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Thursday · Week 30
The Epistles & Revelation

Philemon

Week 30 · about 3 min
  1. Fri: Daniel 9-10
  2. Sat: Psalms 104-106
  3. Sun: Leviticus 24-25

Paul writes a short personal letter about Onesimus, a runaway slave who became a believer.

A Runaway Comes Home as a Brother

Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?

Philemon 1:16 (KJV)

Onesimus was a slave owned by Philemon, a believer in Colossae. He ran away, apparently met Paul in prison, and became a Christian. Now Paul sends him back with this letter. The name Onesimus means “useful,” and Paul makes a pun on it: once he was unprofitable to you, “but now profitable to thee and to me.” Paul could order Philemon to receive him, but he asks instead. Then he offers to cover the cost himself: “If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account.” The gospel changes relationships, even between a master and the slave who ran away.

Reflect: Is there a broken relationship where you could say “put that on mine account”?

Philemon 1

1Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timotheus the brother, to Philemon our beloved and fellow-worker,

2and Apphia the beloved, and Archippus our fellow-soldier, and the assembly in thy house:

3Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ!

4I give thanks to my God, always making mention of thee in my prayers,

5hearing of thy love and faith that thou hast unto the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints,

6that the fellowship of thy faith may become working in the full knowledge of every good thing that is in you toward Christ Jesus;

7for we have much joy and comfort in thy love, because the bowels of the saints have been refreshed through thee, brother.

8Wherefore, having in Christ much boldness to command thee that which is fit --

9because of the love I rather entreat, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ;

10I entreat thee concerning my child -- whom I did beget in my bonds -- Onesimus,

11who once was to thee unprofitable, and now is profitable to me and to thee,

12whom I did send again, and thou him (that is, my own bowels) receive,

13whom I did wish to retain to myself, that in thy behalf he might minister to me in the bonds of the good news,

14and apart from thy mind I willed to do nothing, that as of necessity thy good deed may not be, but of willingness,

15for perhaps because of this he did depart for an hour, that age-duringly thou mayest have him,

16no more as a servant, but above a servant -- a brother beloved, especially to me, and how much more to thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord!

17If, then, with me thou hast fellowship, receive him as me,

18and if he did hurt to thee, or doth owe anything, this to me be reckoning;

19I, Paul did write with my hand, I -- I will repay; that I may not say that also thyself, besides, to me thou dost owe.

20Yes, brother, may I have profit of thee in the Lord; refresh my bowels in the Lord;

21having been confident in thy obedience I did write to thee, having known that also above what I may say thou wilt do;

22and at the same time also prepare for me a lodging, for I hope that through your prayers I shall be granted to you.

23Salute thee doth Epaphras, (my fellow-captive in Christ Jesus,)

24Markus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lukas, my fellow-workmen!

25The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is with your spirit! Amen.

Young’s Literal Translation (YLT). Public domain.