Philemon— Forgiveness
5.10.23
If he has wronged you, or owes you anything, put that on my account. (Philemon 1:18)
Philemon is a Prison Epistle, having been written during Paul’s first confinement in Rome. However, it is also grouped with the Pastoral Epistles. It is the most personal of all of Paul’s letters. It is most closely connected to the book of Colossians. Paul must have written many personal letters, but this is the only one that survived.
This was a private letter of intercession written by Paul probably from Rome, and sent to Philemon at Colossae. Apphia was Philemon’s wife. Archippus was their son, and may have been the pastor of their church. The book was taken, along with the Epistle to Colossae, to that church by Tychicus and Onesimus.
As noted above, the book is about forgiveness. It also presents the change that takes place in a life by the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Philemon, a wealthy slave-owner, was a member of the church at Colossae. The church apparently met in his house. Onesimus was one of the millions of slaves in the Roman Empire. He belonged to Philemon, but had robbed and run away from him to Rome. (some 1200 miles from Colossae). He had met Paul in Rome and been converted. Paul would have kept him there as a helper, but felt it best to send him back to his master first. Onesimus needed to make things right with his owner.
Normally the penalty for his crime would have been death. However, a slave could return without this fear if he was able to secure a friend of the owner as an advocate. This beautiful letter is written to plead with Philemon to forgive Onesimus and restore him to favor.
The epistle is not an attack against slavery. Rather, it serves as a guideline for Christian masters and slaves to live out their faith within this evil system. Wherever the Gospel has been preached in this world, slavery has fallen. The freedom that we have in Christ brings freedom to society. This book demonstrates the changes that come into the life when Christ is Lord.
Paul played on the name Onesimus, which means ‘profitable.’ Which in times past was to you unprofitable, but now profitable to you and to me (11).
One of the commentators suggests that Paul fulfills three roles in this little post card. First, he is a beloved friend (1-7). Second, he acts as a beseeching intercessor (8-16). Finally, he is a burdened partner (17-35).
Looking at the book from a very practical perspective, there are several wonderful lessons that are taught or reinforced in this short book. These include: courtesy (Paul sought Philemon’s opinion), intercession (Paul interceded to Philemon on behalf of Onesimus), imputation (Paul asked Philemon to treat Onesimus as he would treat Paul, with honor; at the same time, he asked Philemon to treat Paul as if he were Onesimus—send him the bill), forgiveness (this is the whole thrust of Paul’s message), and faith (Paul had faith in Philemon that he would comply, and in God that He would deliver him from prison).
Christ is clearly seen in the principle of imputation. On the cross, our sins were imputed to His account in order that we might gain His righteousness. (2 Corinthians 5:19-21) Have you turned to the Savior in repentance, giving Him your sin, and by faith accepting the gift of His righteousness? You can do so right now!