May He Increase

Posted By Joe on April 29, 2009

A book in the Bible that sometimes gets neglected is Paul's letter to Philemon. It's a shame, really, because although it is a very short book, it's a vivid illustration of Jesus' redemptive work on our behalf.

Philemon was most likely a person of wealth in the ancient city of Colossae, which is located in modern Turkey. Philemon was married to a woman named Apphia and they both had a son named Archippus. At some point, Philemon had become a Christian as did his wife and son. More than likely, all of them were converted through Paul's ministry in that area.

Philemon was also the owner of a runaway slave named Onesimus. Onesimus had stolen some property from Philemon and by God's divine will and appointment, meets Paul in Rome who leads him to the faith. This sets the stage for Paul's letter to Philemon.

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 1:1-7.

Paul begins his letter to Philemon with graceful language. Here and in the next series of verses, we will see the frequent mention of the word "love." It sets the tone of the letter.

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--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. --Philemon 1:8-11.

Paul starts by saying that inasmuch as he could use his authority as an apostle to order Philemon to take Onesimus back without harming him--the penalty for a runaway slave and one who stole from his master would most likely be death--Paul instead is appealing to Philemon out of love. It's a beautiful picture of how Jesus appeals to the Father on our behalf as sinners. More on this in the next few verses.

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 as it were 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 now much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. If then you regard me as a partner, accept him as you would me. -- Philemon 1:12-17.

Here Paul is acknowledging Philemon's rights to Onesimus. Paul could have kept Onesimus in Rome with him so that he might serve with Paul as a substitution for Philemon. Instead, Paul is allowing Philemon to make that decision himself.

Paul also implies that Onesimus running away in the first place was perhaps part of God's plan that Oneismums would now be Philemon's brother-in-Christ instead of merely Philemon's slave. Now that Onesimus was a Christian, he was Philemon's brother-in-Christ!

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. --Philemon 1:18-21.

Here Paul gives a beautiful illustration of what Jesus' has done for us. As God needs to judge sin, when we have that certificate of debt in our hand, Jesus comes along side us, takes the certificate out of our hand, stamps it "Paid in full" and hands it to the Father and says: "charge that to my account." Paul is telling Philemon that he will personally repay anything that Onesimus owes to him. Paul also reminds Philemon that it was through Paul's ministry that Philemon came to faith.

Jesus came to pay a debt He did not owe, a debt you and I cannot afford to pay!

May He Increase!

Categories: Philemon
Tags: debt, forgiveness, grace, love, onesimus, paul, salvation