Key word: Useful
It is unfortunate that those who arranged the order of the New Testament books in our English Bibles chose to put Philemon after Titus, instead of after Colossians. They helpfully grouped all 13 epistles of Paul together in the center of the New Testament, but placed Philemon last, probably due to its size, and comparative insignificance. But it was written to a member of the church at Colossae at the same time Paul wrote Colossians from a prison in Rome in A.D. 62. It is therefore one of the 4 prison epistles, but while the other 3 were addressed to church, Philemon is sent to one individual with a unique problem.
At a time when perhaps a third of the population of the Roman Empire were slaves, a slave, Onesimus, ran away from his master, Philemon, and eventually ended up in Rome. Somehow, he meets up with Paul, hears the gospel, and is converted. Onesimus name means useful, and he is that to Paul (vv. 11-13). But because it is the right thing to do Paul sends him back to Philemon (v. 12). He does not order Philemon to forgive and release his former slave, but Paul argues persuasively for forgiveness, release and returning Onesimus back to Paul, because Paul needs him (vv. 13-14). Another option is for Onesimus to stay with Philemon, but no longer as a slave, but as a beloved brother (v. 16). By doing so, Philemon and Onesimus will be reconciled, will serve Christ together as beloved brothers, will glorify God, and will “refresh” [Paul’s] heart in Christ (v. 20). So, this little letter lays out a pattern for reconciliation between believers when one has wronged another. Our key word is useful, for not only is that the meaning of Onesimus, but it tells the story of a formerly useless man who becomes useful to Paul, Philemon and to Christ. Our key verse then is v. 11. May this verse reflect our lives as well.
Key verse: Philemon 11 – who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me.
