Illustrating the Process: Philemon

Context

Watch the video above for historical context on Paul’s letter to Philemon.

Observation

Yesterday, you started making observations about the letter’s three main characters. There is so much information that can be gathered about them by simply looking at the text! See below for a summary of our findings. Did you find what we found? Did you observe more?

Paul

• A prisoner for Jesus (v1, 9, 10, 23)
• With Timothy (v1), Epaphras, Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke (v23-24)
• Encouraged by Philemon (v7)
• Could command Philemon to do the right thing but prefers to appeal on the basis of love (v8-9)
• An old man (v9)
• Wanted to keep Onesimus with him to help him spread the gospel but did not want to do anything without Philemon’s consent (v13-14)
• Considers Onesimus to be very dear (v16)
• Wants Philemon to welcome Onesimus as he would welcome Paul (v17)
• Commits to paying any debt Onesimus owes (v19)

Philemon

• A beloved fellow worker with a church in his house (v1-2)
• Shows love to God’s people and has faith in Jesus (v5)
• A partner of Paul’s in the faith (v6, 17)
• Refreshes the hearts of God’s people (v7)
• To him, Onesimus is both a slave and brother in the Lord (v16)
• Owes his very self to Paul (v19)
• Has a home with a guest room (v22)

Onesimus

• Being appealed for by Paul (v10)
• Considered Paul’s son, becoming so while Paul was in prison (v10)
• Was formerly useless to Philemon but is now useful (v11)
• Being sent back to Philemon (v12)
• Described as Paul’s heart (v12)
• Separated from Philemon for a while (v15)
• A slave (v16)
• May have wronged Philemon in some way (v18-19)

Interpretation

From the information gathered (from the text and historical background video), think about how Paul’s appeal for Onesimus was so radical within its cultural context. What did both Philemon and Onesimus learn from this letter about the power of the gospel?

Paul models for Philemon what he is asking of him: he lays down his right (as the Lord’s apostle) to command Philemon to do the right thing and willingly takes on the cost required to bring restoration to others—just like Jesus!

Philemon, who was personally wronged by Onesimus, had a legal right according to Roman law to treat his slave as property. Instead, Paul wanted him to view Onesimus as a brother, and even welcome him back in the same manner in which he would have welcomed Paul, his spiritual leader!

Aware of the possible consequences he could face when he returned to Philemon, Onesimus showed remarkable courage in returning anyway. He had wronged Philemon and recognized his need to make things right with the man who was now both his master and brother in Christ.

Application

In applying Paul’s letter to Philemon, think about which character’s situation you relate with the most.

Are you, like Paul, meditating a broken relationship between others? What can you learn from Paul about the attitude, posture, and actions that God may be calling you to take in order to see this relationship restored?

Or do you relate more with Philemon, having been wronged by someone close to you and in a position to make them pay for it? What does Paul’s appeal to Philemon suggest to you about the attitude, posture, and actions God may be calling you to take?

Or, like Onesimus, have you wronged someone and feel afraid of what might happen if you try to make things right? What practical steps does the example of Onesimus encourage you to take?