For centuries abolitionists searched the Bible hoping to prove that slavery was wrong. But many topics in the Bible are not addressed in neat little essays the way we might have hoped. Nevertheless, one book that does address slavery is Philemon.
Philemon is a private letter to a close friend. This letter is not the usual epistle meant to be read in all the churches. But perhaps because Paul is the author, the once-personal letter became part of the canon of scripture.
Here’s the story: Philemon lives in Colosse where he once owned a slave named Onesimus. Onesimus escaped from Philemon and made his way to Rome. In Rome, Onesimus met Paul and Paul led him to faith in Christ. This was a time when prisoners were barely fed and were forced to rely on friends outside the prison to provide them with food, clothing, and all their basic needs. Onesimus proved to be a big help to the wrongly imprisoned apostle.
When Paul learned that Onesimus had escaped from Philemon, Paul faced a dilemma. On the one hand, Philemon had a legal claim to Onesimus, one punishable by the death of Onesimus. The loss of an escaped slave was the loss of a significant asset. On the other hand, Paul, “an elderly man” in chains (Philemon 9), believes Onesimus can do more good for the kingdom by serving Paul in Rome than he could do serving Philemon in Colosse.
Paul had three options. Paul could ignore the matter, telling Onesimus “stay with me in Rome and this will be our little secret.” Or Paul could write Philemon—his good friend and brother in Christ—ordering him to release his claim on Onesimus giving permission for the fugitive to remain in Paul’s service. Or Paul could write Philemon and appeal to him in love, asking him to agree to release Onesimus into Paul’s service.
Paul chose the third option. Paul wants this to be Philemon’s decision. Paul wants Philemon to voluntarily donate to God whatever money he may have invested in this slave. So Paul writes Philemon a letter—and sends Onesimus to hand-deliver the letter to his former owner!
Paul begins by praising his god-fearing friend Philemon for his good works in the kingdom. Then he reminds Philemon that as the older apostle, Paul could command Philemon, but he will not.
“I, Paul, as an elderly man and a prisoner of Christ Jesus, appeal to you for my son, Onesimus. I fathered him [led him to faith] while I was in chains. Once he was useless to you [having escaped] but now he is useful both to you and to me. I am sending him back to you as a part of myself. I wanted to keep him with me, so that in my imprisonment for the gospel he might serve me in your place. But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent … So if you consider me a partner, accept him as you would me. And if he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account” Philemon 9-14, 17-18.
We can learn several things from the book of Philemon. Paul seems to believe that you catch more flies with honey. That is, it pays to be nice. Paul also shows us the importance of being an encourager, as he praises Philemon: “the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother” Philemon 7.
But surely the most important thing about Philemon is that the book addresses slavery. Paul asks Philemon to release his claim on Onesimus, and then he takes it one step further, calling that the right thing to do.
“Although I have great boldness through Christ to command you to do what is right, I appeal to you instead on the basis of love” Philemon 8-9.
When Paul refers to his ability to “command [Philemon] to do what is right,” Paul implies it is right to release slaves. Although millions have wished he would have, Paul did not provide a lengthy argument attacking the centuries-old practice seen round the world. But he did not defend slavery either. Perhaps because this was a private letter intended for Philemon’s eyes only, Paul does not provide a lengthy discussion on the abolition of slavery, but rather a mere sentence or two applicable only to the relationship between the two converts to Christianity, the new brothers in Christ, Philemon and Onesimus.
God, give us hearts that love everyone, from “the small to the great” and give us your wisdom so we can show compassion to those in prison, to slaves and former slaves, to the lost and to the saved. May “the hearts of the saints be refreshed” by our love, compassion, and service.
ΑΩ