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broken friendships, remaining patient love to his estranged slave. Philemon was
when they resist or fail, and trusting God known for refreshing the believers in his
to change them. home, and Paul will now ask this gener-
ous man to be still more generous. Calling
Philemon and Onesimus: himself an old man in prison, Paul simply
Reconciliation Through asks Philemon to respond, not “for my
the Gospel and Christian sake” but “for love’s sake.” Reconciliation
Brotherhood begins with Christian love.
Paul then writes, “I appeal to you,
Paul’s letter to Philemon offers another concerning a son of mine, whom I have
example of reconciliation, this time man- begotten while in my chains – Onesimus”
aged by a spiritual third party. Onesimus, (v10). Paul has delayed naming Onesi-
2
a runaway slave, had wronged his master mus until now – and not till the end of
Philemon first by theft and then by deser- this verse. By the time he encountered the
tion. After fleeing to Rome, Onesimus name of his runaway slave, Philemon was
somehow encountered Paul, who led him completely disarmed. Paul stresses that
to faith in Christ (Phm 10). Onesimus had Onesimus was now a brother to Paul and
been serving Paul faithfully in prison. And to Philemon. They now had Christ in com-
though Paul wanted to keep him around, mon. And the slave’s conversion meant
he knew that the converted Onesimus a new nature with a new work ethic. So
must now return to Philemon and be the apostle is not asking Philemon to
reconciled to his master. take back a heathen slave, but to receive
Interceding as Christ would, Paul in this Onesimus “as a beloved brother” (v16).
letter asks Philemon to receive Onesimus Serving as a mediator in the dispute,
back, not merely as a repentant slave but Paul mirrors God’s own work of recon-
as a beloved Christian brother. Rather ciling sinners to himself through Christ.
than demanding the favor, Paul writes a Returning to the key word “participation”
persuasive appeal grounded in the gos- (koinonia) in his opening prayer (v6), the
pel. To make the appeal more personal, apostle says, “If you consider me your
Paul pens the letter himself (v19). The partner, receive him as you would receive
apostle’s writing is warm, tactful and even me” (v17). Philemon, Paul and Onesimus
lighthearted – Onesimus means “useful” together had family fellowship as children
and Paul writes that the useless one is of God; if Philemon would receive brother
now “useful to you and to me” (v11). He Paul, he should as eagerly receive brother
is not only Onesimus by name but now Onesimus. Similarly, believers in the Lord
Onesimus by nature. Jesus are “favored in the Beloved” (Eph
The breach between Philemon and 1:6 JND) and “found in him” with the
Onesimus, however, was serious and righteousness that comes from their union
required a Christian answer. Paul begins with the Savior by faith (Php 3:9).
by thanking God for Philemon’s faith in Now that Onesimus had repented and
Christ and love for all the saints (v5). “All” changed, Philemon could forgive him. But
the saints included Onesimus: Philemon full reconciliation stalled on the reparation
is about to have a special opportunity to
manifest the reality of his faith by showing 2 My translation
Continued on p. 287
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