Onesimus’ life matters july 22, 2020

July 22, 2020

( for the next few days, I will reflect on the short letter to Philemon )

Good afternoon.

" Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker—  also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your home:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ "  Philemon 1-3

As with all the books/letters/history of the Bible, the people writing are addressing real-life people. The ideas that are discussed are important to the writer and reader. The church ( in about year 380 ) decided the books were so important they became Scripture. The Spirit, I believe, guided the early church leaders to write all the letters, including the short letter about Philemon. Why is Philemon considered to be Scripture ?

Paul and his student leader Timothy write this letter together. Paul was the established leader and Timothy was being mentored  to be the leader when Paul was gone. The letter is written to Philemon, and Apphia and Archippus. Philemon was a slave owner.  Achippus is mentioned in the letter to Colossae as well. Apphia could be the wife of either Philemon or Archippus.

The fact that slavery is not condemned here in the letter is a problem. Slavery was important to the economy of the Empire as it always is in any country with slaves. Slavery in the United States drove the cotton industry. The letter to Philemon is important because Paul invites Philemon to be in right relationship with his slave Onesismus, as a brother in Christ.  Roman society was highly structured with  everyone in the lower rungs of the ladder looking for a  benefactor. Paul invites the highest member in the society to be a brother with the one with no rights. Upside down.

What relationships in Canadian society need to be transformed into more equitable situations ? I will continue to discuss more tomorrow. There are only 25 verses in Philemon, if you would like to read it .

Prayer

Help us to understand way back

to the days of Paul

to be transformed today. Amen

Fred

Poole Mennonite Church