Kingdom Building
September 5, 2019
Scripture Reading: Philemon 1:1-21
To Philemon our dear friend and co-worker, to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church in your house:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
When I remember you in my prayers, I always thank my God because I hear of your love for all the saints and your faith towards the Lord Jesus. I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective when you perceive all the good that we may do for Christ. I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother.
So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it. I say nothing about your owing me even your own self. Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ. Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. –Philemon 1:1-7, 17-21
Diplomat is not the first title that comes to my mind when I think of Paul, but it applies in his letter to Philemon about Philemon’s runaway slave Onesimus. What is included in Paul’s letter is all we know about these two characters and we do not know the final outcome. Some scholars*, think Onesimus was a thief not a slave who stole from Philemon. He could have been both.
I think the complimentary things Paul writes about Philemon are true. It is rare though that we share these kinds of observations with others. We often take them for granted. Paul, however, is crossing a lot of cultural barriers asking for exceptional understanding and flagrant disregard for cultural norms. No underground railroad here, Paul is returning a slave to his owner with two possible outcomes Philemon returns him to Paul to help Paul in his ministry. Paul even offers to pay him for Onesimus. Or Philemon takes Onesimus back into his home as a brother rather than a slave. Paul had a lot of faith in Philemon by trusting him in making a choice.
I do not know how common it was for runaway slaves to come home in the first century. I am more acquainted with the outcomes of slaves in the early history of the USA who ran away, were caught, and most often punished even killed to set an example for the other slaves. Face saving among the elite is very important.
The thing that stands out to me in this story is the evidence of faith Paul had in Philemon and Onesimus; and the faith Onesimus had in Philemon. I believe such faith was only possible because all three men had faith in God. In our world where we do not know who to believe or trust this is a very challenging example. Can our faith in God rebuild our faith in one another as we learn to love one another rather than distrust each other?
While we do not know what the outcome of this request was, tradition reports that a man named Onesimus was consecrated a bishop by the Apostles and accepted the episcopal throne in Ephesus following Timothy. Perhaps Paul’s faith in a redeemed slave or thief were worth the efforts to save him. I wonder how many Onesimus’ are languishing in our criminal justice system now?
Prayer: Lord, grant us the courage to have faith in our brothers and sisters in Christ who are ready to turn their lives around and make them count for good. Amen.
*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onesimus
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.