The Full GospelSample

No Longer a Slave // The Gospel According to Philemon

Most of Paul’s letters are written with the intent to tell us how the gospel changes everything. But the letter to Philemon is unique because in this book, the Apostle Paul shows us how the gospel completely reorients our relationships.

Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus—that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. 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. But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary. Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever—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 fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.

So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. Philemon 1:8-17 NIV

In the ancient world, slavery was normal and accepted—so much so that unfortunately, some Christians continued to own slaves even after entering the family of God. How could that be possible? Just like it does with us, salvation happened in a moment, but sanctification takes a lifetime.

They had experienced the grace and mercy of Jesus firsthand, but they hadn’t fully understood how following Him changed the rest of their lives. They needed to learn to faithfully live under His rule, which was radically different from the customs and practices of the ancient Roman Empire.

In this letter, the Apostle Paul is writing to Philemon, a Christian who still owns slaves, urging him to rethink his relationship with Onesimus, a slave who had recently run away from Philemon.

While Paul was imprisoned, he crossed paths with Onesimus. During that time, Onesimus became a follower of Jesus. Sometime after that, Onesimus returned to Philemon carrying this letter from Paul.

Why would Onesimus return? Here are a few possible reasons:

1. The punishments given to runaway slaves in Rome were often brutal and severe. By returning to Philemon and being legally set free, Onesimus would be spared from these consequences.
2. Jesus had changed his life, so it’s possible that Onesimus, as a part of his sanctification, wanted to go to Philemon to reconcile their broken relationship as fellow brothers in Christ.
3. Based on what he wrote, it’s clear that Paul wanted to give Philemon the chance to extend Christian love by forgiving Onesimus.
4. Onesimus was tasked with delivering some of the letters Paul wrote to different churches, including this letter, Colossians (Colossians 4:9), and possibly Ephesians.

With this context in mind, let’s take a closer look at how this letter shows us the life-changing, relationship-shaping, and culture-flipping implications of the gospel.

Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever—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 fellow man and as a brother in the Lord. So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. Philemon 1:15-17 NIV

Onesimus stumbled into the good news of Jesus after running away from his slave master, a crime that could very well be punishable by death. But by the grace of God, his choices brought him face-to-face with the Lord of Life, where he received a new identity as a child of God. It is according to this new identity that Paul is asking Philemon to see Onesimus. Philemon could continue to see Onesimus the way he used to see him—the way the world likely still saw him—or he could choose to see him through eyes that had been illuminated by the mercy of God.

Paul is appealing to the new identity Onesimus was given when the gospel changed his life, and to the faith that Philemon professes as a follower of Christ.

So, what happened with Philemon and Onesimius? While we can’t know for sure, the evidence we have from history tells us that Philemon set Onesimus free, and Onesimus continued to be a member of the early Christian movement. Church tradition tells us that Onesimus eventually went on to become the bishop of the church in Ephesus.

Because of the gospel, Onesimus was adopted as a brother and became a bishop. The gospel changes everything.

Faith in Jesus transforms us from who we used to be into who we’re meant to be. Trusting in God enables us to see ourselves, and others, with eyes of grace.

Our prayer for you today is the prayer that Paul had for Philemon:

I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. Philemon 1:6 NIV