1. (verse 8) What does Paul mean by this verse? How effective is ordering people around? What do you think is the most effective way to ask someone to do a favor for you?

Paul is the Apostle of the Gentile churches. He is also the one who led Philemon to Christ. No doubt Philemon regards Paul as his superior. But Paul has learned that it is always best if people can decide for themselves what to do. Paul is going to make a very persuasive argument and point out all the reasons Philemon should listen to him. But he is willing to acknowledge that he respects Philemon enough to leave the decision in his hands.

I read a story from a pastor who when he was young felt he was forced to go to church and resented it. But as soon as he left for college, he joined a church and began to realize how real God was in his life. It is always amazing how better things seem when we are the ones to decide to do them instead of being ordered by someone else.

So instead of placing demands on Philemon, Paul is asking for a favor. Many times people will do things they don’t want to do or are uncomfortable doing in order to help someone else out with a favor. This was Paul’s approach. Most people want to help.

9 yet I appeal to you on the basis of love. I then, as Paul--an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus--

2. (verse 9) What are the 3 things Paul uses to appeal to Philemon? Define the appeal of each one. Which do you think will be the most effective?

Paul uses three things to appeal to Philemon – 1. love, 2. that he is an old man, 3. that he is a prisoner for Christ. Love is always the best cause for appeal. If we love someone, we will be willing to do things for them. People learn to love us as we show them love. No doubt Philemon had seen this in Paul’s life.

I included the next two appeals under Campbell’s Rule 6 – symbols. Both statements, old man and prisoner of Christ, carry a symbolic message beyond the meaning of the words. What Paul is really saying by "old man" is probably two-fold: he is emphasizing his eldership and he is asking for some consideration. In the Hebrew culture age was honored. Leviticus 19:32 gave this command, "Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord." So Paul’s term "old man" is symbolic of his position.

But I think Paul is also asking for consideration because of his age. We all make concessions to those who are older. We give them more latitude out of respect for the full life they have lived. I think this is also symbolic of what Paul is requesting.

Then Paul uses the term "prisoner of Christ." Certainly this symbolized his fervent dedication to God and zeal in preaching the gospel message that he would be willing to suffer imprisonment. Furthermore, he acknowledges that this imprisonment is due to the cause of Christ. In a way, he’s saying, "If I can suffer imprisonment for the cause of Christ, can’t you forgive your servant for the same cause?"

10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains.

3. (verse 10) Why does Paul call Onesimus his son? What does he mean by "in chains"? What does this verse tell you about Paul’s feelings toward Onesimus? Who else did Paul refer to as his "son"?

Paul refers to Onesimus as his son "who became my son while I was in chains." What a beautiful picture of one who leads another to Christ. Paul was in chains in prison and seemed totally helpless to continue to perform God’s work. He is not able to lead Lydia and the other women to Christ as he did in Philippi. He is not able to take Timothy and Silas with him on a missionary journey to help them learn how to minister to others. He is no longer able to preach to the crowds in Ephesus, Colosse, or Athens. But he is able to lead a runaway slave to Christ. He is able to see new spiritual life born in this new convert.

Under Rule 5 we discussed how this reference to "son" is an example of Campbell’s figurative language. Onesimus was not really a son in the physical sense. But he was a son in the spiritual sense. We don’t know if Paul had any sons by physical birth, but we know of Onesimus, Timothy, and Titus. Paul calls all these young believers his "sons."

Who are our sons and daughters? Have we seen men and women brought into God’s kingdom because of our testimony? Are we willing to give birth to new spiritual life? Do you feel you are too bound by chains to lead others to Christ? Well, so was Paul. But God sent him Onesimus. Who has he sent to you?

11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

4. (verse 11) How has Onesimus become useful – to Paul? to Philemon? What do you think it would take for Philemon to be able to trust Onesimus again? What kind of workers should Christians be on the job?

Apparently, Onesimus had been ministering to Paul’s needs. In the Roman penal system, the prisoners were completely dependent on their friends and relatives to provide for their food and other necessities. Onesimus had been a servant who was not too worthwhile. Before he ran away, perhaps he was causing trouble and showing his discontent. But now he had proven his value to Paul and he would do the same for Philemon.

Under Rule 6, we discussed that Paul may have in mind the parable recorded in Matthew 25:24-30 about the unprofitable servant. That servant had been condemned by Christ as unprofitable and cast out of the kingdom. But this unprofitable servant, Onesimus, had been restored by Christ and had proven valuable to God’s kingdom.

Paul is asking a lot of Philemon. It is difficult to trust someone after they have proven themselves unreliable. Onesimus will have to be on his best behavior, and do everything within his power to not even give the impression of being uncooperative. Many of us on the job are like Onesimus probably was before he ran away. We are always complaining and not being a very trustworthy worker. We become angry with our co-workers and we speak against the boss. Finally, some perceived injustice occurs at work, and we take off and run away looking for another position.

Christians are not to be workers like that. We must be willing to give our best at our place of employment. We must be willing to work hard and be kind to other people, even those who are unkind to us. We shouldn’t be so willing to throw up our hands and quit at the first sign of trouble. It is not easy being a good worker these days. There are so few of them. But we answer to a greater boss, and we serve a higher master. Let us show the world what it means to always do a good job, without murmuring and complaining.

12 I am sending him--who is my very heart--back to you.

13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel.

5. (verse 13) What does Paul mean by this verse? How do you think Philemon would respond to these words? What does he mean by being "in chains for the gospel"?

What love Paul showed for others! I’m sure Philemon had seen that same love from Paul when they were together. No doubt Philemon would have liked to come to help Paul in his work, but perhaps he had business obligations and responsibilities which prevented him. Maybe, he had partly regretted that. So now Paul says that Onesimus was like a gift from Philemon. Someone that God had used to minister to Paul the way that perhaps Philemon had wished he could. This had to help Philemon to look at Onesimus in a different light – no longer as a slave, but as a brother who performed the work for Paul that Philemon wished he could have done.

Paul emphasizes once again the reason he is imprisoned. He is there because of the gospel message of Christ. Paul was unwilling to compromise the message, and was obedient to the call. If it brought imprisonment, so be it. Is this our attitude? Or will we do anything for the sake of comfort and safety? Serving Christ sometimes involves risk. We sometimes have to dare to reach out to the unlovely, dare to help the powerless, and dare to stand up for what’s right. Are we willing to suffer for Christ?

14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced.

6. (verse 14) What is Paul implying in this verse? What does this teach us about allowing other people to make up their own minds about the things of God? Which would you find more frustrating – a pastor who tells you what to think, or a pastor who says to figure it out yourself? What should be a pastor’s role when the group is studying the Bible together?

Paul is certainly implying that what he wanted to do with Onesimus was the correct action. But he leaves it up to Philemon to decide for himself. We must be willing to allow others the freedom to find their own answers from God. This can be unsettling at times, since some will come up with some weird interpretations or off-the-wall ideas. But if we really want people to learn how to get their answers from God, we must be willing to give them the freedom to learn how to do that. There may be some bumps along the road of scriptural understanding, but we can trust God to lead those into his truth.

I sometimes think people would rather have their pastor tell them how to think about the Bible instead of discovering it for themselves. If we defer to someone else, then we don’t have to spend the time discovering God’s truths and we don’t have to assume any responsibility in getting it right. It is scary trying to discover the mind of Christ. But I do think this is what God wants us to do. He wants us to be willing to spend time in his presence learning from him.

I believe a pastor’s position in any Bible study is one of a balancing act. People expect, and rightly so I think, that the minister will have something to share and some insight from scripture to teach. But on the other hand, I believe it is good for each member of a study to learn for themselves and study on their own. I believe the key to a healthy study format is when the people can present their ideas without fear of ridicule or condemnation. Even though we may not always agree with each other, we have a respect that each of us are sincerely trying to discover God’s will for our lives. But I believe the pastor should be part of that process and share what he has learned. There will be many times when students are seeking an answer, and I believe the minister needs to be prepared to share his thoughts and his beliefs. As 1 Peter 3:15 says, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear."

15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good--

7. (verse 15) Why was Onesimus really separated from Philemon? What reason is Paul implying that Onesimus was separated from Philemon? How would you welcome back a family member who had run away?

The reality is that Onesimus was separated from Philemon because he was rebellious and ran away. But Paul indicates that Onesimus left by God’s direction so he could become a better servant. The very thing that Philemon might use to punish and to not trust Onesimus – the fact of his running away – is the very thing Paul uses as a reason not to punish and to trust him. It seems it would be difficult to welcome back someone who has proven their irresponsibility by leaving. Perhaps some have experienced this with family members. It would take an immense amount of patience and love to help the runaway regain their sense of acceptance. But this is what Paul is asking Philemon to do. Forgive the slave because it really was God’s doing. And how can we argue with God?

16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.

8. (verse 16) What does this verse tell you about the Christian’s view toward slavery, prejudice, or second-class citizens? As what two ways does Paul give that Onesimus would be improved?

I wanted to point out that in the Bible (unlike most other ancient writings) slaves were to be treated fairly and with kindness. They were not considered second-class citizens as far as their individual worth. Of course, they did not have the same economic rights as others. This view was very different from the other cultures which viewed slaves as mere objects. This difference stemmed from God’s mercy. Every believer in Christ should have a love in his heart for others no matter who they are, no matter their social or economic position, and no matter what their appearance.

Some people say that the Bible supports slavery because it deals with the issue pragmatically. But acknowledging the economic realities of a culture is a lot different than condoning slavery. Far from condoning slavery, the Bible clearly teaches the equality of all people, the brotherhood of all Christians, and the necessity of showing love and kindness to everyone.

Paul reveals two ways that Onesimus is improved – first as a servant, and then as a Christian brother. In a way, it seems Paul is giving us a spiritual allegory, as in Campbell’s Rule 6. The spiritual allegory is that of a restored servant. The servant is disobedient and rebellious. He causes trouble and then runs away. After a while he is restored to his master, humbled by his escape attempt. Before we came to Christ, we were disobedient and rebellious. We were trouble-makers and kept trying to run away from our problems and from God. But after a while, we found Christ and were restored to the family of God. We are restored to our master, the one who created the universe, and we are humbled by our fruitless escape attempt.

Onesimus returned to his master to serve him all the rest of his days. Are we willing to serve our master with our whole strength, our whole mind, and our whole heart all of our days?

Footnotes:

This study on Philemon 8-16 © 1998 by David Humpal. All Rights Reserved.

All scripture unless otherwise noted is from the New International Version.

All questions are based on both the New International Version and the King James Version.

1 Peter 3:15 from the King James Version