The Epistle of Paul to Philemon
Philemon’s name in the Greek means love abides. If you will notice the prefix phile is derived from the Greek word phileo meaning love. This is a lower order of love, a tender affection. Regarding the 6 or 7 times Paul uses the work love in this letter, Paul, uses the Greek word agape. This term for love is used by the Father regarding His expression of Jesus Christ. Therefore, this type of love is used to express love on a divine plain rather than the love we humans express apart from the Father.
Philemon verses 1-21 should read.
The Epistle of Paul to Philemon
1. Paul a prisoner and captive of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved co-worker, 2. And to our beloved Apphia and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church that meets in your home. 3. Grace to you and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4. I thank my God, remembering you always in my prayers, 5. hearing of your love and faith regarding every believer in Jesus Christ 6. that the fellowship of your faith may become energized to the full knowledge of Jesus Christ which is arising within you. 7. For we have abundant joy and comfort in your love, because you give rest to those that Labour and show mercy to the saints, my brother.
9. I now appeal to you on the basis of love. As I, Paul am an old man and a prisoner and captive of Jesus Christ. 10. I appeal to you for my profitable child Onesimus, whom I have birthed forth while in chains. 11. Who in the past was useless to you, but now has become useful to you and to me as well.
12. I am now sending him back to you. Take him to your bosom as you would a gift given from my very heart. 13. I desired to keep him with me in your place because of his service to me while I am in chains for the sake of the Gospel. 14. Without your advice in this matter I will do nothing, so that any favor you do show him will be willingly. 15. For he was separated from you for a time that you should receive him back forever. 16. Not as a bondservant (love slave), but more than that of a bondservant, but as a brother from the same womb, beloved of the Father to me, but now much more to you, both in the total man (spirit, soul, and body) and in the Lord. 17. If you count me as a partner in the fellowship of Christ, then receive him as you would me.
18. If he has wronged you in anyway then charge it to my account. 19. I Paul, am writing this with my own hand privately to you. I will pay you back in FULL, not to mention that you owe me. 20. I do this my brother because this would (oninemi) profit me. Refresh my heart in the Lord Jesus Christ. 21. Confident of your obedience. I write to you knowing that you will do even more than I ask.
Epistle of Paul to Philemon
While doing my word study on this passage I was amazed at how inadequate the King James version is in relaying the passion in which Paul wrote this letter, the Epistle of Paul to Philemon. I fought back tears as the Lord opened up the meaning of the Greek text. I believe this private hand written letter reveals more of Paul’s true character in the Lord Jesus Christ than any other of his writings.
There are four main points I wish to bring out in this passage.
- Paul begins by saying he is not so much a prisoner of Rome, but a prisoner and captive of Jesus Christ (verse 1).
- Paul calls Onesimus his love child birthed to him while in chains for the Gospel (verse 10).
- Paul’s use of the word love (verse 5, 7, and 9).
- Paul’s use of the word brother to describe his relationship with Philemon (verse 7).
With the help of the Lord we will discuss each of these issues. We will do so not necessarily in the order mentioned above. So, let us begin.
Philemon the Man
We know little of Philemon the man other than what Paul tells us. Apparently he was a man of some means. He owned slaves. Philemon was rich in faith and love for all believers of Jesus Christ (verse 5). He gave rest and showed mercy to those who labored for the Gospel of Christ (verse 7).
Philemon’s name is a combination of two separate Greek words. Phile is derived from the Greek word Phileo meaning love. Mon, I believe, is derived from the Greek word Mone meaning mansion or abides. If I am correct I believe we can safely say Philemon’s name means “love abides.”
The Greek word Phileo is a lower order of love. Phileo love means a tender affection. This falls into the category of human or emotional love.
Two Plains/Two Types of Love
There are two plains of existence in the universe. The reality of divine existence and the reality of earthly existence. God relates to man on a divine plain of existence. Apart from Christ, we relate to God from an earthly perspective.
One of the reasons Christ came in human form was to enlarge a place within us to receive His life from a heavenly or divine perspective. Thus causing us who are from the earth to relate to the Father who dwells in heaven. Since Jesus Christ overcame all temptation in human form we are now responsible to cast away our own emotional thinking processes and relate to the Father through Jesus Christ on a divine realm of existence. We will no longer be led around by our emotions, but by His Holy Spirit.
In the six different times Paul uses the word love in this passage he uses the Greek word Agape. Agape love is love on a divine plain. This is the term used by the Father regarding His Son Jesus Christ. This is also the term the Apostle John uses throughout his Gospel reflecting the words of Jesus towards His disciples.
What Paul is saying is; “Philemon, I realize your mother and father gave you the name Love Abides, but your heavenly father regards you with Abiding Agape.” Paul is saying to Philemon that he is the expression of the Father to all believers regarding love.
Philemon Called Brother by Paul
The Greek word for brother in this passage means, from the same womb. The Apostle Paul was not in the habit of calling a man a brother, yet this is the term he used for Philemon. Paul reserved the term brother for only a few loyal friends in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ. You will read where Paul makes mention of the brethren at Corinth, Galatia and Ephesus, and so on.
The term brother used by Paul is a term of endearment used for loyal friends such as Timothy, Epaphroditus, Tychicus, Luke, Titus, Apollos, Silas, and Philemon. Rarely will you have an occasion to hear him speak of other believers addressing them brother.
Have you noticed how quick we are to throw out the terms brother or sister to anyone regarded as a believer? We have the same bad habit of throwing out phrases like; “Well Praise the Lord.” We use this kind of speech in everyday conversation without even thinking about what we are saying. Could this be taking the Lord’s Name in vain?
Phrases like; “ Praise the Lord, thank you Jesus, and Hallelujah”, are words or expressions of worship. Yet, so often, we use these phrases in vain in plain everyday conversation. If we decide to use phases like these in everyday conversation we should stop, take a moment and let the words flow as an expression of worship unto Him. I hope you get my point. The same is said of the terms of brother or sister.
Paul is saying of Philemon, “you and I are not only joined together in Christ, but we are from the same spiritual womb. We have the same heart concerning the ministry of Christ and His church.” The basis of their fellowship was Philemon’s willingness to be identified with Paul who was in chains because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
How far will we go to preserve a relationship with someone if it means being identified with that person’s suffering and offense because of the cross of Jesus Christ? Mankind is always willing to lay down its life for the sake of king and country or for their families. We call this the ultimate sacrifice, but how far are we willing to go for a true brother or sister in Christ.
Facing Adversity
Many years ago, while still a member of a Pentecostal denomination and pastoring my first church, I came under major opposition from several members under my charge because of my stand against Jezebel. It was witchcraft city. I mean I actually had members who would visit a fortune teller on Saturday afternoons and stand in church on Sunday and testify of the blessings of the Lord.
Not long after my arrival, a member of the church bought me a new electronic keyboard in order for me to minister in praise and worship. It was an answer to prayer and a wonderful gift. I asked the member before the money was given if the keyboard was a personal present or for the church.
They said it was a personal gift for me to use however the Lord saw fit. I could use it for the church, use it on my travels, and take it with me if the Lord decided to move me to a new location.
In just a few short months after receiving the gift, opposition broke out. When opposition broke against me I was devastated. I had never come under fire before. I was young in the Lord so I decided to get out of town for a couple of days to pray and seek the Lord for direction.
The Epistle of Paul to Philemon
While I was away, several members of the church broke into my home took my keyboard and several books and tapes I had acquired and fashioned a pad lock on the outside of my door so we were unable to enter the house upon my return.
You need to understand this was many many years ago and I can look back and laugh about it now. It is actually quite funny now, but at the time all I felt was devastation and rejection.
The worst part was that not one member of my ministry covering came to my aid. Jesse and I stood alone. I thought I was building relationships with the brethren that would stand with me under any trial or circumstance. The brethren in the fellowship I belonged to were busy themselves dealing with similar problems trying to stay above water dealing with similar devastation and rejection.
I learned a valuable lesson. I had fellowship with members of my denomination, but we did not build relationships with one another in Christ. A relationship that was willing to stand with someone under the trial of their faith and a willingness to lay down their own life for the brethren, even if they may be wrong.
This is what Jesus Christ did for us. When we were in the wrong, He laid down His own life for us. He bore rejection upon Himself that we would never stand alone. His rejection and suffering would serve to bring unity among the true sheep of the Lord, thus causing us to be identified with one another in true fellowship that brings relationship in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Since that time the Lord has shown me how to build relationships with the brethren. I now know I have people around me that would take a bullet for me. I trust them with my very life because they have proven themselves faithful to me my family and to the Lord. And I would do the same for them. I cannot say I would feel this way about just anyone who calls themselves a brother or sister in the faith.
Paul and Philemon
This is the relationship Paul had with Philemon. They were brothers from the same spiritual womb. Philemon who owned much in this world was willing to have fellowship with Paul who was made to be an offense because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is a true brother.
When you are hungry, when you are naked, when you are in prison, who is willing to overlook the shame and the reproach and rush in with oil and wine and cover you in love? Are we willing to share this same reproach and be identified with the Lord’s elect? This is a relationship which shows the character and nature of Jesus Christ.
Onesimus Profitable Son and Child
This is my favorite section of this little teaching. Onesimus’s name in the Greek means Profitable. He had already been given the right name, but his true character had yet to surface. He apparently was a run away slave belonging to the house of Philemon. In one of the great ironies of the scriptures we find a runaway slave who becomes a servant to one who is in prison. This shows true Christ like character. Not only in Onesimus, but in Paul.
Paul was so identified with Christ that Onesimus was willing to lay down his own life in order to become a servant to the prisoner. What a witness! If only we could show the nature of Jesus Christ under these same conditions. This is a prayer of my own heart. No matter what condition I find myself in let me count it as nothing so that I may show the favor of the Lord to others of His fold.
Since Philemon was a believer I am sure he treated his servants well. So as long as Onesimus worked in the house of Philemon, he enjoyed the benefits of his master’s house.
He apparently was not content to be a servant so he ran away. We don’t really know how he ended up in prison with Paul. The point is not one of speculation on our part. We desire only to bring out the revelation in this passage. The character of Jesus Christ in Paul touched the hollow of Onesimus’s thigh. He became a son, or a love child, of Paul. This is what verse 10 is referring too. The Greek word for son is teknon. It literally means a son born of a father–a love child born from the loins. This is what Onesimus became unto Paul.
The Epistle of Paul to Philemon
So, when Paul writes this appeal on behalf of Onesimus to Philemon he is saying, “Philemon, I have great joy to share with you.” The King James version would have us to believe in verse 8 that Paul was exercising his authority in the Lord by being bold. This is not what this verse is saying.
Paul is saying that because of his relationship with Philemon he felt liberty to bare his heart to him knowing Philemon would not trample his emotions. He is saying, “Because of my chains and suffering for the sake of the Gospel the Lord has given me a son who is the expression of my very heart. A love child born to me in captivity. A profitable child who has become the expression of my very heart. He is my reward and my only true comfort as I Paul, an old man, bare these chains for the sake of the Gospel (Verse 12).
Because he first belonged to you I am willing to give him up and send him back to you. Receive him to your bosom as the heir and expression of my very heart. He is now true to his name, my Profitable Child, Onesimus.”
Slave, Bondservant, Heir and Son
Let us now deal with the subject of a love slave or bondservant of the Lord. Paul begins in verse one by saying. “Paul a prisoner and captive of Jesus Christ.” The King James version uses the term bond servant as the condition of Paul. This term bondservant comes from Deuteronomy Chapter 15:12-18 and Exodus Chapter 21:2-6. This is what Paul said of himself concerning his captive state.He was saying he was not so much a prisoner of Rome, but a love slave of Jesus Christ.
When a person becomes a slave he does not do so willingly. Many times a person is sold into slavery because of an inability buy his freedom. A person may become a slave because his land was over run by an enemy and forced to do so. Becoming a slave means giving up all freedom to become the property of another.
Epistle of Paul to Philemon, April 24, 1995