Paul Pleads for a Runaway Slave

Philemon 4-21

GOLDEN TEXT: “Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”—Ephesians 4:32

THE Epistle of Paul to Philemon was written by the apostle during his first captivity at Rome. It is believed to have been written about A.D. 63 or 64. Onesimus, a slave of Philemon, had run away from his master, and in Rome had come in contact with Paul’s ministry and been converted. Now the apostle was sending him back to his master bearing this loving appeal that Philemon receive and forgive him as a brother in Christ.

The circumstances in connection with Onesimus’ escape from his master, Philemon, are not definitely known. The motive may have been merely a desire for liberty, or, as some suppose, he may have committed theft, as is possibly indicated by verse 18 of the epistle. In any case, according to the established custom of that time he had wronged his master in a very serious way which called for a large degree of mercy and forgiveness if he were to return safely.

On the part of Onesimus there was no alternative but to return. His becoming a Christian made it imperative that he do all he could to right the wrongs he had previously committed. Many, in becoming followers of Christ, have attempted to gloss over their past errors, but in so doing have not made genuine progress in the narrow way. Onesimus, now that he was a Christian, was under obligation to return to his former master, and Philemon, the master, was under a Christian obligation to receive and forgive him. Thus they both had an opportunity to do that which cost them something, and in doing it, to receive a rich blessing.

The Scriptures do not indicate what brought Onesimus and Paul together in Rome except that it was in the providence of the Lord that this runaway slave should receive the truth and become a bondservant of Jesus Christ. Rome was a large city, and Paul technically was a prisoner, although living in his own hired house. It seems rather improbable that Onesimus would “accidentally” come in contact with the apostle under such circumstances.

In verse 22 Paul asks Philemon to prepare him lodging as he expected to visit him soon. The familiarity and confidence with which this request was made bears strong evidence that Paul had previously been entertained at the home of Philemon; hence, not only was intimately acquainted with him, but also knew that he was in a position to provide the lodgings requested. It seems reasonable to suppose, then, that on the occasion of a former visit Paul had become acquainted with Onesimus, who at the time was a slave in the household of Philemon. Perhaps Onesimus had been assigned the duty of caring for the apostle.

We may be sure that if Paul had been entertained in the household of Philemon he used every possible opportunity to tell the glad tidings of the Kingdom to master and slave alike. In this way Onesimus may have learned something of the Gospel, and also of the kindly and understanding qualities of Paul. Having run away from his master and home, and finding himself alone in Rome, he may have purposely sought out the apostle, assured that in him he would find a genuine friend in time of need. And he did, for no friend can do more than to lead one to the Lord, in whom is to be found all-abounding grace and the genuine liberty of the sons of God.

Yet withal, the conversion of Onesimus created a delicate situation for both master and slave, and no less so for Paul, who was a friend and brother in Christ to both. But the apostle, as always, was equal to the occasion. He expresses his confidence in the loving Christian spirit which he knew Philemon possessed. “We have great joy and consolation in thy love,” he writes, “because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.”—Verse 7

In the 8th verse Paul acknowledges his boldness in writing this kind of an epistle, but in the 9th verse justifies his course on the basis of love—“for love’s sake.” What a truly Christian viewpoint this expresses! Think of what has been done for mankind by the Lord, and will yet be done, “for love’s sake”! It was “for love’s sake” that the Heavenly Father sent His Son into the world to be the Redeemer of a whole race who, figuratively speaking, had run away from Him. It was “for love’s sake” that the Logos willingly laid aside the glory that He had with the Father and humbled Himself to become a man, and to die the cruel death of the cross in order that the race now enslaved by sin and captivated by death, might be set free.

If Philemon understood what love had done for him—and no, doubt he did—what Paul was asking him to do for Onesimus, “for love’s sake” would seem like very little by comparison. Besides, it offered him an opportunity to secure forgiveness of his own trespasses against the Lord upon the basis of the inspired prayer, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”—Matt. 6:12,14,15

Paul also appeals to Philemon upon the basis of what we might today call “fair play.” He explains (verses 13,14) that he could have kept Onesimus as a servant. Apparently there was nothing in the Roman law that made it necessary for the apostle to turn this slave back to his master. He was doing it voluntarily, as a Christian, believing that Philemon, as a Christian would do the right thing, especially since Onesimus himself was now a Christian. We sometimes hear of a “vicious circle,” but here was a circle of love from which there was no escape. All three parties, as Christians, were held within this circle, and there was no way out except the Christian way of love.

Paul was a firm believer in the providences of God—“that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28)—and he reminded Philemon that in the temporary loss of his slave a great gain had been realized. He had lost him for a while, but was now receiving him for ever; not merely as a servant, but as a brother in Christ. There is no greater joy to a true Christian than to see others come to the Lord. Whatever resentment Philemon might have had toward his slave because of his having run away would certainly give way to rejoicing as he read this clear-cut and Christian reasoning by Paul.—Verses 15,16

St. Paul then uses his personal friendship and influence to assure. Onesimus that his Master will welcome him heartily, and offers to make amends for any loss Philemon may have sustained as a result of the former wrong course of Onesimus. Paul was living in his own hired house at the time, and apparently was in a position to make good this offer. At times Paul had not been so favorably situated, but as he explains in Philippians 4:12, he had learned both how to be abased and how to abound. Nov he was abounding and was willing to use his abundance to help one of his converts. What a wonderful Christian spirit! Should we not all follow the example and advice of Paul?

QUESTIONS:

Who was Onesimus? and why was Paul so interested in him?

Who was Philemon, and what was his privilege as a Christian?

What practical lesson can we obtain from Paul’s letter to Philemon?

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