Philemon: Four Letters In One

Philemon: Four Letters In One

As I see it, Paul’s letter to Philemon about his slave, Onesimus, is actually four letters in one.

First, it serves as a letter of introduction in which Paul introduces Philemon to the new relationship in Christ that he would have with Onesimus. Once only a slave, Paul writes that Onesimus is now “a dear brother ... very dear to me, but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord” (Phile. 16).

It is also a letter of reference. “Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me” (v. 11). Onesimus proved to be such a great help that Paul would have retained his service if he did not already belong to Philemon. Furthermore, his references put him in association with Paul’s other “fellow workers” (vv. 23-24).

And surely, Paul intended this to be a letter of pardon for Onesimus, and therefore writes, “If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me ... I will pay it back” (vv. 18-19). Here we see the divine principle of imputation, whereby Christ accounts His righteousness to the believer, as He bears the believer’s sins.

Finally, it is a letter of commendation for Onesimus into the local church meeting in Philemon’s house – a place where a new believer should be encouraged, loved and refreshed. If Onesimus ran away as a worthless, unbelieving slave, he was returning as a worthwhile Christian servant who should be accorded all the privileges of a beloved brother in Christ. In Colossians 4:9 Paul tells them to consider Onesimus as “one of you.”

And isn’t it the same with each of us. Once we too were runaway slaves to sin. But Christ found us, turned us around, paid our debt, and introduced us to His Church as a new man, now made worthy by our association with Him. Are we living in the good of the letters Christ has written for us?

By Larry Ondrejack