BRIEF BACKGROUND - This smallest of all epistles (332 words in the Greek),
leads us into the middle of a difficult situation in the early church, one with parallels
modern times. At issue: how good are we at welcoming people into our communities after
they’ve had a change of heart? Paul urges Philemon to receive Onesimus "no
longer as a slave, but . . . as a beloved brother" (v. 16). Can you imagine the
implications: would freeing Onesimus create total chaos among other slave, who might fake
conversions to win their freedom? We know our answer-we’re enlightened!-but in the
1st century, such actions would have been scandalous.
PAUL THE ATTORNEY - Paul clearly takes the side of the runaway
slave-Onesimus-and uses a variety of emotions and rhetorical efforts to heal the
relationship between slave and slave-owner. What is remarkable is that Paul acts as if he
were the runaway who had done wrong. In doing this, he parallels Christ (Philippians 2) by
offering himself as a self-effacing, self-emptying act of grace.
DOUBLE ENTENDRE - In a play on words, Paul assures Philemon that Onesimus who has been
unprofitable will through God’s grace become Onesimus (meaning,
"profitable"). As the NIB points out, "It is the work of divine grace to
make "unprofitable" persons profitable. When apprehended by a sense that
God’s favor is being personally felt and known, every person can be changed into
someone whose life offers profit (beneficial fruit) to God and to others. This is the
triumph of Christ, his very reason for coming into the world." [1]
Paul writes to request a favor of
a friend. He could use his authority to force Philemon to comply, but he wants Philemon to
make the call freely. Paul’s actions give us something to wonder about. How do we
seek to get our way? Do we simply ask, or do we use authority, guilt or other forms of
manipulation?
Are you currently involved in urging an individual or group to make a particular
decision? Ask God to give you the wisdom to present your opinion well and the courage to
allow others the freedom to decide for themselves.
Consider several possibilities for
preaching on Philemon.
(1) The challenge of welcoming prodigals back to the community. You might draw from
research, cinema, and other media to describe this issue: an inmate who has become an
active Christ-disciple who has been recently released from prison. What are some of the
ways that the Christian community would respond to this newly freed "slave?"
(2) Retell the story - use the basic information that Philemon supplies to flesh out a
plausible scenario. Then draw lessons from the story that could bring your own community
of faith to welcome your own Onesimus’.
(3) Making Unprofitable Persons Profitable - describe and explain the play on words in
the name of Onesimus and suggest that as a metaphor for what we are to be about: making
unprofitable people useful again. You might also connect with Paul’s teaching in 2
Corinthians 5 about having the ministry of reconciliation to all people.
