Accepting others who are different and reconciling with those who have wronged one another can be among the most challenging tasks. Individuals can differ in social class, interests, race or ethnicity, geographical location, occupation, economics and more. Many times differences can lead to resentment and categorizing individuals according to societal and cultural prejudices. If an individual does not conform to the categorical norm placed on them, a perceived wrong may occur between two parties.
The historical world aspect of the Book of Philemon masterfully illustrates reconciliation between two such individuals when the apostle Paul writes a letter to Philemon, on behalf of Philemon’s slave, Onesimus; moreover, the Book of Philemon is about how the Paul uses the power of love to teach the importance of acceptance of others and reconciliation, even when it may be difficult. The Historical World of Philemon The Book of Philemon consists of a letter sent by the apostle Paul from prison to Philemon, a leader of a house church.
In the letter, Paul suggests that Philemon should take the slave Onesimus back, not as his slave, but as a respected brother in Christ and of equal status to Philemon. Although today’s society views slavery almost worldwide as immoral, when Paul wrote this letter, slavery was ingrained into society as a fixed institution. Therefore, when Paul writes his letter to Philemon, he does so without labeling slavery as positive or negative. Instead, Paul placed a greater importance on status.
The fact that Philemon’s home was large enough to house a church and he owned a slave means that he was prosperous and of higher status than the slave, Onesimus. During this time, in order for slaves to have value they must be useful to their masters. Paul writes that Onesimus, Philemon’s slave, was useless but has now become useful to himself and Philemon as a Christian. The importance placed on usefulness shows that slaves are subservient and loyal to their masters. This is significant in Paul’s letter because it offers plausible reasons for how Onesimus meet Paul in prison.
Onesimus ran away from his master after causing some kind of loss to him. PROOF FROM TEXT Roman laws allow the owner of a runaway slave to punish their slave as they see fit, even with execution. PROOF FROM OUTSIDE SOURCE Paul is attempting to persuade Philemon to accept Onesimus as his equal and be reconciled. Paul’s letter challenges that slaves and slave masters are both ultimately subservient to God, destroying social adversity and uniting individuals in the Christian community. Paul approached the situation between Philemon and Onesium with an attitude of love and healing reflecting the attitudes of the church.
Philemon was converted to Christianity through Paul, and although Philemon has a higher societal status as a wealthy man, than Paul who is in prison, Paul has greater authority over Philemon due to his apostolate status. In the letter Paul offers to pay for Onesimus’ transgressions and that he, “…will say nothing about you owing me even your own self” (Philem 19). Although Paul states that he will not use his authority to force his bidding onto Philemon, he reminds him that he has a spiritual obligation owed to Paul and his faith.
He again exercises his authority over Philemon by asking him to prepare a room for him to stay. Paul is going to check in on Onesium and Philemon. PROOF FROM TEXT The letter instructs Philemon that the Christian action is to treat those in the Christian faith as a family, as equals under God. Paul calls Onesimus his child, placing him into the fatherly role and also calls him brother. Paul asks Philemon not to free Onesimus, but to treat him part of his family. Pauls request would redefine their master-slave relationship.
He writes to Philemon as an equal using words such as “brother”, but he asserts authority over him. This explicitly illustrated when Paul states, “command you to do your duty” (Philem 8). Although Onesimus has become a useful asset for Paul, he believes that the former slave would be even more useful, spiritually and in faith, to Philemon. Power of Love (Too “cheesy”? ) Paul’s persuasive letter to Philemon does not command him what to do, but rather, uses his love and support for the Church to illuminate what the correct decision is as a Christian.
Literary world: In verse 4-7, Paul reminds Philemon of his faithfulness and love of the saints and follows that they share faith and they may both do good for Christ. Paul chooses to appeal to Philemon’s capacity for love instead of ordering him to choose the right decision. It is important that Paul approach the situation with compassion because he is an apostle and he models how God himself heals injustices. In verse 8, Paul states “heart of the saints have been refreshed” the heart of the saints, including Paul’s, and Philemon’s heart is a motif used throughout the letter.
In verse 20, Paul continues the heart motif and asks Philemon to “refresh my heart in Christ. ” At the beginning of the letter Paul states that Philemon’s love has refreshed the hearts of the saints, of whom Paul is one, and follows by stating that Onesimus is Paul’s own heart, and wraps up the motif illustrating that Philemon’s love should “refresh” Onesimus as well. The effect of refreshing hearts and Paul and Philemon’s common love ties the letter together and offers logical reasoning for the correct choice to be made by Philemon.
In verse 11, Paul states that although Onesimus was formally usless to Philemon, he is now useful to them both. In verse 12, Paul states, “I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. ” Onesimus is not just a converted individual, he is Paul’s “own heart”; he is useful to the ministry. The verse signifies the importance of Onesimus’ position and that if the appeal fails it would cause heartbreak to Paul. As a collaborator with the apostle, it would cause harm between their relationship and Philemon’s relationship to Christ as well. Paul used the power of love to enlighten the public.
He found love to be a more powerful tool than duty or obligation. Paul assumes that Philemon lives by his love of Christianity and the saints and encourages him to make a choice using the same love. Contemporary world: Not only does Paul describe himself as a prisoner of Christ, but as loving. In verse 9, he states that he would rather appeal to Philemon with love and he repeats he is a prisoner of Christ. This shows Philemon that love is the doctrine of all Christians. Although Philemon is not physically imprisoned, he is also a prisoner of Christ and subject to the Christian doctrines.
In verse 10, Paul describes Onesimus as a child, and he has his father. This description illustrates the love that Paul has for Onesimus and the love that Philemon should reflect as well. As a father, Paul wants to see that Onesimus comes to no harm. Because Philemon was converted through Paul, Paul is like a father to him as well and Onesimus a brother. In verse 17, Paul labels Philemon his partner, but only if he makes the right decision and reiterates the partnership by later calling him a brother if he benefits the Lord. Acceptance of Others Literary world: Paul opens and closes the letter by acknowledging multiple people.
By doing this, Paul has made the letter public and not only for Philemon to judge. This is an effective persuasive strategy because the public can hold Philemon responsible for his actions and enables him to judge as a Christian, not as a slave owner. The letter is not only written to the house of Philemon, but to teach the public as a whole. Contemporary world: Instead of calling himself an “apostle” or “servant of Christ” Paul labels himself as a “prisoner of Christ”, this gives the reader a clue of Paul’s circumstances as a prisoner jailed because of his services to Christ.
In addition, the label humbles him and shows that Christ makes claims on the lives of the faithful. This is important because Philemon has a duty to Christ as a Christian as well. Paul describes Philemon as faithful and a lover and in service of saints. As an apostle, Paul has authority over Philemon. Onesimus, as a slave of Philemon is subservient to him. In the letter, Paul describes Onesimus as his own heart, a son, and a brother in Christ. As a brother of Christ, Onesimus is of equal status as Philemon, regardless of wealth, property, or influence.
The book of Philemon’s main thesis is that kinship relationships created out of relationships with God transcend any social and cultural relationships. Reconciliation Because relationships with God are more important than relationships that society labels individuals by, it is important to reconcile with those who have committed a perceived wrong. Literary world: In verse 15, Paul introduces a hypothetical reason to show that Philemon can not only reconciliate with Onesimus as a master to slave, but be spiritually brought together through brotherhood of Christ.
After appealing to the interests of Philemon, Paul states outright what he should do in verse 17. The “so” in “So if you consider me your partner…” places emphasis on the idea that the relationship between Paul and Philemon is dependent on his answer. Contemporary world: Paul is trying to get Philemon to, not only release Onesimus as a slave, but to accept him as a brother of Christ regardless of social class. Paul is preaching to the public through his letter, not just those of Philemon’s church.
Paul wants Christians to accept each other regardless of social class, economics, influence or power, ethnicity, occupation, gender, or any other prejudice. The purpose of Paul’s letter is to teach that we are all children of God, and ultimately under, or prisoners, of His rule. In the Book of Philemon, Paul’s teaches with love through his letter that kinship relationships created out of relationships with God transcend any social and cultural relationships; others should be accepted regardless of their differences and reconciliation made possible when a perceived wrong takes place.
In today’s world, the teachings of the Book of Philemon still apply. Individuals of different social class are often stigmatized, the poor despise the wealthy and the rich spurn the underprivileged. Individuals judge others based on material items, such as the clothes they wear, or what type of phone one possesses. It is important to look past physical differences and not to resent others for being different.
