More Than a Slave
Opening Prayer
Lord, help me to recognize my freedom in You as I come to seek Your Truth.
Read Philemon 8–25
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
8 Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9 yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus— 10 that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
12 I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. 13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary. 15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— 16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.
17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. 20 I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. 21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.
22 And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. 24 And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
“For freedom Christ has set us free” (Gal. 5:1, NRSV). Consider your changed status from slave to free in Jesus.This is classic Paul: direct, gracious, forceful and even playful at times. He’s writing to a good friend about a mutual acquaintance called Onesimus. Paul refers to him in the most tender of terms. He says their relationship is a father and child, presumably because Paul led Onesimus to faith and is nurturing him as a disciple. But Onesimus was Philemon’s slave (16) who may have stolen some of his master’s money before running away and ending up in Paul’s care. Paul is now sending him back to his master and is asking Philemon to show more than clemency. He hopes that Onesimus will be treated as a beloved brother (16) and will be welcomed as warmly as though he were Paul himself.
This is a tall order. Philemon has been wronged and his trust betrayed. But Paul is appealing to him “in the Lord” (20) and even reminds Philemon that he played a large part in his own coming to faith (19). More dramatically, Paul is calling for changes in their relationship. Philemon is legally entitled to justice for the loss he suffered from a slave he bought. But this is the power of the Gospel and Paul is bold in his request. He’s calling for mercy to be shown, for the slate to be wiped clean and a new start given.
Apply
Who can you set free by your mercy today? Do you need to take a practical step toward showing that mercy?
Closing prayer
Gracious God, remind me of the mercy You have shown me and give me grace to extend that mercy to others.
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