Accept Him As You Would Me

Philemon 17-25

Paul has just asked Philemon to have mercy on his run-away slave, Onesimus. And he asked if he could send him back to Paul to serve him in prison. This is asking much, and also defying Roman tradition concerning slaves.

(17) If then you regard me a partner, accept him as you would me.

Now Paul uses an accounting term, partner, koinonos, closely related to koinonia,"fellowship," here it has the idea of a business partnership. Paul wants Philemon to welcome Onesimus as he would Paul himself, as a partner in God's business, His Kingdom work.

(18) But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account;

This is a wonderfully gracious and astonishing offer of Paul to assume any debt that this slave might owe his master, and he is very tactful in not accusing Onesimus of anything. A common act of runaway slaves was to steal something from the master to finance travel to a far distant location.

Paul uses another accounting term, charge, elloga, to maintain the imagery. Although he does not admit that Onesimus has stolen anything, he leaves open the possibility with his, wronged you in any way or owes you anything, even if it would only be the loss of the value of his work that may bring his master financial income.

(19) I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand, I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well).

A handwritten statement carried great legal weight; so Paul is giving Philemon a promissory note. Then he shifts to a higher level, in noting that Philemon's spiritual indebtedness to Paul should easily cover all of Onesimus' wrongdoing. Paul's hint is obvious, "Charge it to my account in Heaven."

(20) Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.

Paul expresses a completely nonassertive wish with the word onaimen, translated here as let me, in asking Philemon to refresh his heart. As he refreshed the hearts of many in Verse 7, how would he not do the same for the apostle to the gentiles? This is an excellent example of literary reinforcement.

(21) Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, since I know that you will do even more than what I say.

Paul has carefully avoided giving any commands to Philemon, but he expects obedience. To what? To the love of Christ? More than what I say, hyper ha lego, "beyond what I suggest;" more than simply loaning him as a slave, Paul may be suggesting that Philemon use his imagination and think of what more he could do than what Paul has already asked?

If this is a hint of suggesting that Philemon give Onesimus his freedom from slavery, it is not open; Paul never directly assaults the social and economic institutions of his day. The abolition of slavery was never thought of until hundreds of years later.

(22) At the same time also prepare me a lodging, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given to you.

Here the suggestion of an imminent visit lends more weight to Paul's hints and requests. This may suggest a hope on Paul's part of being released soon, or it may just be an added incentive for Philemon to do the right thing. The word for lodging here is xenia, "guest room" or "hospitality," one of the highest of Classical and early Christian virtues. Both meanings are in view here, as Paul is assuming that Philemon's prayers are for Paul's release and restoration to the church.

(23) Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,

(24) as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow workers.

The five co-workers sending greetings here are the same ones Paul names in his letter to the Colossians (4: 10-14), which was most likely written at about the same time.

Epaphras was from Colosse and a fellow prisoner, John Mark was Barnabas' cousin who traveled with them, Aristarchus was also a fellow prisoner, Demas was still there, though he later left (see II Timothy 4:10), and Luke was the physician who tended to Paul, traveling with him. He mentions that they all are his fellow workers, and Onesimus has also proven to be useful in ministering to him (vs. 11, 13).

(25) The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Paul ends this note with the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, his usual ending, finishing this brief and beautiful letter.

O my Father, please help your children to love one another as Paul loved both Philemon and Onesimus, two men of opposite social strata, both brothers in Christ. Father, help us all to see one another as brothers and sisters, no matter how many differences there are among us. We are all one human race, multi-colored, and we need to appreciate the variety among us, not let it divide us.

O Father, You love a variety; teach us how to enjoy the varied differences in color, in culture, in language, in likes and propensities, in desires and dreams, in skills and abilities and interests. You made us all different, Father; help us to accept one another as You have accepted us, regardless of all of our rough edges.

My Father, show us how to love You by loving one another. Let us see how to show Your love, in all the ways people look for love. Show us the differences in our personalities, and how to get along and let slide the things that otherwise would irk and irritate us. Help us get along in Your family as brothers and sisters without any of the worldly sibling rivalry.

Let us all work together to broadcast Your good seed of the Gospel into all the fertile fields of the nations of the world, so that every living person will be able to hear and understand Your love to have sent Your own Son to be our Savior. Help them all to know Your plan to rescue us, so they can make an informed decision to turn to You, or else to reject Your generous and gracious gift.

And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!