LifeWay Family Bible Series for Jan. 27
FMAILY BIBLE STUY:
Christ is the great equalizer in relationships
___ Philemon 1-25
___By Christine Hockin-Boyd
___Texas WMU, Dallas
___Philemon is a private, personal letter to a friend. A communication between two people with words carefully selected and thought through before putting pen to paper, it is one of the few personal letters included in the Bible.
___What is its purpose? Simply to convince Philemon to forgive his runaway slave, Onesimus, and to receive him back as a fellow brother in the faith. As one author said, "This small book is a masterpiece of grace and tact and a profound demonstration of the power of Christ and of true Christian fellowship in action."
___This book was written about 60 A.D., about the same time that Ephesians and Colossians were written and during the Apostle Paul's first imprisonment in Rome. It was during the Roman Empire that slavery was very common, and quite possibly Christians had slaves.
___Philemon was a Greek landowner and a wealthy man. He was a member of the church in Colosse, which met in his home (v. 2), and had been converted under Paul's ministry. Onesimus was a domestic slave that belonged to Philemon and had run away to Rome. We don't know why he left or how he came to meet Paul. It is best left to be said that it w
as through the providence of God that Onesimus did meet him.
___Apphia and Archippus (v. 2) are believed to be Philemon's wife and son. They, too, are recipients of the letter. It is thought that maybe if Apphia hears the letter as well that she may be influential and encourage Philemon to receive Onesimus back.
___Paul begins the body of the letter with a prayer of thanksgiving. Verses 4-7 may be familiar to you because of the endearment that Paul had for Philemon's faith and love to the ministry. Paul was influential in Philemon's life in becoming a Christian, and the two had become friends. It is important to note that Paul wrote the letter from the respect of one friend to another and not as an apostle with authority over Philemon to order him to receive Onesimus back (v. 8). Paul chose to appeal to Philemon as a friend.
___Does that make you stop and think about how you appeal, ask or request of others at church, work, home or other types of settings? It is one thing to order something done but yet another more significant way when appealing as a friend. The latter deals with a personal investment of emotions and feelings.
___Again, we are not sure how Onesimus came to meet Paul during his imprisonment. What did happen is that Paul was impressed by the Holy Spirit to share about Jesus with Onesimus, and he became a believer. Paul would now take the role of mediator, urging Philemon to forgive and accept back a believer in the Lord--not just a slave that had run away. Onesimus was afraid for his life; Philemon had every right to punish and even kill him. Thus the letter was written.
___"Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me" (v. 11). Onesimus means "useful." Paul used the meaning of his name to help explain to Philemon just how much he liked and needed Onesimus' help. He had found an opportunity to be of service to Paul while Paul was in prison.
___I would imagine Onesimus would have liked to stay with Paul. Here he had found a new friend, become a believer and was assisting an apostle in the ministry. Paul, however, felt Onesimus needed to return to Colosse and mend the relationship. Paul illustrated in his letter the goodness of Onesimus in hope Philemon would recognize the usefulness of him and in turn find forgiveness in his heart.
___I often have heard degrading words spoken to another person--child, teenager and adult. Words that pierce a heart so deep it is hard to envision forgiveness coming out of that hurt. Watching the sparkle of a child's eyes fade away as a parent speaks words that cause a great wound to develop. Adults also do the same to each other. Hearing words as, "You are of no use, you're useless and not worth anything." Only grace and love enable a person to completely forgive and accept forgiveness.
___Paul wanted Philemon to understand and feel the significance of forgiving and accepting Onesimus back. Yes, he was special to Paul, but even more special to Philemon (v. 16). Paul carefully wrote those words with hope of Philemon allowing them to penetrate his heart and allow forgiveness to arise.
___These two men were now equals in Christ. They were no longer one man over another. They were fellow believers and in turn could serve together in ministry. Have you looked down on a fellow believer? Remind yourself that all are equal in Christ.
___Paul hoped Onesimus would be forgiven and valued by Philemon. There was the hope of a man being found useful instead of useless.
___Look around you now, and what do you see? Do your eyes meet the gaze of someone you believe is useful in the Lord?
___Questions for discussion
___ Is there someone whose value you need to re-evaluate?
___ Is there someone you need to forgive?
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