Year of the Bible: Part Eleven of TwelveSample

A Prisoner for Christ

Paul’s letters were confrontational and yet full of grace. They answered church questions, guided small groups, and provided mentorship for individuals. However, the letter in today’s reading might have been the most awkward of scenarios. Paul wrote and gave it to Onesimus, Philemon’s runaway slave. Seeing how Onesimus and Philemon were Christians, Paul intended for them to reconcile their fractured relationship. Paul was a part of both conversions, so this letter had to be written carefully and with plenty of grace.

Paul typically referred to himself as an apostle in most of his letters. In this case, he chose to personalize his identity and make it relatable for Philemon. Paul referred to himself as a prisoner for Christ Jesus. This wasn’t necessarily because he was writing from prison but because he was imprisoned for sharing the gospel. Writing this, he set aside his apostolic authority and reputation and humbled his position to one of a servant. This awkward situation may have been made less difficult for Philemon because of Paul’s relatable example of being a prisoner for Christ Jesus.

Reconciliation must have happened because Paul later describes Onesimus as “our faithful and beloved brother” (Colossians 4:9). Paul’s writing strategy was nothing new—he was just following the example of Jesus. Jesus set aside His divine authority and privilege to become a humbled servant. Paul was aware of this and presented himself as a prisoner of Christ Jesus to remind Philemon of the ultimate reconciliation from the work on the cross.

Question: How can you humble yourself in a way to relate to others you share the gospel with?

Prayer: Ask the Lord to reveal what it means to be a prisoner for Christ Jesus. Ask God to grant you opportunities to be relatable to others while you humbly share the gospel, and thank Him for how He served us on the cross.