September 10, 2020
Wait. What?
Philemon 1–25
JT Hale
Central Truth
Living in open community with one another allows us to challenge, forgive, and empty our account for the goal of knowing Christ and loving others.
Key Verse | Philemon 18
If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account.
Philemon 1–25
Greeting
1 Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,
To Philemon our beloved fellow worker 2 and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and 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 always when I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, 6 and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. 1 1:6 Or for Christ's service 7 For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.
Paul's Plea for Onesimus
8 Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, 9 yet for love's sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus— 10 I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, 2 1:10 Onesimus means useful (see verse 11) or beneficial (see verse 20) whose father I became in my imprisonment. 11 (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.) 12 I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. 13 I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel, 14 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord. 15 For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, 16 no longer as a bondservant 3 1:16 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; twice in this verse but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
17 So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me. 18 If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. 19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it—to say nothing of your owing me even your own self. 20 Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.
21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. 22 At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be graciously given to you.
Final Greetings
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, 24 and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Dive Deeper | Philemon 1–25
Paul exemplifies what Christ did for us in his letter to Philemon. Onesimus deserved punishment for stealing from his master, Philemon. But Paul offers to take Onesimus' debt as his own. This is the gospel: we all deserve death (Romans 3:23), but God's FREE gift is eternal life in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:23). God sent His only Son, so that we would be saved and have eternal life through Him (John 3:16-17). Paul told Philemon to charge Paul's account on behalf of Onesimus because of something Onesimus owed and affirms it by writing it with his own hand (Philemon 19).
So Jesus has paid my debt, but now what? Community is one of the most integral parts of following Jesus. Paul and Philemon enjoyed community as brothers in Christ (Philemon 4-7), and Paul is not afraid to call Philemon out and plead for forgiveness of Onesimus on his new brother's behalf (Philemon 17). It's an awesome picture of Paul wanting to bear Onesimus' load in seeking forgiveness (Galatians 6:2). Paul ends his letter with a subtle challenge to Philemon. Paul is not only confident of Philemon's ability to forgive Onesimus, but knows Philemon will do even more than what Paul says (Philemon 21).
My community group and I were discussing what it would look like if we lived this way. If we sacrificed for someone else, encouraged each other, and challenged each other the way Paul did in his letter to Philemon. Our conclusion was the same as Paul's. It would be refreshing (Philemon 20). When you are pursuing Jesus, it's really refreshing to do it with people running toward the same goal. I'm glad Paul took the time to write a letter to Philemon that lives out the gospel and shows us what community in Christ looks like.
Discussion Questions
1. What would our families, places of work, communities, city, and world look like if we lived consistently in a community that forgives each other and isn't afraid of the balance in their account?
2. When was the last time you asked for forgiveness for wronging someone else?
3. What would it look like for your account to be charged on behalf of someone else?
4. Who is someone this week that needs to charge your account?