11/20/2022 – Day 266 – Philemon 1 – The plea for Onesimus, a young runaway Christian slave.
I am reposting the previous cycle’s commentary on this day 266 reading , the book of Philemon, one page and one chapter. But the amazing story of how God brought together three brothers in Christ.
We have three characters involved here from this letter of Paul: Paul , Philemon, and Onesimus. A little background is in order: Paul was the messenger of the Holy Spirit in the conversion of Philemon. Since Philemon was from Colossae, the two probably then met around 54 a.d. (acts 19), approximately six years before this point with Paul in a Rome prison.
Onesimus was a Philemon’s slave; this is the most likely scenario for Paul first meeting Onesimus. Onesimus had stolen money Philemon and ran away to Rome. Whether or not it was his original intent to find Paul, he connects up with Paul in Rome. And at the point of this letter, Onesimus has become a christian as well. And true to his conversion, he was apparently motivated to make things right with Onesimus. It certainly could have been helped along though the mentorship of Paul.
Halley comments that Paul shows godly wisdom in this letter. He notes: “The letter is a perfect gem for its Courtesy, Tact, Delicacy, and Generosity, climaxing with a tender appeal to Philemon to receive Onesimas “as you would receive me.” I might add that after offering to repay Onesimus’ debt to Philemon, he adds: “not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides….” (verse 19), before following it up with a brotherly opportunity to “refresh Paul’s heart in the Lord.”
I have missed this in previous readings but Halley notes in verse 15 that Paul is suggesting that brotherly friendship extends into heaven. Here is the verse: “For perhps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever.”
It would be interesting to know the story of both men’s walk in Christ from Paul’s letter .
Soli Deo Gloria!