Philemon 1:1-16 (NKJV) Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,
To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer, 2 to the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philemon’s Love and Faith
4 I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, 5 hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, 6 that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. 7 For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.
The Plea for Onesimus
8 Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting, 9 yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you—being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ— 10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, 11 who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me.
12 I am sending him back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, 13 whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel. 14 But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary.
15 For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, 16 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.
(Through the Bible Day by Day: A Devotional Commentary (7 Vols.)) A PLEA FOR A RUNAWAY SLAVE
SALUTATION (1-3).
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- Paul’s Prayer for His Friend (4-7)
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- The Return of Onesimus (8-14).
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- The Significance of His Absence (15, 16).
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- Paul’s Offer of Security (17-20).
CONCLUSION (21-25).
V1 “Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer…” Paul was in a Roman prison when he wrote this letter to his good friend and fellow servant of the Lord Jesus Christ about Onesimus. It was written about 60ad. Onesimus was a slave of Philemon who probably had stolen from him before running away to Rome. Paul made this intercession to Philemon for Onesimus. Tychicus was most likely the person who delivered this letter to Philemon, a resident of Colosse. Philemon would have traveled with him.
V2 “…to the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house…” Apphia is most likely Philemon’s wife, Archippus was possibly Philemon and Apphia’s son, and the church in Colosse met in Philemon’s house.
V3 “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul’s standard blessings in his greeting.
V4 “I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers…” Paul is thankful to God for all people he has mentioned and the church. He tells them that he mentions them in his prayers. Paul also had a strong concern for the churches that they were growing in faith (2 Corinthians 11:28).
V5 “…hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints…” “Your” refers to Philemon; it is a singular pronoun. Love for Jesus shows itself in obedience to His rules (John 14:15). Faith is not a one time event; it is a daily believing and following the Lord Jesus. Philemon himself had concern for his fellow Christians.
V6 “…that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.” The Greek word for “sharing” is (G2842) κοινωνία koinōnía, which means a sharing as in fellowship (Acts 2:42), contributions (Romans 15:26), the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 10:16), yoking together (marriage, business, partnerships, etc.–2 Corinthians 6:14), and fellowship with God (2 Corinthians 13:14, Philippians 2:1, and 1 John 1:3). Sharing of the faith may become effective because it is not just words but living a Christian life (Colossians 3:12-14, James 2:12-16, and Philippians 2:2-8). Before salvation, we are dead while we live; we are dead in our sins and trespasses. After salvation, we are alive by God’s power, are given gifts (Ephesians 4:8), and live/show the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
V7 “For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.” We are blessed by God through your Christian life.
V8 “Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting…” Paul starts his plea for Onesimus.
V9 “…yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you—being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ…” Even though he is an apostle, Paul could have ordered Philemon, but instead Paul makes an appeal. Note, there is no hint of control or abrasiveness as some pastors have shown.
V10 “…I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains…” Paul is in prison where he met Onesimus and witnessed the Gospel to him. We should never complain about our environment and circumstances, for there might be an opportunity to witness in that situation that might never otherwise have happened.
V11 “…who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me.” Onesimus was not a responsible slave probably lazy, sassy, and now a runaway slave who had stolen from his master. The change in a person’s life that God works in the newly reborn heart is awesome. Government programs help little, handouts help little, etc. but what helps in a new heart created by the Holy Spirit when one puts his/her faith into Jesus Christ.
V12 “I am sending him back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart…” Paul’s tender appeal to Philemon.
V13 “…whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel.” Paul had been blessed by the newly born again Onesimus and wished to keep him as an assistant but not without Philemon’s permission. Many principles are written here that are approved by God for our benefit.
V14 “But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary.” As Christians we need to be voluntary servants of Jesus Christ. The Greek word for “compulsion” is (G318 ἀνάγκη anágkē, which means to compel, force by whatever means necessary. The Greek word for “voluntary” is (G1595) ἑκούσιος hekoúsios, which means willingly without compulsion. The word root ((G1635) ἑκών hekṓn) is used in Romans 8:20 and 1 Corinthians 9:17. Paul wanted Philemon to make a decision of his own free will, not feeling that he must please Paul.
V15 “For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever…” Maybe there was a cause, if so it might be for you to welcome him and utilize him forever. It is the blessing of the Gospel to change hearts, to bring forgiveness, to change hate into love, to change revenge into welcoming and kindness. Only the Gospel of Jesus Christ changing the heart (our real eternal person from a sin nature to a God pleasing nature).
V16 “…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.” Truly, Onesimus is still a slave, but now he comes willingly with a willing and loyal heart. He is a brother serving a brother instead of a slave serving a master.