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Bless Be The Ties That Bind

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PHILEMON

Aim:  to emphasize the blessings, obligations, and inclusivity of Christian fellowship.

Thesis:  the story of Philemon reminds us that our bonds in Christ should transcend ordinary human divisions.

Introduction:

Have you ever heard it said that “Truth is stranger than fiction”?  Sometimes that saying is accurate:  the twists and turns of real life can occasionally be more dramatic than any Hollywood screenwriter’s imagination.  Consider this scenario:

Suppose the apostle Paul taught and converted a Roman citizen in Laodicea named Philemon.  Philemon was a good and generous man – he often extended his hospitality to Christians – in fact, the church met in his home – and Paul was a frequent guest there.  The two became good friends, but eventually Paul and Philemon reluctantly said goodbye, because the apostle had to move on to establish other churches.

Philemon, like many well-to-do Roman citizens of the first century, owned a number of slaves. Slavery back then didn’t have the racial connotations that it did in our own history: in fact, most slaves were white. Even so, life could be difficult for those unfortunate people who were owned by others.  There wasn’t much one individual could do about slavery as a social institution, but Paul could influence those who became Christians, so he specifically taught those of his converts who owned slaves to treat them in a humane and considerate way: 

Colossians 4:1  “Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven” 

Ephesians 6:9 “Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him” 

Philemon was a good and generous man, so I’d like to believe he took those commands seriously, and treated the servants in his household fairly. I suspect, however, that even Philemon’s patience was tested by one good-for-nothing slave by the name of Onesimus.  This Onesimus was an unreliable, dishonest, generally worthless servant.  And just how unreliable became evident one morning when Philemon woke up to find his money chest empty and Onesimus long gone.  So Philemon accordingly alerted the authorities to be on the lookout for a runaway slave.

Meanwhile, Onesimus headed straight for the refuge of many a runaway slave –

the bright lights of the big city of Rome – where he was promptly apprehended and thrown into prison.  Maybe someone recognized him as a fugitive – maybe he was caught stealing again – whatever the reason, his newfound freedom didn’t last long.

But here’s where the story takes its first dramatic turn:  in that dark and chilly dungeon, Onesimus discovers that one of his cellmates is none other than – the apostle Paul!  Yes, once again Paul had been locked up for preaching.  But as he so often did when he was arrested, Paul simply considered it a change of pulpits, only now he preached to a captive audience:  he used the opportunity to tell this worthless, shiftless, hapless fugitive about…..Jesus. Now, what are the odds that two such very different men, who both had a connection with Philemon back in Laodicea, would cross paths in a huge metropolis like Rome? How do you explain such an astounding coincidence? Unless it was not coincidence, but providence, that brought these two individuals together.

You see, God in his wisdom had a plan in mind. Because here’s where the story takes a second dramatic turn:  in the darkness of that dungeon Onesimus sees the light, makes a radical change in the direction of his life, and becomes a follower of Jesus.  Not only that, but the man who had once shirked work now goes out of his way to help and comfort the apostle Paul.  During their time together Paul instructs him in the faith, and Onesimus in turn sees that Paul’s needs are taken care of in that awful prison setting.

But here the story takes a third dramatic turn:  maybe the law finally discovered who his master was, or maybe Onesimus confessed to Paul that he had run away from the apostle’s old friend, but either way Onesimus receives word that he is about to be sent back to Philemon.  Now, at this point you should understand that the authorities took a very dim view of runaway slaves.  After all, there were an estimated 60 million of them in the Roman Empire, and if they were ever allowed to get out of hand, it could have meant serious trouble!   So, slaves like Onesimus were always relentlessly tracked down and, if caught, returned to their masters to face one of two fates:  if they were lucky, and their master was lenient, he would take a red-hot brand and stamp the letter “F” (for fugitivus) on their forehead, so that for the rest of his life that slave would be watched with suspicion and treated with contempt by anyone who encountered him.  And if his master was not so tolerant, and especially if he had been a thief – the slave would be crucified, as an example to all the others.

That’s why our story takes one last dramatic twist:  the apostle Paul sits down in his prison cell and pens a most unusual letter.  He writes to Philemon, his convert and his son in the faith, and informs him that now Onesimus is also his convert and his son in the faith, so that, unlikely as it may seem, Philemon and Onesimus are now “brothers.”

READ TEXT.

Reading Philemon is an experience unlike reading any of the other epistles of Paul; with this letter you get the sensation of reading someone else’s mail,  probably because…….you are!  It is the only private letter from the apostle Paul still messages to the churches Paul can often be forceful, commanding and exhorting.  But in this little letter he is extremely diplomatic and careful, because he is asking a personal favor, and it deals with such a delicate subject!

For example, notice how he begins:  with a commendation of PHILEMON, as a man who loved his brethren:

  1. 2- “the church that meets in your home” (Paul relies on his hospitality in v. 22- “Prepare a guest room for me”)
  2. 4- he was obviously dear to Paul
  3. 5- “I hear about your love for all the saints”
  4. 7 “your love….refreshed the hearts of the saints”

It is not until verse 10, almost halfway through the letter, that Paul even mentions the name of “Onesimus”!  And when he does, notice how carefully Paul makes his appeal:  it is a masterpiece of gentle persuasion.  Paul “pulls out all the stops”:

  1. v. 1  He stresses their friendship.
  2. v. 7  He emphasizes the generous spirit of Philemon.
  3. v. 8  He drops a not-so-subtle hint about his apostolic authority.
  4. v. 9 He appeals to Philemon’s better nature, & reminds him of his present imprisonment.
  5. v. 10-12  He tells of the help Onesimus has given him (here he even throws in a pun – the name “Onesimus” means “useful”)
  6. v. 13  He plays upon Philemon’s sympathy
  7. v. 14  He is giving Philemon the chance to be gracious in granting this favor.
  8. v. 15-16  He raises the subject of the remarkable providence of God.
  9. v. 17  He gets to the bottom line: “Please welcome him back”..
  10. v. 18-19a He offers to pay what Philemon has lost.
  11. v. 19b-20 He again drops a not-so-subtle hint of Philemon’s obligation to him.
  12. v. 21 He pays Philemon the compliment of high expectations by anticipating his positive response.

Paul’s appeal to Philemon’s emotions hits all the notes. It is as carefully crafted as a masterful symphony: you can almost hear the violins playing in the background! But before we become cynical, and accuse Paul of being manipulative, we shouldn’t overlook what is the most obvious, and yet most astonishing, feature of this little letter.   The apostle certainly IS persuasive in his letter, but the real point is not HOW Paul makes his appeal – but WHY!  Don’t forget: he is expending all this effort for a runaway slave named Onesimus!  Pause for a moment and let that sink in: this once proud Pharisee, this self-righteous Jew, this formerly zealous son of the Law, is going to bat for a Gentile!  Not only for a Gentile, but for a Gentile slave!  No, even more than that, for a man who had been the runaway, thieving, worthless Gentile slave of one of Paul’s best friends!

WHY WOULD PAUL WRITE SUCH AN EXTRAORDINARY LETTER IN BEHALF OF ONESIMUS?  

The answer is found in Verse 16, where Paul makes an astonishing statement: he calls Onesimus a “dear brother…..a brother in the Lord.” The first-century world was such a socially segregated, class conscious culture that a person like Paul, who was both a Jew and a Roman citizen and an educated man, which made him a “somebody,” would ordinarily have nothing to do with a nobody like Onesimus, who was a “nobody,” languishing on the lowest rung of the social ladder.

Philemon is a little book – just one page – but it contains some large lessons for life! For example, we learn that Paul had really meant what he wrote years before in Galatians 3:26-28  “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (cf. Col 3:11, 1 Cor 12:13). We are all equal in God’s family, the church. It doesn’t matter if you are young or old, rich or poor, black or white, charter member or brand new believer. We all came into the church through the same door – belief and baptism into Christ – and that makes us equal.

Second, there is a special kinship among Christians that can and should transcend ordinary human divisions.  We have a special obligation to our brethren. I’m not saying we should be clannish or indifferent to the needs of outsiders.  On the contrary, the first half of Galatians 6:10 says “as we have the opportunity, let us do good to ALL men.” Listen, however, to the second half on that verse: “but ESPECIALLY to those who belong to the family of believers”  (Gal 6:10).

Third, one of the most precious words in the Christian vocabulary is the word “BROTHER”! How Onesimus must have smiled a little brighter, and stood a little taller, the first time the apostle Paul addressed him as “brother”!

  1. To the world it’s a “bother” – as in, “I don’t want to get involved.”
  2. Instead, the world prefers the word “other” – as in, “they’re not one of us.”
  3. But to those who have Jesus in common, the word is “brother” – as in “Whatever you did for one of the least of these BROTHERS of mine, you did for me” (Matt 25:40).

Paul used that word more than any other writer in the New Testament.  Maybe it meant so much to him because, in a very low period in his life, when he realized just what an awful sinner he had been, and unworthy of God’s mercy, a Christian named Ananias came to see him and, even before Paul had the chance to obey the gospel, Ananias addressed him as “brother” (Acts 9:17).  So let me close with four practical applications:

Conclusion:

  1. DON’T ever talk down your brethren before outsiders! Gossip is always ugly, but it’s a double-sin when you talk about your brothers and sisters before unbelievers! Crucial caveat: I’m not talking about illegal incidents of abuse that should always be reported to the authorities. I am saying whenever we have personal problems in church (and we will), let’s keep it in the family – not broadcast it to the world.
  1. DON’T ever let the toxic divisions of this world interfere with our fellowship in Jesus! RACIAL boundaries – PERSONAL misunderstandings – and especially in our current culture, polarizing POLITICAL disagreements:  they’re not worth losing our fellowship over!   And when we do get our “wires crossed,” are we willing to set aside our differences, overlook our disagreements, and reaffirm our common commitment to Jesus?
  1. DO be an “Onesimus”: if you see a brother or sister who needs a helping hand, put it out! 1 John 3:16  “This is how we know what love is:  Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.  And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.”
  1. DO appreciate what we have in our spiritual family! “Blest be the tie that binds, our hearts in Christian love”!  You really don’t appreciate the support of your brethren until you’re going through a rough time and you need it! I’ll guarantee you that Onesimus never forgot the time when the apostle Paul went out on a limb to help him out, and I have to believe that experience made him a better man for the rest of his life.

    Dan Williams