WCS Bible Ministries
PO Box 7053
Lee's Summit, MO 64064
http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/lansky2000/wcs.html
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Synopsis
The Book of Philemon is the smallest of the Pauline epistles, a personal letter written by Paul of Tarsus to Philemon, a nobleman in Rome circa 60 AD. Onesimus was a runaway slave who had dedicated his life to Jesus Christ, as had his master Philemon. The epistle indicates that Onesimus had decided to return to Philemon carrying this letter. The Holy Ghost has authorized its inclusion in Scripture for reasons not so obvious to the naked eye. It is through careful introspection that we see how this Book provides timeless lessons for master, servant and counsel of both.
We see the Apostle of Apostles incarcerated by the Romans unto death, trying to keep the fledgling religion together through the power of the Holy Ghost despite his imprisonment. He is confronted with the case of Onesimus, a runaway slave born again as a soldier of Jesus Christ. The world government of Rome has decreed flight from slavery punishable by torture and death. Paul has proclaimed the liberation of the spirit through the crucifixion of Christ, but must deal with the consequences of rebellion against the slavery of the flesh. Paul, for reasons unknown to us, returns Onesimus to Philemon with this epistle. It is ours to explore the possible reasons why.
Was it too much for the Christian community to bear? Maybe not. The Christians had suffered persecution before, especially under Paul (as Saul). Forcing them to give up Onesimus would most likely have been impossible. Considering the fact that Philemon was also a Christian of prestige within his own congregation, it is unlikely there had been heavy pressure on the community to return Onesimus to his master.
Was Onesimus in fear of his life? Possibly not. It is unclear as to the conditions that caused Onesimus, a Christian, to flee the servitude of a fellow Christian. Perhaps it was the duality of their relationship that caused Onesimus to take his liberty. It may have been a reliance on Onesimus by Philemon that prevented him from voluntarily releasing the slave, or some other condition that predicated Onesimus' continued servitude. What we do know is that Paul sent him back with this epistle, and that the moral of the story peals across the ages.
Was it God's will for Onesimus to bear his burden? Probably so. Paul begins his argument by describing himself as a prisoner of Jesus Christ. It is similar to other epistles using the same self-description, only here we seek a deeper meaning. If Paul is, in fact, a prisoner of Christ rather than the Romans, then Philemon is forced to ask himself if Onesimus is in a similar situation.
This becomes the crux of the argument in Philemon. If we are subject to the will of God as travelers through life, then we will often find ourselves in situations we find disagreeable or disadvantageous. We, like Onesimus, may choose to escape our predicament, but sometimes a door we may perceive to be open or forceable may not be opened by the will of God. It does not preclude the option of forcing our way through, but like Onesimus, we may find that discretion is the better part of valor in learning to ride the tide.
Paul exercises his considerable talents in persuading Philemon to accept his wayward slave with open arms. Again we see how Christian reconciliation eases the burden of all concerned, causing all to share the weight accordingly. Paul stakes his word on the contrition of Onesimus and becomes indebted to Philemon for unconditionally accepting the slave back. Onesimus returns with the endorsement of Paul's epistle despite the fact that he is subject to life-threatening penalty for his actions. It is a show of faith beyond that of any of the other protagonists. Yet it is his faith in Christ, in Paul, and in his master's Christianity that he does what is right. Philemon, alternately, has his own prestige at stake, but finds within himself the mercy and forgiveness of Christ in accepting Paul's apology and Onesimus' return. It is well known that the unpunished misdeeds of one often inspires the corruption of many. Yet Philemon is willing to take that chance to the greater glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Many point to the Book of Philemon as a justification of slavery, but this is hardly the case. Rather we find a subliminal drama that emphasizes the virtue of prudence and the divine quality of mercy. How often do we feel trapped in a situation and feel like escaping regardless of the consequences? How often do we find ourselves shortchanged in a business situation and have to assess our demand for compensation? How often are we caught in the middle of a situation where we only want the best between two injured parties? It can demand the best in us to defer to another person, but how much more did Christ defer to his executioners at Calvary?
Only by focusing on the Cross can we, like Paul, Onesimus and Philemon, overcome our worldly impulses in seeking to right the wrong. This smallest of Paul's epistles, indeed, has quite a lesson to teach us all.
Paul the Apostle
Philemon the Noble
Onesimus the Slave
