Another Bible Commentary: Philemon

Paul wrote this letter earlier than the Pastoral Epistles to Timothy and Titus, perhaps during his first Roman imprisonment. It is placed here because of its brevity. Philemon was the leader of the Colossian congregation. Since Paul the former Pharisee rode right on past Deuteronomy 23:15-16, Onesimus (Colossians 4:9) logically owed a debt and was not kidnapped. Paul did not write for the general emancipation of slaves, but asked Philemon to donate a slave to Paul’s ministry. The Romans were worried that Christianity might spark a slave revolt (they were within a century of Spartacus, etc.), and the Epistles logically contain endorsements of the status quo and of being good citizens.

1-2 Paul knew what the outcome would be of publicly requesting Onesimus in front of all of Philemon’s congregation.

5 “your love…your faith” Believe and Love.

6 One translation is “that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgement of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.” We are new. We have new hearts, new human spirits, and the Holy Spirit in us permanently. He has given us everything; it’s all already in there.

10-11 Onesimus means “useful”. He was a runaway slave that converted to Christianity.

19 “not to mention” while mentioning it.

This concludes our time with Paul and the Gentiles. Emperor Nero had Paul beheaded between 64 and 68 AD (depending on the historian); the “Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Wall” marks the traditional location. Peter and Paul’s deaths are traditionally remembered on June 29th.

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