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Philippians and Philemon: Prison Epistles, Part 2

  1. Lesson One
    Overview of Philippians (Philippians 1–4)
    22 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  2. Lesson Two
    Philippians: Suffering and Community (Philippians Review)
    22 Activities
  3. Lesson Three
    Overview of Philemon
    22 Activities
  4. Lesson Four
    Paul and Slavery (Philemon, Romans 6 Review)
    17 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  5. Lesson Five
    Social Impact
    9 Activities
    |
    4 Assessments
  6. Course Wrap-Up
    Course Completion
    1 Activity
    |
    1 Assessment

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Paul’s aim in this epistle is to reconcile Onesimus to Philemon. While there is no way to know all the background details, it’s clear that Onesimus is Philemon’s slave and has become estranged from him. 

This letter is unusual in its narrow personal focus and the absence of broader theological ideas, but that doesn’t mean it’s not theological. Paul’s appeal to Philemon can be categorized as five aspects of reconciliation that should be familiar to us by now. We might chart it something like this:

Aspects of ReconciliationTexts
LoveI am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. I would have liked to keep him with me . . . He is very dear to me. (12-16)
IntercessionI prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love . . . I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. (9-10)
SubstitutionIf he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me . . . I will pay it back. (18-19)
Restoration to FavorPerhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever. (15)
New RelationshipNo longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother . . . So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. (16-17)

Table adapted from: Lars Kierspel, Charts on the Life, Letters, and Theology of Paul, 2012, p. 140.

This letter doesn’t contain the kind of theological commentary that we’re used to hearing from Paul. Nonetheless, this short letter is full of deep theological convictions. We’re able to see Paul live the gospel as an intercessor and reconciler. Each of these categories have obvious correspondence to the saving work of Jesus in the Gospels that Paul has been preaching. Much like his Savior, Paul goes out of his way to “stand in the gap” of a broken relationship. His love inspires a chain of redemption that arrives in a new relationship, better than before, for the estranged. Onesimus is to be “better than a slave, a dear brother . . . (and) a partner.”