Daily Scripture and Thoughts About It

Philemon

This letter is thought to be from the same time period as Galatians and Ephesians (61-63 AD), though Ray Brown thinks a case can be made for it coming a little earlier. It is addressed to Philemon, Apphia, and Archippus and the church at his (or their) house.

Paul refers to himself as “a prisoner of Christ Jesus” (1) though it is not clear where he is imprisoned. It might be in Ephesus, Caesaria or Rome, though the JB seems to go for the last of these.

He states in verse 8 that while he could with “no diffidence” tell him what to do, he prefers to appeal to his love instead. Acts of kindness, he later says, “should be spontaneous” (15). He (Paul) is an old man now and prisoner of Christ Jesus. He says he is “appealing to you for a child of mine, whose father I become while wearing these chains: I mean Onesimus” (10-11). Onesimus is a slave belonging to Philemon, and Paul is sending him back as one who is now “one with Paul” in faith. It seems likely that Onesimus left the household without their permission, and Paul is returning him so as to give them an opportunity to free him “voluntarily,” knowing how much good he is doing serving Paul and the gospel away from them. “Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back forever, 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” (15-16).

It is so interesting here how Paul turns the screws on their consciences. He does not flail against slavery from an ideological or even ethical point of view. He simply stimulates Christ’s work in them by giving them an opportunity to see the situation from a gospel point of view.

Paul tells them to charge any loss or wrong up to him on Onesimus’ behalf. He sends greeting to them also from his companions in Rome—Epaphras (who is also in prison), Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke.