We should not view the public nature of the letter [of Philemon] as simply a lawyer ’s tactic to win his case; it rather reflects the corporate nature of early Christianity, in which no matter was “private” but inevitably affected, and was affected by, one’s brothers and sisters in the new family of God.

—Douglas J. Moo

Source: Douglas J. Moo, quoted from his commentary, “The Letters to the Colossians and to Philemon,” in The Pillar New Testament Commentary Series published by Eerdmans. Retrieved from goodreads.com here.

The letter to Philemon was the most brilliantly nuanced, compelling letter of reconciliation in ancient history. It is a model of grace and charm. As such, it can be a great help to us all if we care to enhance our human relationships—especially those in the Body of Christ, where we have special stake in each other’s lives.   

…Paul’s masterful approach to Philemon provides us with needed wisdom in dealing with our own relational problems. His example teaches us that fundamental to human reconciliation is taking the time to reflect on where people are: how they are feeling, how they perceive the problem, how they think we perceive them. We, above all people, ought to understand the secrets of human personality. Christian sensitivity is fundamental to reconciliation in human relationships…Also, we must learn to choose our words carefully. Some people never give a compliment without a negative barb—“backhanded compliments.” But Solomon says, “Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances” (Proverbs 25:11, NASB). Human reconciliation runs on loving tact, something every Christian should master regardless of personality or position.  

—Kent Hughes  

Source: Content taken from Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon: The Fellowship of the Gospel and the Supremacy of Christ by R. Kent Hughes, ©2013. Used by permission of Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. 

The theme of Paul’s letter is the power of the gospel to transform individual lives (Philemon 1:11) and human relationships (Philemon 1:16). Onesimus had experienced that transforming power in his life (“formerly he was useless” but “now he is indeed useful”; Philemon 1:11). Paul therefore urged his friend Philemon to form a new relationship with Onesimus, his runaway slave. 

—ESV Global Study Bible 

Source: This content is adapted from the ESV Global Study Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright ©2012 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Read more about the background of Philemon here. 

When people believe in Christ, they become identified with one another in an intimate association and incur both the benefits and responsibilities of that communion. Philemon is fundamentally all about those responsibilities, as Paul, Onesimus, and Philemon, bound together in faith, are forced by circumstances to think through the radical implications of their koinnia [fellowship because of Jesus]. 

—Douglas J. Moo  

Source: Douglas J. Moo, quoted from his commentary, “The Letters to the Colossians and to Philemon,” in The Pillar New Testament Commentary Series published by Eerdmans. Retrieved from goodreads.com here. 

When reading Paul’s letter to Philemon this week I saw a theme I hadn’t really seen before. This letter is an instruction on how to refresh the saints… Oh the precious, priceless ministry of refreshment. And oh how desperately needed it is. All around us are weary brothers and sisters who are slogging it out in a spiritual war (Ephesians 6:12) on a battlefield of a futile world (Romans 8:20). Yes, there are times for reproofs and corrections (2 Timothy 3:16). But most of the time what our brothers and sisters need are encouragements. 

So let’s make it our aim to refresh the saints and choose one practical way to do that today. 

—Jon Bloom  

Source: The quote above comes from an article called, “Five Ways to Refresh the Saints in Your Life,” published by Desiring God. We strongly encourage you to read this article as a family!    

It is the essence of our Christian experience that we are brought into a mutuality of relationship in and through Jesus which is so transformative, so life altering, that it finds that the way in which we work out that experience in our Christian lives is radical and, in many cases, countercultural. Our lives are bound up with Jesus, and therefore, they are bound up with one another, and therefore, we are to give to one another because we belong to one another. And when we understand the depth of what we share—the depth of fellowship, the depth of communion, the depth of that interdependent relationship—then it will be virtually impossible for us to claim anything as our own, or to be unprepared to grant forgiveness where it is due, or, indeed, to be selfish in hardly any shape or fashion.  

—Alistair Begg  

Source: Alistair Begg, quoted from his message, “Terms of Endearment,” published by Truth for Life Ministries

Now, think about this… Paul had asked Philemon—Paul had asked Philemon—for a superhuman task, a task that involved heartfelt reconciliation, a task that involved forgiveness that was at the very core of his being. He asked him to do something which is not natural to do. He had asked Onesimus to do something which, as a runaway slave, he would be by nature afraid to do and unwilling to do. So both of the parties in the reconciliation have only one hope, and that is the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, enabling the one to go back and say, “I’m sorry,” and enabling the one to whom he returns to say, “In the Lord Jesus Christ, I forgive you.” 

—Alistair Begg  

Source: Alistair Begg, quoted from his message, “Refresh My Heart,” published by Truth for Life Ministries

Paul’s action with regard to Onesimus is an illustration of the Lord’s work on behalf of the sinner. Paul does not minimize the sin, but he pleads for forgiveness for the sinner on the grounds of his own merit in the eyes of Philemon, his friend. More than that, he makes himself personally responsible for the debts of Onesimus: “Charge it to me” (Philemon 18). This is the message of the gospel, for Christ took on our sins when he was crucified.  

—Henrietta Mears  

Source: This content is from What the Bible Is All About, written by Henrietta Mears. Copyright © 1953, 2011 by Gospel Light. Copyright assigned to Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. 2015. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a division of Tyndale House Ministries., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. 

In Philemon, we see the essence of the gospel reflected in Paul’s life as he imitates his Lord in offering himself as a righteous substitution for Onesimus before the wronged Philemon (vv. 17-19). 

—Christopher Beetham 

Source: Christopher Beetham, quoted from his article, “Why Study the Books of Colossians and Philemon,” published by Crossway.

Think of what God did to secure Onesimus’s reconciliation. Paul alluded to it in verse 15: “For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever.” Paul recognized that Philemon’s whole story was ultimately woven by God’s hand. Onesimus’s crime and flight were made to become, by God’s grace, part of the plan for bringing Onesimus to himself—much as Joseph’s being sold into Egypt by his brothers eventually brought their salvation. The more we study the story, the more we see that it transcends “chance.” Onesimus fled the length of the world to escape his master and lose himself in the bowels of Rome, only to meet the very man to whom his master owed his spiritual life—and thus found spiritual life himself! How he must have marveled at God’s tapestry.  

The most confused, twisted life can ultimately come to be seen as a marvelous tapestry of God’s grace. The evil that you did, or has been done to you, can be turned into the very thing that brings you to Christ. Onesimus is indeed “profitable,” for from his life we learn the anatomy of reconciliation.  

—Kent Hughes  

Source: Content taken from Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon: The Fellowship of the Gospel and the Supremacy of Christ by R. Kent Hughes, ©2013. Used by permission of Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.