Based on Philemon 1:1-21 (New King James Version)
“Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer, to the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother. Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting, yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you—being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ—I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me. I am sending him back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel. But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary. For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave—a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me. But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account. I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. I will repay—not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides. Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord. Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.
What was the issue that Philemon had with Onesimus? To be able to understand the issue, we need to see the background of both people. According to tradition and some scholar’s understanding, Philemon was a Christian in Asia Minor, one of the many that had converted through the Apostle Paul, and cofounder of the first church in Colossae, and also the bishop of that church that was located in his home. He was a wealthy person. And Onesimus was believed to have been a slave of Philemon. Onesimus also converted to Christianity through the Apostle Paul on one of his imprisonments, when Onesimus had run away. In that time that Onesimus was away, not only did he convert, but it is also believed that he was one of the founders of the church in Ephesus together with Paul, and it is believed that he was a bishop in said church. The wrong that is believed that Onesimus did was to have stolen a large sum of money from Philemon and ran away from the property to go to Rome. That was the issue that is believed to have existed between them, both robbery and abandonment.
So then, why was Paul sending Onesimus back to Philemon? Paul’s purpose, guided by his own teaching and doctrine, was that he considered that it was time for Onesimus to go back to where he belonged, and to restore the damage he had done, and that he do it by serving the Lord next to his master Philemon. The Lord’s desire through Paul was for these two men to reconcile in the Lord and for their relationship to be restored, but through the faith they both had, and that they work together in the ministry. As more historical background of what happened with these two people, Philemon did accept Onesimus back, and they both served the Lord together. And their unity and faithfulness to the Lord was such that they both gave up their lives for the Gospel. There are writings that mention that Philemon, together with Apphia (Philemon’s wife), Archippus, and Onesimus were martyred in Colossae during the first general persecution during the reign of Caesar Nero. Both men gave their lives for their faith in Christ, and they did it together. And this takes us to the point.
The Onesimus that had fled Philemon’s side did not come back the same. Philemon did not receive the same person back, and this is what the Apostle Paul serves as witness. Paul gave testimony of his conversion, of his change in life, and of his faithfulness to the Gospel and to himself, that this Onesimus had become like a son to him. And as we mentioned before, this Onesimus even helped Paul found the church in Ephesus, and that he served as a bishop in that place. Let us see for a moment the requirements for a bishop, which will describe Onesimus’ character: “This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.” 1 Timothy 3:1-7. So then, if these were the requirements for a bishop, and Onesimus served as such, then he had become not only a believer, but even more, an exceptional man before God and men. Onesimus was truly a completely transformed and renewed person through the work of the Holy Spirit, and of course, under his own will, by letting God work in His life in such a way.
So then, what can we see very clearly through all of this? That if a person legitimately converts to the Lord, and they submit to Him, that God can do great things. God’s purpose is to make everything new in our lives, everything different, renewed, and transformed. God desires to bring about a complete change in each of us through the Holy Spirit’s work and through His Word. This is what the Scriptures establish for themselves: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17. The Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross and God imparts His grace so that we can become people with new beginnings, leaving behind the things that only bring about death and destruction, leaving behind sin, and doing that which produces life and light. And the other thing that God desires to happen, through our repentance and conversion, is that we restore the wrong done to those people we harmed during our old evil ways. God’s purpose is for us to fix and repair what was damaged, and that we do good to those we wronged in another time. And it should be clear, if a person has had such a life change like Onesimus, how can Philemon not accept such a person to return? For Paul to have given such a testimony of this Onesimus, it’s because there was a real change, and because Onesimus was going to be of blessing and good to his master Philemon. God can restore everything if a person truly repents from all of their sins, and tries to restore the damage done, by working to make the wrong right. Everything would be very different if every believer looked to truly do God’s will! So then, are you living a true faith that shows God and people all around you that you are a new person, doing good to those you harmed before? Lord bless! John