Week 20, Day 5: Paul’s Guilt Trip?
Today’s Reading: 1 Timothy 2:1-3:16
Some thoughts from yesterday’s reading…
The book of Philemon is often overlooked, or glossed over in a study of the New Testament. It is such a short book (only one chapter) that it is easy to overlook, especially if we miss the important lessons being addressed. Some may think that this letter is nothing more than a “guilt trip” by the apostle Paul to force Philemon to take his slave, Onesimus, back without question. And, Paul does seem to lay the guilt on Philemon some in the letter. But, the purpose of the book is far more important than that!
Paul in other passages taught about the responsibilities of Christians who were masters, and Christians who were slaves. Masters were to treat their servants fairly, and slaves were to serve their masters faithfully (as long as it didn’t cause a conflict with their spiritual service to God). But, this case has both the servant and the slave as being brothers in Christ. Notice that Paul did not require that Philemon release Onesimus, but rather encouraged him to take him back as a slave, and so much more as a brother (Philemon 1:15-16). Paul’s letter to Philemon emphasized the changed relationship between Philemon and Onesimus. Onesimus, being a faithful Christian at this point, was dedicated to returning to his master, and serving him faithfully. He had done wrong by running away, and he was going to make it right in his return to Philemon. But the relationship had changed for Philemon as well. It was within his rights to punish the slave who had deserted his responsibilities, but now that slave was a brother in Christ. He had a responsibility to take him back, and to exercise that relationship above that of the master/slave relationship. Certainly, even if he remained a slave, Onesimus would be a great asset to his master. But, Paul is encouraging Philemon to see the greater value in Onesimus. He would be a co-worker in the kingdom of the Lord, and that was far greater than anything that Onesimus could accomplish as a mere slave.
Paul did pressure Philemon in this letter to do what he would like to have done. He told Philemon how he would like to have Onesimus stay with him, and minister to him, but that he would not keep him there without the approval of Philemon. It seems that Paul is asking for Onesimus, and that he wants Philemon to know how beneficial he could be. Whether he returned to Paul, or stayed with Philemon, at least Philemon would know the value of Onesimus. Paul also told Philemon that he would repay him for any monetary loss caused by Onesimus’ actions. However, judging from the friendship that is evident from this letter, surely Philemon would never call upon Paul to repay any such debt. This is probably Paul’s way of convincing Philemon to forgive the debt of Onesimus. In verse Philemon 1:19, Paul as he discussed the debt of Onesimus, reminded Philemon that he owed Paul “his own self” (probably indicating that Paul had converted him). Surely with that information in his mind, Philemon could not refuse the return of Onesimus, or require some repayment on his part.
The beauty of this letter is the relationships that are developed between the Christians involved. Paul was a friend to both Philemon and Onesimus, and sought to restore peace between these two brethren. Onesimus, the new convert was determined to do the right thing, even though it would not be easy to do. Philemon was called upon remember his friendship with Paul, and accept Onesimus back on his word. Assuming that Philemon did as Paul asked, the end result was a difficult situation relieved, and brethren being at peace and loving one another with a pure heart.
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Peni said :
May 31, 2009 at 5:27 am
This also (obviously)speaks to our forgiveness of a wayward Christian who returns to the fold. We may have a tendency to withhold or delay restoring our relationship — perhaps even a desire to “punish” the offending member a bit before accepting their repentance, which is just wrong.