At Home in the Community - Philemon 8-18 - Part Two

At Home in the Community – Philemon 8-18 - Part Two

A Mediation Document

Interestingly, Paul’s letter to Philemon is written during one of his periods of imprisonment.  Evidently, he minimally considered the mental anguish and bondage that the rift in the relationship between the slave master and slave caused.  One imagines that Paul had to consider the practical effects of facilitating Onesimus’ return to Philemon.  Nonetheless, Paul pens this personal letter with the objective of establishing a new relationship between the two men.  Again, one imagines Paul’s  ruminating upon the idea of new creation in which the past fades away completely and the dawn of a new existence emerges.  He desires this for Onesimus.  He appeals to Philemon to cooperate in this process.  Rather than a dreadful treatise in which a runaway slave is returned indifferently to the horrors of slavery, the letter to Philemon is a mediation document.  Paul attempts to restore this slave with the dignity of Christ as Onesimus is Paul’s brother in the Lord.  Without addressing the justice and equity of the practice of slavery in Rome, Paul attempts to ensure that his fellow brother in the Lord is treated as he ought to be as a child of God.

In the eleventh verse, Paul rhetorically plays upon words.  He notes that Onesimus’ name means useful.  He acknowledges that he had become useless due to various circumstances.  Since becoming a Christian, Onesimus discovers a new purpose to work and service.  He shall work as unto the Lord and not unto another human being.  He will seek to honor and glorify the Lord in his service.  He shall forever be useful to any master as he really serves the Master.  Paul uses this linguistic technique to allay any remaining fears about Onesimus’ work ethic that Philemon may have.

One of the early church fathers, Ignatius, wrote Epistle to the Ephesians.  In the book, he references a man named Onesimus who is a bishop at Ephesus.  Tradition holds that this man could possibly be the same person mentioned in the letter to Philemon.  What an amazing progression from human slavery to lifelong servitude to Christ!

A Personal Mediation

As an African-American, it is most difficult to study the book of Philemon.  On the surface, the grand apostle of Christian freedom, Paul, ironically appears to send a former slave back to the chains, shackles and destitution of bondage.  The sheer thought of this idea repulses the mind and churns the stomach.  Immediate fact, figures and images of the brutality of the Atlantic slave trade and the hundreds of years of chattel slavery in the United States come to mind.  One essentially dismisses this book.  Howard Thurman, the great twentieth-century African-American Baptist theologian, records in his autobiography, With Head and Heart, that his beloved grandmother would always tell him to skip the portions dealing with slavery as he would read the letter of Paul to her.  Equally, many of today’s African-American disciples probably ignore the book of Philemon.

However, I suggest for the purposes of today’s study that we suspend our apprehensions.  First, the practice of slavery in the Roman Empire does not parallel historically with the chattel slavery that was practiced in the United States.  A detailed comparison of the two systems of enslavement is out of the reach of this lesson.  Second, the book of Philemon is in the New Testament canon.  Therefore, it stands to reason that Almighty God inspired this small book just as He did the other sixty-five books of the Bible.  Third, as a result, Philemon contains an enduring message for all generations of Christians just like the drama of the Corinthian letters, the eloquence of Romans and the sound wisdom of the Pastoral Epistles.  Today, let’s set aside our reservations and personalize the book.  In so doing, I submit that we will find that Philemon offers us tremendous divine advice and very practical suggestions for intensifying our relationships with the Lord Jesus Christ and finding the inner healing and wholeness that He offers.

The Bible is, in many ways, sacred literature.  As with all good literature, it often helps to assume the personality of one of the characters.  Travel through the story as one of the major players.  As you develop literary empathy with that character, you receive the by-product of a greater understanding of his or her emotions, dilemmas, actions, reactions, choices and consequences.  Moreover, you grasp the author’s intentions and purposes better when you walk on the stage of the novel and travel through the plot as the personification of his or her imagination in one of the characters.  Today, I suggest that you take on the character of Paul, Philemon or Onesimus.  Read the book again through the lens of their eyes.  Personalize the story; in so doing, glean greater spiritual insight.  For the balance of this lesson, I shall assume Paul’s character.  I will offer my brainstorming notes of my writing plan for the book.  These ideas will reveal my intentions and purpose in writing the letter.  Perhaps, if you know those concepts, you will be able to relinquish more freely the assumptions with which you approach the book. 

Originally, I write to my friend and brother in the Lord, Philemon.  The opening seven verses reveal the affection that I hold for him in my mind and heart.  The strength of my salutation and compliments disclose the high esteem that I have for him.  Our relationship is the foundation that enables me to proceed to the weightier matter relating to the status of our mutual brother in the Lord, Onesimus, who is a slave in the Roman Empire at the time of my writing.  Please note that I appeal to Philemon on the basis of Christian love.  As a learned man in the Law of God who now knows the Lord Jesus Christ, I also know that the power and grace of the law of Christ’s love greatly exceeds the ability of black letter law to compel right behavior yet alone righteousness.  So, I appeal to Philemon to emulate the example of our Lord by overlooking the incapacities of Onesimus and seeking a resolution with him that will restore him to the community of faith.

Please also note Paul’s great affection for Onesimus.  The English translation of these words minimizes the tremendous favorable emotions of Paul’s thinking and word choice.  Paul recalls Onesimus’ care for Paul when he was in chains earlier.  One rarely forgets someone who is there in a time of dire straits.  Onesimus’ assistance to Paul earned him the place of a son in Paul’s estimation.  As a consequence, Paul advocates for this son in the faith with a fellow brother in the Lord.  Characterizing Onesimus as “my very heart,” Paul returns him to Philemon with the bold statement that Onesimus will be helpful to both of them.  Though once relegated to being utterly “useless” by Philemon, Onesimus deserves a second chance to demonstrate his maturity in the faith.

Paul continues this appeal by proposing that Philemon receive Onesimus back not as a slave but as a brother in the Lord.  The fifteenth and sixteenth verses actually belie the traditional disdain for the book of Philemon.  Paul argues that Onesimus’ Christian growth and character will empower him to more useful to Philemon than ever before.  His allegiance and work ethic will surpass considerably the past as he will work as unto the Lord.  Further, he will demonstrate a depth of commitment, respect and loyalty of which he was incapable heretofore.  In essence, Paul’s letter to Philemon is a mediation document in which he strives to reconcile to brothers in the Lord who allow a previous offense and prior shortcomings to widen a chasm between them.

The apostle finishes his request by exchanging places with Onesimus.  He exhorts Philemon to welcome Onesimus back as Philemon would welcome Paul.  He additionally asks Philemon to forgive any wrong or debt that Onesimus may have committed or incurred.  Certainly, forgiveness precedes reconciliation.  That Christian attribute and the fellowship that accompanies it ensure that all believers can be at home in the community of faith.

Paul usually ends his discourses on a note of thanksgiving.  I imagine that he rejoices over the mediation that Christ performed on his behalf.  He appeals to Philemon on Onesimus’ behalf because Paul realizes the extent to which our Lord Jesus Christ appeals to the Heavenly Father on his behalf.  In the words of the author of Hebrews, Christ is the perfect mediator for humankind.  As we assume the character of Paul in reading this book, we can set aside our misgivings about Paul’s inability to critique slavery in the Roman Empire.  We can appreciate the willingness of our Lord to mediate our case with Almighty God although we are slaves to sin.