Philemon

vs 13

Even Paul is not above playing mind games. He's toying with this idea of Christian authority. But he's also playing with fire. A slave is more than just a person - it is a piece of property. And although Paul is strong in calling Onesimus his son and his heart, he knows that Philemon probably still thinks of him as a big walking spoon.

And yet, he makes the point that Philemon should be helping Paul in his ministry, especially while he's in chains. Obviously he hadn't been, and so Paul's using that as leverage. It's not really what you'd expect - but Paul is putting a hard word on Philemon. He might call it "using a human argument".

vs 14

You've got to wonder how tongue-in-cheek this is. Paul has said "I really want to keep Onesimus, and you really do owe me, and I really could order you to give him to me, but I'd rather you "spontaneously" give him to me out of your own good will." It's almost entrapment. But it isn't, because Paul is just showing his authority. He shows his real hope in verse 15-16. This doesn't mean that he didn't want Onesimus to stay with him - just that he also desires reconciliation between Philemon and his slave.

vs 15-16

Paul is suggesting that the Lord has been working, but he doesn't use such strong God-y language. Note that Paul says Onesimus will be worth double to Philemon - both as a fellow brother in the Lord, and also as a man (literally "in the flesh"). As many scholars and most slave-owners have pointed out many times, Paul never gives Philemon an order to release Onesimus, or any slaves. And Paul has just said that Onesimus has a double value to Philemon here. He's still a slave - just a slave you should treat like a brother. I imagine there may have been times when a man had gone into debt and been forced into slavery, only to be brought by his brother. It sounds pretty callous though.

vs 17

And Onesimus has a further value - he is valued by Paul as dearly loved. I'm sure it would have been difficult for Philemon to accept this slave back at all, but to welcome him back as if he were Paul, that's a real challenge. Real prodigal son material.

vs 18

Paul starts another of his mind games here, promising to pay back any wrongdoing.

vs 19

But what Paul is really pointing out, apart from the fact he is writing this bit himself, is that Philemon owes Paul his very spiritual life. If someone said that to us, what would we say? "Oh, it wasn't you, it was Jesus and the Holy Spirit. You can't claim that sort of work!" But Paul does. Of course, Paul could be referencing a different situation where he saved Philemon's life or something. But there are several verses in Paul's letters where he takes 'ownership' of his ministry. We can see that he does this even to the point of taking 'ownership' of his disciples' conversions! Sometimes I think we get far too spiritually up ourselves.

vs 20

Paul has earlier praised Philemon for refreshing the hearts of the saints. Now he asks (almost tells) Philemon to refresh his own heart. It is almost a payment for Paul's ministry to Philemon, the way he puts it. This letter looks more and more like blackmail the longer you read it! And yet, Paul is not asking for anything more than what he is given authority to ask for as a fellow Christian, as an Apostle, and as the one who brought Philemon to faith.

vs 21

Paul doesn't doubt that Philemon will do this stuff. They must have had at least a fairly good relationship, becuase you don't make such bold statements and requests from someone you don't know well.

vs 22

Paul's making an assumption here that Philemon has been praying for his release. But he probably had been. pre-modern gaols were a pretty horrid affair. That Paul survived for several years in custody around the Roman Empire suggests to us that there were many who were visiting, bringing food and other things, and also that many were praying for him.

This is one of the classic verses that I use to show people that no one takes the Bible as 100% literally to be applied. I've never met a Christian who keeps a guest room ready for when Paul comes back. And yet ALL the NT letters are occasional - they are just as specific to a situation as Paul's letter to Philemon. Does that make them valueless? Of course not! But it does mean we have to understand the situation to which they are addressed before we can apply them. Otherwise, every Christian has to make a pilgrimage to Troas to pick up Paul's cloak and scrolls (especially the parchments) and deliver them to him!

vs 23-25

The typical wrapup verses for a Pauline letter, even this short. Epaphras also seems to have been imprisoned. Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke are probably among those who have kept Paul alive and sane during his capture. Some names we recognise here. Don't forget Timothy of course, who was at the top of the letter. He was supposed to co-author, but the letter isn't written in 'we' like the Thessalonian letters.