Bible Survey: Philemon

Philemon is the shortest of Paul's letters and the most personal. It was written to a friend about a runaway slave, and its theme is forgiveness and reconciliation. Philemon was a believer at Colosse, and a church met in his house. One of his slaves, Onesimus, had apparently robbed him and fled to Rome, where he could lose himself in the crowds. There, in the providence of God, he met Paul, and Paul led him to Christ: my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds (Philemon 1:10).

Now Paul was sending him home. Under Roman law a runaway slave could be whipped or even put to death, so Paul wrote to Philemon on his behalf. The name Onesimus means profitable, and Paul makes a gentle play on it: Onesimus in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me (Philemon 1:11). That is what salvation does. It takes a man who was good for nothing and makes him useful to God.

Paul asks Philemon to take him back Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved (Philemon 1:16). The gospel did not overturn slavery in the Roman world all at once, but it gave master and slave an equal place in Christ, and in time that teaching helped bring slavery to an end.

The key verses are a picture of what Christ has done for us: If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account (Philemon 1:17–18). Paul offered to take on a debt he did not owe, so that a guilty man could be received as though he were Paul. The Lord Jesus has done that for every sinner who trusts Him.

There is a lovely thought in verse fifteen as well. Perhaps Onesimus departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever (Philemon 1:15). Friendships between believers do not end at the grave.

Next in the series: Hebrews.

Taught by Brother James Barker in Sunday School at Naples Independent Baptist Church, May 23, 2021. Watch the lesson.