Philemon is Paul’s shortest, most personal, and perhaps most obscure letter. Lacking the length and breadth of content found in Paul’s other letters, Philemon can be easily missed or overlooked. However, the content and application of the book is rich for Christians today. Amongst the themes of the letter, Paul touches on Christian fellowship, Christians’ mutual accountability and responsibilities to one another, and how the gospel fundamentally re-orients our identity in relationships and vocations. Additionally, in the writing of the letter, the apostle Paul showcases an impressive display of rhetorical appeal and persuasion that reminds us that Scripture is both true in what it says and beautiful in how it is written.
Christian Accountability
To better understand the theme of Christian fellowship in Philemon, knowing the occasion of the letter greatly aids readers. Paul writes to Philemon concerning his runaway slave, Onesimus, who has encountered Paul in prison and become a Christian through his ministry (Philem. 10). While the body of the letter addresses a rather personal situation between Philemon and Onesimus, it is striking that Paul addresses the letter to the whole church (Philem. 2), indicating that the letter was probably read to the entire congregation.1 Suddenly, a private matter has become very public!
While it may be a bit comical, this detail is of significant importance to the letter’s teaching. Paul does not notify the entire church so that they can gossip about the situation, but because the health of the relationship between Philemon and Onesimus affects the health of the whole church. Thus, he makes this private situation a matter for the whole church to be involved in, to encourage these two brothers to reconcile.
Furthermore, at the conclusion of the letter, Paul sends greetings from several other co-laborers of the gospel associated with Philemon, adding another layer of accountability (Philm. 23–24). In both of these examples, Paul reminds Christians that they are not to be an island, but to belong to a church family, to whom they are accountable.
Christian Fellowship
Existing amongst other Christians creates the blessing of fellowship. Specifically for Philemon, Paul prays that “the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ” (Philem. 6). Because of the mutual fellowship grounded in faith, Paul is praying that Philemon would demonstrate his love of others in practical ways as he grows in Christian maturity. Paul implies that because of the common faith that Philemon shares with other Christians, there will be occasion to do good works of love and service for fellow believers for Christ’s glory. Ultimately, Paul is probably thinking of the good work that he will ask him to practice towards Onesimus in receiving him back as Paul desires. This beauty of fellowship provides an occasion for love, encouragement, and joy with other believers (Philem. 7), but, as fellowship unites Christians together, it also bonds them in responsibility and obligations to our fellow Christians. This prayer is an example. Just as Paul prays for this specific church (Philem. 6), so also Paul expects that the church will pray for him (Philem. 22).2
Gospel-Shaped Relationships
In addition to the themes above, Philemon also teaches Christians an important fundamental reality: the gospel reorients our relationships.3 As Paul asks Philemon to receive Onesimus back, Paul makes sure that Philemon understands that Onesimus’ identity and status to him has changed because of his faith in Christ. Because Onesimus is now a Christian and a new creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17, Philem. 10), Paul exhorts Philemon to view Onesimus “no longer as a bondservant, but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother” (Philem. 16). Whatever earthly relationship they had or will continue to have, the chief relationship that now guides their relationship is their mutual faith and status in Christ. Onesimus’ status has been fundamentally changed because of the gospel, so much so that Paul identifies himself with Onesimus because of their shared faith (Philem. 12, 17)! For Christians today, this is a good reminder that we should not import our chief identity from being a student, a spouse, an employer, a citizen of a specific place, or any other good earthly calling we may have, but we should perceive our most important identity as from our status in Christ.
Paul also emphasizes the importance of living in light of God’s grace to us in the gospel (Philem. 3, 25). If Philemon and Onesimus are to be reconciled as brothers, it will have to be by this grace, not any human strength or intuition.4 Just as Paul begins the letter with grace, so he ends the letter with it as well—a reminder that the Christian life is one of grace. Christians never move on from it, but live by it and in light of it daily. God’s grace orients us to contemplate our great reconciliation to God in Christ (Philem. 18), and then helps us seek to be reconciled to our brothers and sisters in Christ. As God has been gracious to us, we strive to show grace to our neighbor. Just as there was grace needed for the church for the situation between Philemon and Onesimus, so also our churches today need to live by grace in our fellowship. In doing so, our churches will show gratitude for the gospel, but also have our fellowship marked by patience, peace, and health, even amidst the difficulty of living in community with sinners.
