Partners - Philemon 17-25

"If then you regard me a partner, accept him as you would me. But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account; I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand, I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well). Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, since I know that you will do even more than what I say. At the same time also prepare me a lodging, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given to you. Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow workers. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit." (Philemon 17-25)

The Christian life is not a life that is to be lived in isolation, but one that is to be shared together as we live our lives out in community. We should see each other, not as being separate from us, but as being partners with us; sharing inf a common life, a common grace, a common purpose, and a common hope. See how Paul refers to Philemon as his partner as well as making mention of his fellow prisoners and fellow workers. They were all partners together in this new life they had found in Jesus. This sense of being partners is more than a mere mental note or a tactical arrangement, such as a roster on a baseball team or an employee list at some company. The term for "regard" means to hold; to hold one in our heart and esteem as being partners with us; members with us in our life and walk with Christ. Paul put it this way, "so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another." (Romans 12:5) Not only are we members of the body, but we are also members one with another. There can be no association with the Body without an association with each other.

Paul found benefit in his partnership with Philemon, but what was that benefit? It was knowing that he was not alone in the Body and that he did not have to carry every burden of the Body. He could trust on the goodness of his fellow members to do their part, thus freeing him to do his part. Specifically, he could trust Onesimus, to Philemon without worry or care, knowing that Philemon would do what was right. It is a great temptation for those who care to what to manage and control everything to ensure that people are properly treated and cared for. However, the Body is too big and life is too short. We must focus on what God has called us to do and trust others will do the same. We must trust in our partnerships in Christ; to release to them what they alone can do that we may attend to what we alone can do. Trusting others may be hard, but there is refreshing that comes to our souls when we realize that we don't have to do everything; when we realize that we are not alone.

David Robison

Onesimus - Philemon 10-16

"I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment, who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me. I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart, whom I wished to keep with me, so that on your behalf he might minister to me in my imprisonment for the gospel; but without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will. For perhaps he was for this reason separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever, no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord." (Philemon 10-16)

We don't know much about Onesimus other than his name means "Useful" which helps us to understand Paul's reference to Onesimus being previously useless to Philemon but now useful to himself. We also run across another Onesimus later at Ephesus, whom Ignatius speaks well of when he writes, "I received, therefore, your whole multitude in the name of God, through Onesimus, a man of inexpressible love, and your bishop in the flesh, whom I pray you by Jesus Christ to love, and that you would all seek to be like him." (Ignatius, Letter to the Ephesians, Chapter 1) While there is no direct evidence that this is the same Onesimus from Paul's letter, if he did return to Paul and became part of his team, he could have traveled to Ephesus with Timothy who was there when Paul penned his two letters to him. Also, Onesimus could easily still have been alive when Ignatius met him and reported his commendations of him. The only other thing we know about Onesimus is that he was a slave, and a runaway slave at that.

We know a bit more about Philemon. We know he as a believer and dear to Paul. We also know that he hosted the church in his house. He was a man of great faith and love, and that he cared deeply for his brothers and sisters in Christ. He was also a slave owner. It can be hard for us today to imagine a believer owning slaves, yet it was not too long ago, in our own culture, when such things happened and, in the Roman era, slavery was pervasive and common place. In the Roman Empire there were more slaves than freemen, some owning in excess of 20,000 salves each. Some bought their slaves, some inherited them, and some had none, but no one was without exposure to slavery and its effects in their daily lives.

The gospel does not call for the immediate end of slavery nor for the summary release of all slaves, even by believers. That is not to say that the gospel condones slavery or is indifferent to its suffering. Years later it would be those whose minds were transformed by the evangelical word who would fight hard for the abolition of slavery. However, slavery existed and believers were forced to live by faith in a slave society; the gospel compelling them to treat all people as equals, whether slaves or free, and to love one another, whether slaves or free. It was through the gospel that all men were made equal, all being salves of sin, and all being offered freedom through Christ.

It is hard for us to imagine what we would do if we were in Paul's shoes (or sandals) and it may even be tempting to judge Philemon for his possession of slaves, but to do so would be to miss the whole point of this letter. What is of keen interest in this letter to us is the need for our commitment to doing what's right and to upholding a reputation as one who always does what is right. Paul was committed to doing what was right, even if it was contrary to his desires, whats, and wishes. He wished to keep Onesimus with him but his wants had to take second place to what was right and proper. Similarly, he knew he could trust sending Onesimus back to Philemon because Philemon was a good man and one also committed to what was right. Paul had confidence that Philemon would do the right thing. Oh, that the same might be said about us as well.

David Robison

Love or authority - Philemon 8-9

"Therefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is proper, yet for love's sake I rather appeal to you — since I am such a person as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus." (Philemon 8-9)

Authority is not the enemy. There are times when authority is needed and necessary to the occasion at hand. Even Paul understood that his authority was given to him for the benefit of the body. "For even if I boast somewhat further about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be put to shame." (2 Corinthians 10:8) And when heresies were arising in the church at Crete, he commanded Titus to use his authority in full strength to restore order and faith to that young church. "These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you." (Titus 2:15) However, in some cases, it is important for authority to give place to persuasion. Authority speaks as one over another, giving commands to be followed, while persuasion speaks as an equal; to encourage the other towards a just response or choice.

Sometimes, persuasion is better and can accomplish more that commanding. Consider what Paul spoke about marital relations. "The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does." (1 Corinthians 7:4) While every word of this is true, it may not be the best tack to take. Demanding your rights and commanding what you want may not be the best way to get what you desire. In some cases, persuasion may work better than command!

Many times Paul choose to relate to people as their brother rather than their apostle. To the Corinthian church, he wrote his letter urging them to return to unity and piety lest he should later have to come in authority. "For this reason I am writing these things while absent, so that when present I need not use severity, in accordance with the authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down." (2 Corinthian 13:10) To the Thessalonicans, he reminded them that, even though he had authority as an apostle, yet when he was with them his general demeanor was one of love and gentleness. "Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority. But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children." (1 Thessalonians 2:6-7) The same is true in this letter to his friend Philemon. Though he could have command him to do what is right, out of love he chose to rather appeal to him and to his free response towards what is fitting.

We live in a large Navy community and I have known some men who have had trouble transitioning from work to family life. They are very comfortable commanding a ship of five thousand sailors and attempt that same leadership style at home; leading the home as if they were commanding a ship. Needless to say, most of the time that does not work very well. While they command well, they forget love and, especially in a home, love of often of greater need then commands. While extremes of work life and home life may not be as great for us, the same can still be true. We too may need to learn when to stop commanding and start loving; to give persuasion a chance before we resort to authority. If so, we too might find that love goes a lot further than authority.

David Robison

Faith not belief - Philemon 1-7

"Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved brother and fellow worker, and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints; and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ's sake. For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother." (Philemon 1-7)

The letter of Paul to Philemon is a letter that is full of relational sentiment. In this letter, we can see the deep bonds of fraternity and brotherhood that existed among the early saints. People were not only Christians, they were brothers and sisters; members of one family. Here, in his introduction, Paul refers to Timothy as "our" brother, not "my son" or "my associate", but "our" brother, yours and mine. Even though Paul and Philemon were on different journeys in their Christian walk, they were still brothers with each other and with the universal church of Christ.

It was not uncommon for early believers to meet in homes. In truth, most new converts were poor or even slaves. By most estimates there were more slaves than free people during the time of Paul within the Roman Empire. The early church could not afford elaborate buildings and monuments to their existence. Furthermore, what money they did have was often used in benevolence to the poor and needy among them. However, even when meeting in modest means, they still demonstrated the vibrancy and power of the Holy Spirit as they worshiped God as one family. We must not let ourselves be deceived by the American idea that bigger is better. That, somehow, if we can grow our numbers and buy a nice big building then we will be a better church and exceed our former glory as when we were small. The size and location does not matter. What matters is the genuineness of those who call themselves brethren.

Paul commends both Philemon's love and faith towards God and the church. In doing so he is not speaking of abstract concepts or ideas, he is not talking about a faith that is mere knowledge or belief, but faith and love that are verbs and actions; faith that is lived out in good works towards others. Many people have "faith" but if that faith never becomes action, then it is dead. As James said, "Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself." (James 2:17) Paul never ceases to give thanks to God for Philemon, not because he acknowledged and believed in the truth, but because the truth became a part of him, regulating and motivating all he did. James taught us to "receive the word implanted" (James 1:21) which speaks of a deliberate planting or grafting in of the word into our lives; a planting that is intended to bear fruit. It was evident to all that this implanting in Philemon produced the good works of the Kingdom that lead to his kindly service to his fellow saints.

However, Paul not only congratulates Philemon but prays for him that his participation in the faith will continue to be effective among those he lived with and served. One of the keys to effectiveness is the acknowledgement of every good thing that is within us. James tells us that, "Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights." (James 1:17) Whatever measure of good that is within us has been placed there by the Father. It is only by recognizing and acknowledging what has been given to us by God that we can become effective stewards of those gifts. Unfortunately, most of us prefer to acknowledge the gifts in other people, wishing to be them or at least like them, but we fail to recognize the unique gifts and abilities that God has given us. While wishing for what another has we waist the preciousness and usefulness of what we already possess. We can only be effective with what we have and it is our responsibility, as stewards of God, to use what we have for the benefit of all. This is what Philemon did and this is what we must do as well.

David Robison