Philemon 1:8-22: I Beseech Thee for My Son Onesimus
2022-06-11
The main purpose of this letter to Philemon is in this section. The purpose is to persuade Philemon to receive Onesimus back. The word receive is used three times using two different Greek words (Philemon 1:12, 15, 17). This implies forgiveness and restoring him to service. The fact that this letter exists suggests that Philemon might not be naturally willing to do this. Maybe he was harsh with his servants, or maybe he had a runaway servant before, and it did not end well. It could be that he was a very practical businessman that was not so quick to think of people before his business. Maybe Onesimus put Paul up to writing this letter for some of these reasons. We cannot know for sure. The fact the letter exists does suggest that Philemon’s response to Onesimus returning would possibly have unfavorable results.
Philemon 1:8-9
The word “wherefore” tells us that everything written prior to this verse is the reason for why Philemon should receive his servant to him. Philemon was a man who was loving to many Christians, which were refreshed by his service and hospitality. These characteristics should be consistent with how he would deal with Onesimus. Philemon’s love and service should cause many to see Christ in him. Paul and other Christians were encouraged from his service. Don’t let how you deal with Onesimus undo all the great things you have done!
Paul was an apostle, which was a role that gave him authority in proclaiming truth from God. This authority comes from God Himself: “not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead” (Galatians 1:1). He saw the risen Lord. He was now in prison because he was a faithful preacher of the Gospel. He led Philemon to the Lord (Philemon 1:19). He had authority to command him in the Lord to do what was proper. He could command boldly. Paul saying this suggests he needed a little confrontation. Being a wealthy man means that Philemon was a man of authority over others, including servants and employees in a business. He likely was not used to being under authority.
However, the heart of a Christian is not commandment and coercion. Paul desired the gentler approach. He was an older man at this stage, suggesting that he is older than Philemon and perhaps would rather have a fatherly type of approach. Consider 1 Corinthians 4:14-16. The church there, which had a lot of immaturity, lacked fatherly spiritual role models. Because of this, Paul invited the Corinthians to follow him as a spiritual role model.
As a prisoner, he learned humility in Christ. He was in prison for the sole reason of his preaching. He learned love for other people. Therefore, he chose a humbler approach to his letter.
Philemon 1:10
Here, we see the premise for this letter in this verse. He chose to “beseech” rather than command as we saw in the previous verses; he used the verb “beseech” again here. This is a gentler pleading.
He called Onesimus a “son.” Recall that Paul called Timothy (1 Timothy 1:2; 2 Timothy 1:2) and Titus (Titus 1:4) sons. He had a close bond with these men. Likewise, he developed a bond with Onesimus. Moreover, he said he “begotten in my bonds.” So Onesimus’ “sonship” was based on Paul’s leading him to the Lord. The word “begotten” suggests the new birth. Recall 1 Corinthians 4:15, which we referenced before: “For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel” (1 Corinthians 4:15).
Another verse that tells us of the new birth: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3). The first time we were begotten to die, the second time we were begotten “unto a lively hope.”
The new birth is ultimately from God. “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him” (1 John 5:1). We are “born of God.”
As a segue to the next verse, one last reference to “begotten” includes this: “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not” (1 John 5:18). The born-again Christian still may sin (1 John 1:8), but generally a lifestyle of continuous sinning no longer constitutes who we are.
Onesimus was “begotten in my bonds,” meaning that Paul was in prison when he met him and shared the Gospel with the runaway. Perhaps Onesimus was in prison himself for some crime. It is not clear. Either way, Paul often was allowed to have visitors because most people knew that his crimes were bogus. “Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself” (Acts 27:3). “And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him” (Acts 28:16).
Philemon 1:11
Consider the change in Onesimus’ life. He used to be an unprofitable servant. Who knows what this all entails? Philemon 1:18 suggests that Onesimus may have stolen something or squandered some of Philemon’s goods. It is hard to tell.
As a born-again Christian, the runaway servant had already shown evidence of his rebirth and was profitable to the apostle Paul. The apostle called him “a faithful and beloved brother” (Colossians 4:9). We will discuss more on this fruitfulness in a moment.
Because Paul had seen the power of a changed life for Christ, he was confident that Onesimus would return to be a superior servant. This should be the case for anyone who names the name of Christ. “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth” (Ephesians 4:28). The work ethic must change for the Christian, who will reflect Him in his daily work duties. This was the story of Onesimus’ changed life.
Philemon 1:12
When Paul sent Onesimus back to Philemon, he told him how to receive him: “thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels” and later, “receive him as myself” (Philemon 1:17).
Did you ever hear that you should treat the janitor as you would the CEO? That concept is here: treat the slave as you would treat the apostle. This is a Biblical concept. Consider James 2:1-6. There is a temptation to treat the wealthy better than the poor. This could be fear because the rich can be oppressive per James 2:6. It could be because the rich can support the church financially. In the CEO example, the CEO has the power to fire you, while the janitor has little power in an organization. These class divisions are gone in the Gospel: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). The role of servant and master exists in the world, and those roles are preserved in a practical sense in this world, but in Christ they are gone. Philemon was to respect the apostle and the servant the same.
Philemon 1:13-14
Moreover, Onesimus had helped Paul while he was in prison. The runaway servant was such a changed man that Paul could use him to assist him while in prison. While in prison, Paul had people sending letters and going on missions. Onesimus would be one of these people.
If Paul had kept Onesimus in his service, this would have been a concrete way Philemon could assist Paul, by allowing his servant to serve him on his behalf.
However, because Onesimus was Philemon’s servant, Paul gave Philemon opportunity to allow Onesimus to continue in Philemon’s service. Here, again, we see Paul implies authority that he could have left Philemon out of any say at all. In the spirit of forgiveness and unity, Paul allowed him to make the decision to allow him to continue in his service. Either way, Philemon receives a “benefit,” and it should not appear that Philemon was forced into this.
Here is an example of willingly giving:
But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:6-7)
The Corinthians made a promise to give to the poor churches. They could either begrudgingly give to fulfill the promise, or they could be cheerful givers.
Here is an example of willingly preaching the Gospel:
For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. (1 Corinthians 9:16-17)
Serving the Lord is a wonderful thing. Willingly and cheerfully serving is better. Paul wanted Philemon to cheerfully accept his servant back and allow him in the service of the Lord.
Philemon 1:15
Onesimus left his master temporarily, but it was ordained of God. He left, got saved, and returned, “that thou shouldest receive him for ever.” There should be a double meaning here. Onesimus would not run away again, now with the integrity of a Christian. Also, Philemon would receive him forever because they would be together forever now that he was saved.
Philemon 1:16
As we saw in Galatians 3:28, the division of master/servant, and other roles such as gender, do not matter in the Lord. There are still those divisions, but the church is very much the family of God. Onesimus being a brother in the Lord was more important than his role as a servant.
Paul considered Onesimus a brother in the Lord, and someone whom he loved dearly. Philemon should consider Onesimus that much closer, being both a member of his household and a fellow Christian.
You get the idea that Paul said this to assure Philemon that he should feel this way, though he might feel that way immediately.
Philemon 1:17
This is the third time that Paul “beseeched” Philemon to receive his newly begotten brother back. If Onesimus was important to Paul in his own service, Philemon should also be willing to have him back. He was a servant, a beloved brother, but now also a companion of the apostle. We spoke before of receiving missionaries and those in the Lord’s service and helping them on their way (Titus 3:13). This was how Philemon was to think of this situation as well.
Philemon 1:18
The verse implies Onesimus may have stolen from Philemon or did something that cost him. We do not know the details. Whatever he did, Paul was willing to restore it. In the Scriptures, restitution was commonplace: “he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering” (Leviticus 6:5).
Zacchaeus restored goods he had received illegally: “And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold” (Luke 19:8).
However, Onesimus would likely have had no means in restoring whatever he did. He perhaps met Paul when he himself was in trouble with the law. He would not have been able to be sold to recover the debt, because he already was a slave to Philemon. Paul offered to restore this debt.
Philemon 1:19
Paul promised this restoration by signing it. There were issues with people impersonating Paul’s letters, but he always made sure he signed it a certain way to determine its authenticity. “The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write” (2 Thessalonians 3:17).
However, Paul reminds Philemon that he owed him: “albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.” Most likely, this means Paul gave him Philemon the gospel, and he was saved to eternal life because of him.
The Christian life is about forgiveness and cancelling debts. If Philemon was wronged, he should forgive whatever debt. In Corinth, they were so quick to revenge wrongdoing they were taking people to court. On the contrary, the Spirit has another way: “Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?” (1 Corinthians 6:7).
If you were wronged by someone, instead of letting it sit in your soul like a cancer, forgive it and drop it. Christ forgave us, we forgive others. The Lord’s prayer says, “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:12).
Philemon 1:20
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (3 John 1:4). To see the obedience of Philemon in this matter would be a great joy to Paul. It would show that Philemon is living out the Gospel because he understood it.
Consider this: “Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain” (Philippians 2:14-16). On the day of Christ, Paul would also have joy when the people with whom he shared the Gospel were saved and living for the Savior.
Philemon 1:21
We get hints that Paul (and Onesimus, who may have put him up to this letter) may have thought that Philemon would have been hesitant to forgive and restore his runaway servant. However, we get the feeling that the instruction in this letter would have offered the conviction needed for Philemon to do what is right.
Paul’s statement that Philemon would do more than stated in the letter shows that the contents in this letter was the bare minimum. More could be done, such as joyfully restoring him and make it well known that his forgiveness is secure. Jesus said, “So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do” (Luke 17:10). Do more than the bare minimum. Be profitable servants.
Philemon 1:22
Here, we see that Paul hoped to be out of prison soon. If Paul were to be released, he planned to stay with Philemon. You get the feeing that this was done to check up to see how they did with the reconciliation! This is not overtly said, but it makes sense given the tone of the letter.