The Epistle to Philemon: Faithful Forgiveness! (Verses 8-13)

Hello Friends!

Welcome to an all-new Encouraging Concepts Bible study series focused on the powerful little “epistle” of Philemon written by the great “Apostle Paul” as a personal plea to his “beloved” brother – “Faithful Forgiveness!”

The Epistle to Philemon: Faithful Forgiveness! (Verses 8-13)

⁸ Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient, ⁹ Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. ¹⁰ I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: ¹¹ Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me: ¹² Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels: ¹³ Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel – Philemon 8-13

OPENING POINTS TO PONDER: As we begin to “learn” more about this GRACIOUS mighty “man of God” named “Philemon” it becomes quite OBVIOUS that these sweet “scriptures” represent a very personal plea of which encapsulates a quite fascinating and compelling narrative concerning faithful FORGIVENESS of serious “sins” committed. And in this LOVING little “letter” we find a very harkened heartfelt and brightly beautiful expressed “beseeching” on behalf of “Paul” unto brother “Philemon” to fully FORGIVE his thoughtless thieving reticent runaway and (originally) unbelieving slave named “Onesimus” from the HEART of whom has – Greatly WRONGED him!

ACTIONS of Forgiveness!

Because the “saints” within the “Colossian” fellowship had “great joy and consolation” and were rigorously “refreshed” in the lavished “love” of this magnificent man “Philemon” himself, “Paul” carefully CONTINUES to rightly “beseech” his “beloved” brother IN our “Lord Jesus Christ” of whom he had personally led unto soul-saving SALVATION as such:

Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient  – Philemon 8

This is a very WONDERFUL way to motivate “Philemon” for sure. WHY? Because “Paul” possessed the Biblical “boldness” to rightly “enjoin” as a direct ORDER unto “Philemon” to diligently DO what is properly “convenient” through an Apostolic AUTHORITY and called COMMISSIONING of which was received DIRECTLY from “Jesus Christ” Himself! In other words, “Paul” poignantly prompts “Philemon” to consider this a conversion COMMANDMENT as such: “The whole history concerning my Damascus Road conversion was documented by Doctor Luke within the book of Acts chapter 9 itself…” – Didn’t you READ this?

Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ – Philemon 9

Rather… For “love's sake” concerning our “beloved” brother “Philemon,” here “Paul the aged” Apostle (approximately 60 years old!) chose instead to boldly “beseech” this sweet “saint” unto a willful heart of right – OBEDIENCE to God!

THEOLOIGICAL THOUGHTS: This punished “prisoner” for the sake of the “Gospel of Jesus Christ” was bluntly BATTERED and brandishly BRUSIED due to the magnificent “ministry” of which was greatly given unto him BY our great “God” alone:

…Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches – 2 Corinthians 11:22-28

Full and final FORGIVENESS is absolutely MANDATORY and adamantly DEMANDED absolutely all throughout the Sovereign “Scriptures” themselves! And “Paul” knew this, “Philemon” knew this and even “Onesimus” of whom was ALSO eventually “begotten” unto SALVATION within his brash “bonds” knew this…

I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds – Philemon 10

BIBLICAL BACKGROUND: The legal culture of that time would NOT have forgiven “Onesimus” and there was indeed a just PUNISHMENT necessary for his woeful wrong against “Philemon” his mandated master. WHY? Because it was a cultural CRIME to become a runaway renegade “slave” unfurled. Incidentally, the sordid “slaves” of the first-century had monetary VALUE and running away was akin to actual STEALING in kind. And there is no doubt that personal effects were also TAKEN away from “Philemon” by this unruly man “Onesimus” of which caustically COMPOUNDED his torrid thievery. However, “Paul” will brilliantly “beseech” his “beloved” brother “Philemon” to fully FORGIVE this silly “slave” and thus “sends” him BACK along with this loving “letter” in hand. Incidentally, along WITH this loving “letter” sent to “Philemon” on behalf of “Onesimus” in kind, we find that yet another “beloved brother” named “Tychicus” was ALSO carrying the excellent “epistle” of Holy writ penned to the “church” fellowship in “Colossae” itself:

All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord: Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts; With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here – Colossians 4:7-9

Similarly, the looming “letter” wonderfully “written” unto the “Colossians” as well as the loving “letter” penned for “Philemon” were to be made “known” within the “church” body nestled within – In HIS house!

Again, the “Apostle Paul” could have COMMANDED this dire directive upon brother “Philemon” concerning the firm FORGIVNESS he should Biblically bestow upon the weary “Onesimus” in kind. However, it goes BOTH ways concerning “servants” and “masters” alike:

Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God; And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons… Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven – Colossians 3:22-25 & 4:1

Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him – Ephesians 6:5-9

And in adamantly addressing brother “Philemon” himself, here again “Paul” has rightly CHOSE to firmly FOCUS upon our great “God’s” full FORGIVENESS of our “sin” by HIS lavish – Light of LOVE!

Here stands the newly REPENTANT brother “Onesimus” of whom is now HUMBLE and yet frightfully finds himself in a very DANGEROUS position of having rightly RETURNED to receive the due consequences of his seriously “sinful” crime committed against his master. He now finds himself gazing into the very eyes of the “man” against whom he has caused this caustic chaos. However, he has been fully FORGIVEN by our great “God” of his “sin” debt. Similarly, “Onesimus” had originally ran away from “Philemon” as a mere “slave” but then radiantly RETURNS as a RIGHTEOUS born-again “brother” eternally secure in our “Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” akin and was – Totally TRANSFORMED!

Next, “Paul” uses a play on words to diligently describe the total TRANSORMATION of their “beloved” brother “Onesimus” in heart:

Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me – Philemon 11

CONTEXTUAL COMMENTS: The name “Onesimus” means “profitable” and perhaps indicates the possibility that he was once “profitable” personal property of his master. And “Paul” powerfully proclaims to “Philemon” that this maniacal “man” of whom had once been “unprofitable” eventually BECAME poignantly “profitable to thee and to me” through the total TRANSFORMATION of the “gospel” message. In fact, this REPENTANT recluse has BECOME much more “profitable” than ever before! In other words, Mr. “profitable” was once “unprofitable” but has BECOME powerfully “profitable” by the POWER of our great  “God” Himself – Radically RENEWED!

And the following passages penned by “Paul” provides PROOF positive from deep within his “own bowels” through a helping HEART of immense emotion that this man “Onesimus” was indeed PROVEN as powerfully “profitable” after all:

Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels. Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel – Philemon 12-13

It is absolutely AMAZING to think that this once “unprofitable” measly man “Onesimus” had actually “ministered” mightily “unto” the great “Apostle Paul” of whom too was brashly BOUND via the “bonds of the gospel” himself. And in sending “Onesimus” boldly BACK to his master “Philemon” instead, brother “Paul” was literally – Sending his HEART!

In closing:

There is something very BEAUTIFUL here in these POWERFUL passages! The “Apostle Paul” avidly AFFIRMS the gracious and loving core CHARACTER of master “Philemon” himself. And if he only knew just how much “Onesimus” had meant to brother “Paul” and how “profitable” he had became unto him, perhaps “Philemon” would have wanted him to STAY in Rome as a granted GIFT bestowed upon pastor “Paul” in kind. Rather, “Paul” poignantly places “Philemon” in a high POSITION as a mightily MATURE and fully FORGIVEN follower of “Jesus Christ” in boldly “beseeching” him to make a solid SACRIFICE unto his – WEAKER brother!

Similarly, “Paul” presses this point within the Romans fellowship in kind:

We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God – Romans 15:1-7

This is wonderful! It was “Philemon” who had been offended and yet HE must be the one who rises ABOVE the awful offense and dutiful DEMONSTRATES that he also has been TRANSFORMED just as “Onesimus” had been in kind. He must make this CHOICE out of the God-given great GRACE of his own “heart” through a SANCTIFIED will in on-going OBEDIENCE unto our “Lord Jesus Christ” Himself. Thus, POWERFULLY proclaiming – “I will SACRIFICE for YOU!”

REAL REFLECTIONS: Are you a “Christian” who fully FORGIVES other folks? The pinnacle of full FORGIVENESS is the eternal example given by our “Lord Jesus Christ” Himself. And the greatest act of TREACHERY done against anyone was by the HANDS of heinous humans against Him. And yet He “said” to His “Father” on THEIR behalf:

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do… – Luke 23:34a

And even though they were DOING what “God the Father” Sovereignly wanted DONE unto “Jesus Christ” the “Son” Himself, it did NOT lessen their – PERSONAL culpability!

Please begin reading through the excellent book of Philemon concerning our “command” to lovingly LIVE out our “lives” in complete Faithful Forgiveness unto others – AMEN!

Praise the Lord Jesus Christ!


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Shane K. Morin <><

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