Paul writes to his friend Philemon. Philemon’s slave has run away and has come to Paul for help. Written around 64 A.D. while Paul was in Rome for his first trial. As we find Demus is still with him and has not fled yet. This letter is our example today that we are all servants of Jesus Christ, brothers in him and for him. We will find that Mark and Luke and Timothy are with him. Let’s begin this letter to Philemon and verse 1 reads.
Philemon 1] Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,
Tells us here that Timothy is with him.
Philemon 2] And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:
This church is the church of Colossians in Colosse, we find here that it is kept in Philemon’s home.
Philemon 3] Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
[4] I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,
The same salutation is given in Colossians 1:1-6, also written to Philemon by way of letter to the church.
Philemon 5] Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;
[6] That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
[7] For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
With the salutations over he gets to the point of this letter, though very carefully. He must be careful as to not offend but persuade. Paul is giving us a very important lesson on wisdom here.
Philemon 8] Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,
[9] Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
Speaking of both being in prison for teaching the gospels as well as being captive to Christ.
Philemon 10] I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:
Onesimus is Philemon’s slave that has run away from him and is now with Paul, who is in prison.
Philemon 11] Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:
Onesimus G3682 and means “Profitable or useful.” What has happened is when he ran away, he became unprofitable but now with the help of Paul he has become profitable again, he has been converted. Onesimus was obviously educated because he could read and write. Paul used him to right the book of Colossians as well as write this letter and delivered them both to Philemon.
Philemon 12] Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:
Receive him as you would receive me is what Paul is telling Philemon here.
Philemon 13] Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:
Very smart, Paul is saying I would have kept him to do the work that you, Philemon, would have done for me if you were here. Paul continues with his masterful way of speaking.
Philemon 14] But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.
Not without your permission. But also, not without your willingness for the ministries of the church. And that this is only to the benefit of Jesus Christ.
Philemon 15] For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;
Onesimus left as a slave but receive him back as a brother in Christ. And now he will profit both you and the church.
Philemon 16] Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?
[17] If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.
He is now profitable now for us and the Lord, receive him as you would receive me, love him as you would love me.
Philemon 18] If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;
Apparently, Philemon owes Paul and he is calling in his favor. I believe this favor is that Paul converted Philemon and now Onesimus. So, what Paul is saying is “If you owe me, put this debt to my account.”
Philemon 19] I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.
I won’t say how you owe me but you know, no reason for anyone else to know our business.
Philemon 20] Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.
Paul is saying he wants Onesimus back, but by Roman law he must return Onesimus back to Philemon.
Philemon 21] Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.
Paul knows Philemon, and that Philemon would want to do the right thing. Paul might also be concerned for Onesimus sake. Paul is saying I know that you will do more than I ask.
Philemon 22] But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.
Paul knows he would be released soon, and plans to come to Colosse.
Philemon 23] There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;
Epaphras means “lovely’ in the Greek. Paul is telling him to give his brotherly love and salutations.
Philemon 24] Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.
We learned in the first verse that Timothy was with him, now we learn that Mark, Luke, Aristarchus and Demus (the one who would later desert him) are also with him.
Philemon 25] The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
A well worded letter to a friend for a friend. Paul is masterful with his words when the subject is a hard saying. Peter would tell us in 2Peter 3:15-16 just how good Paul is. Let’s read.
2Pet.3:15] And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
[16] As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
That Paul’s wisdom was given to him by Jesus Christ. So, let’s take this all in. Onesimus was a runaway slave, he ran straight to Paul who was in prison in Rome. Paul converted him and would send him back to his friend Philemon who was in Colosse. Philemon would keep church in his house, the church known as Colossians. Onesimus would take both this letter and the letter to Colossians to Philemon. Paul would ask that Philemon would forgive and treat Onesimus as a fellow laborer in Jesus Christ. Let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible