Peter Misselbrook's Blog

Apr 28 2020 - Philemon – No longer a slave but a son

I love the letter of Paul to Philemon. Firstly it contains a wonderful story. One of Philemon's slaves, Onesimus, had run away from his master in Colossae and had managed to travel to the imprisoned Paul (in Ephesus). There, as a result of Paul’s conversations with him, he had become a Christian (v. 10). Although Onesimus has proved useful to Paul, Paul is now sending him back to his master and asking Philemon to receive him back not only as a slave but as a brother. It's a dramatic story.

As a runaway slave, Onesimus could have been put to death but instead he has gained eternal life. The gospel transforms lives and transforms relationships. A useless servant becomes useful. A slave becomes a dear brother.

But the second thing I love about this letter is the crafty way in which Paul writes to Philemon. He says that he is not making demands of Philemon (though he could make demands as an apostle of Christ), but is appealing to him on the basis of love. He says that if Onesimus had stolen anything from Philemon when he ran away, he, Paul, is willing to repay it, but he adds, "not to mention that you owe me your very self" (v.19). Philemon's legal rights are not challenged, but his Christian obligation to forgive Onesimus and to embrace him as a brother is made abundantly clear. Lastly, though Paul is in prison and may face death he adds, "And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers" (v.22). Is this mention of a visit a promise or a threat? Clearly Paul is expecting to see Onesimus occupying a valued place in Philemon's household. Paul is not beyond a bit of arm-twisting for the sake of Onesimus whom he has come to value and love.

And Paul's letter must have done the trick. After all, Philemon did not tear it up and throw it in the fire. He preserved it and deposited it with the letter the church had received from Paul. So it stands now in our Bible as a witness to the power of the gospel to transform relationships. The gospel undermined the institution of slavery – and every other divisive social institution – by creating new family relationships that bridged the chasm of social divisions.

Are there situations in which Paul's manipulative tactics could become a model for us to press the claims of grace over against the demands of law? I'll leave that one with you to ponder: “be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16).

But before we become too crafty, one further point deserves notice. In his opening greetings Paul writes, “I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ” (v. 6). Philemon has become a fellow worker for the gospel, caring for a group of Christians who meet regularly in his house (v. 2). Paul prays that as Philemon shares the gospel with others he may grow in understanding of all the good things that are his in Christ and that he freely shares with others. It is this gospel that must now shape his relationship with Onesimus. Paul is not above putting pressure on Philemon, but it is gospel pressure – the call to live in glad response to all that Christ has done for him.

Heavenly Father, help me always to live in joyful and generous response to all the good things that I have come to possess in Christ. Help me to share these good things freely with others both in the words I speak and in my attitudes and actions towards them. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with me and shape my life as I serve him.

Feb 11 2020 - Introduction to Philemon

"The letter to Philemon is unique within the New Testament.  It is the only genuinely personal, that is, person-to-person, letter, even though the wider community is also in view (explicitly in vv. 2,22, and 25 and in the background throughout." James Dunn.

The Recipient

Philemon was probably a successful businessman (vv. 17 & 18) who had been converted through Paul's ministry, perhaps while visiting Ephesus. His home in Colossae was the meeting place of the church (or one of the house churches) of which he was probably the leader. It seems he had also assisted Paul in his evangelistic work in more than the role of a patron (see v.17).

Purpose of the letter

The letter's primary purpose is to intercede with Philemon concerning his runaway slave Onesimus. It seems that Onesimus may have robbed Philemon as well as running away or perhaps had embezzled funds entrusted to him. How he came into contact with Paul is difficult to say. James Dunn suggests that Onesimus may have left his master's household with the express purpose of contacting Paul. Having offended his master he seeks for Paul to plead with Philemon on his behalf. Dunn writes,

"This would create an interesting dynamic in the three-way relationship which makes this letter so intriguing... For it would mean that Onesimus, not yet a Christian, had sought out his master's Christian mentor to intercede for him... That tells us at once that it was Philemon's character as a Christian which Onesimus saw as likely to work most effectively in his favour. It also tells us that Philemon's regard for Paul would be well known within his household and that Philemon had not insisted that his whole household adopt his new faith, though conceivably Onesimus had been drawn into one or two of the meetings of the church in Philemon's house... That may suggest in turn, however, that Onesimus was ripe for conversion."

The converted Onesimus had become close to the imprisoned Paul and had proved useful to him.  Paul commends Onesimus to Philemon, urging him to receive him back, "no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a beloved brother" (v.16).

Apr 28 2019 - Psalm 48 – God most worthy of our praise

Great, is the Lord and most worthy of praise
The city of our God, the Holy place
The Joy of the whole world.

Great, is the Lord in whom we have the victory
He aids us against the enemy
We bow down on our knees.

And Lord we want to lift your name on high
And Lord we want to thank you
For the work you've done in our lives
And Lord we trust in your unfailing love
For you alone are God eternal
Throughout earth and heaven, above.

This song we used to sing some years ago reflects the thoughts and words of Psalm 48. The city of Jerusalem was not just another city to the Israelites, it was "the city of the Lord Almighty… the city of our God" (v.8). It was the place where God had chosen to make his dwelling amongst his people, the place of the Temple and of Temple worship. It was also a powerful symbol of the way in which God had fulfilled all his promises and had given his people victory over all their enemies. The fortified city had previously been occupied by the Jebusites and had seemed almost impossible to capture. But God had enabled David to seize the city and make it the capital of his kingdom.

And so the city became a symbol of the way in which all the earth would one day bow before the living God and come to worship the God who reigns in Zion (another name for the mountain on which Jerusalem was built). It would then be "the joy of the whole earth" (v.2. See Isaiah 2:2-5 for a beautiful picture of the day when this hope would be fulfilled and would bring peace on earth).

The song we used to sing rightly applies Psalm 48 to us as Christians; "Great, is the Lord in whom we have the victory". In Christ, God has given us the victory over sin and death and has made us children of the living God and members of his kingdom.

At the end of the book of Revelation, John sees, "the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband" (Revelation 21:2). This city is a symbol of God's redeemed people from every nation and people of the world. They are the redeemed people of God who will live in his glorious presence for all eternity, "Look! God’s dwelling-place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God." (Revelation 21:3)

Psalm 48 speaks of the glory of God's holy city (vv.12-13) and the delight of God's people who go up to meet with him there and worship him (v.1). The psalmist declares, "Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love." We also are filled with wonder at God's unfailing love towards us in the Lord Jesus Christ, wonder that he has been pleased to include us in his family:

Saviour, if of Zion's city
I, through grace, a member am,
Let the world deride or pity,
I will glory in thy Name:
Fading is the worldling's pleasure,
All his boasted pomp and show;
Solid joys and lasting treasure
None but Zion's children know.  

Peter Misselbrook