-3 KJV)

Paul's greeting was much the same as in all of his epistles (see also The Apostle Paul's Gramma), however it seems certain that Philemon already knew the purpose of it - Paul had the runaway Onesimus deliver the request for his freedom to Philemon. It was a bold act of faith by Paul, and of Onesimus - and a test of faith for Philemon, "That the communication of thy faith may become effectual."

"1:4 I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, 1:5 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus [see The Kingdom Of The LORD God], and toward all saints;

1:6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. 1:7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother." (Philemon 1:4-7 KJV)

Paul then reminded Philemon of the apostle's own circumstances, "Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ." From that vantage point, Paul made the request, "I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds." Onesimus had run away from Philemon, encountered the apostle Paul, and was converted by Paul while Paul was in chains i.e. "I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds."

While Paul could have ordered the slave to be set free ("Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient"), like any good preacher, Paul enabled Philemon to do the right thing by a personal choice between right and wrong. Right or wrong isn't something that someone can do for someone else. Everyone will be judged for their own thoughts and behaviour.

"1:8 Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient, 1:9 Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. 1:10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: 1:11 Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:

1:12 Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels: 1:13 Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel: 1:14 But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly. 1:15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; 1:16 Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?" (Philemon 1:8-16 KJV)

Paul made the plea, to a fellow Christian, to free a fellow Christian.

"1:17 If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. 1:18 If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account; 1:19 I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides. 1:20 Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord. 1:21 Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say." (Philemon 1:17-21 KJV)

There is no Biblical record of what Philemon did in response to the request, however Paul intended to follow up with a personal visit - if he was himself ever set free.

"1:22 But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you." (Philemon 1:22 KJV)

Two of the Gospel Book writers were also with Paul at the time, Luke ("Lucas") and Mark ("Marcus").

"1:23 There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus; 1:24 Marcus [see Mark: Was It John Mark?], Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas [see Luke: The World Of The LORD and Acts: Luke's Second Letter To Theophilus], my fellowlabourers.

1:25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen." (Philemon 1:23-25 KJV)

Fact Finder: What was the original meaning of "Christian"? How did the word mean "slave"?
See Who Are The First Christians? and Where Believers Were First Called Christians