Philemon
Paul wrote this, his shortest letter, to Philemon, probably at the same time as he wrote the letter to the Colossians. It was written while Paul was in prison in Rome, around AD 60.
Background
Philemon was a believer of some standing in Colosse, a church that met at his house. Philemon had a slave who had stolen from him and run away to Rome, where he met Paul in prison, and became a believer. The slave Onesimus became a faithful and dear brother to Paul (Colossians 4:9), who wrote the letter as an appeal to Philemon to accept Onesimus back as a brother in Christ, against a backdrop of Roman law which demanded execution for runaway slaves.
Our Need for a Mediator
A personal letter from Paul to a friend, it addresses an issue that faces every man and woman – without a mediator we all face eternal death. Paul mediates between a runaway slave who has found salvation and his Christian slave owner. We were slaves to sin and thankfully Christ came as our mediator and interceds for us. The letter is also an example of Christian brotherly love in action - Paul the Apostle could have commanded Philemon but instead he appealed on the basis of love (v9).
In the New Covenant, through Christ we have peace with God. Jesus is the mediator between sinful man and a holy God. Once we were useless to God, now in Christ we are useful (v11) - Paul uses a play on words here as the Greek name Onesimus means profitable or useful.
The Church Community
In the introductory remarks of the letter we should note that Paul also wanted others from the church to read the letter. Faith in Christ is not a private matter; we are now part of a new Kingdom community, the church. This matter affects not just Philemon but the church.
Covenant Brothers
Paul thanks God for Philemon; he is not just a friend but also a covenant brother. Before getting to the main business of the letter Paul first takes time to encourage Philemon.
At the heart of the letter Paul explains how the gospel of the Kingdom has transformed the life of a slave. As a runaway slave the sentence of death hangs over Onesimus but he has now found eternal salvation through faith in Christ. Paul builds his argument skilfully and with tact, wanting to win over rather than command, but he is confident of Philemon’s obedience (v.21). Although he would like to keep the slave (v.13) most of all Paul wants Philemon to accept him back (v.17) as a brother.
Paul ends the letter with greetings from the men who laboured in the gospel with him. The apostle is no solo act – he is continually conscious of and grateful for the brother he works alongside. This is how serving in God’s Kingdom and among God’s church is meant to be.