Title Philemon-02 Love's Request
Contents
Philemon 02 Request of Love 09.9.30 (Wednesday Prayer Meeting)
Phm 1:8-17
Paul is asking Philemon to do what he wants for Onesimus.
Paul expresses his will, hoping that Philemon will grant his request with voluntary favors.
I. Paul is earnestly asking Philemon for Onesimus
1. Paul is saying that he can command you in Christ, but he will not.
“For this reason, I may command you with great boldness in Christ as you ought” (verse 8).
2). This means that Philemon is acting with love and faith, so he can command him to do this as well, but he doesn't.
2. On the contrary, Paul is saying that we ask for love.
“On the contrary, out of love I beg you, that I, Paul, an old man, now again am a prisoner for Jesus Christ” (verse 9).
1). On the contrary, it is possible to command, but instead of doing so, it emphasizes that we ask for love.
2). Paul, who asks for love in this way, emphasizes two things about himself.
The first is that the older I ask.
It means “This old man is asking for you, so you must listen to it.”
At the time, Paul was estimated to be between 55 and 60 years old. If the voting power he exercised at the time of the killing of Stephen was of the Sanhedrin, Paul would have been over 30 years old at the time, so he would have been well over 60 at this time (c. 62).
The Greek medical writer Hippocrates referred to an older person as a person between the ages of 49 and 56.
The second is that I, who is a prisoner for Jesus Christ, asks.
It means that I am making a request that may be the last because I am in prison and cannot promise my future.
3. Paul said he was asking for Onesimus, who was born among the prisoners.
“I pray to you for your son Onesimus, who was born in prison” (verse 10).
Because he was a son born in prison, Paul emphasized that Onesimus had a special relationship.
It was emphasized that this is not a normal relationship.
II. Paul says that Onesimus became a useful man.
“He used to be of no use to you, but now he is of benefit to me and you” (verse 12).
1. Paul defended Onesimus, but did not glorify his past.
Paul made it clear that he had previously been of no avail to you.
It is now revealed that the fact that he has become a new person does not change his wrong past into a new one.
Paul did not defend that he was a good man from the beginning, but he did not have faith at that time.
It is important to admit that you are wrong.
2. Paul said that he is now a useful person to me and you.
It is said that Onesimus became a useful man
1). Onesimus' faithful service for Paul while he was in prison
2). He said so because he was sure that he would be a useful person for Philemon and for the church community when he returns.
3). Above all else, the fact that he wants to return to his old master after running away is evidence that he has changed into a useful person.
Ⅲ.Paul sent onesimus back to Philemon and asked him to welcome him.
1. Paul said he would send Onesimus back.
1). When Paul said, "I send him back to you--" he meant "not only to send him back, but also to entrust the case." It is for Philemon to decide the case of Onesimus.
2). Paul said that Onesimus was “my servant,” but sent him back.
“I send him back to you, for he is my servant” (verse 12).
When Paul called him my servant, he meant that he was my alter ego. It means to count my heart sending an alter ego.
2).Paul said he would like to have him stay and serve me instead of you, but he will let him go.
“I want him to remain with me, that he may serve me instead of you in prison for my gospel” (verse 13).
These words indicate “I have a desire to have Onesimus stay here to serve me instead of you.”
You have to serve me in prison, but if you can't do it, shouldn't you be entrusting the task to Onesimus?
2. Paul said that the decision about Onesimus should be made by Philemon voluntarily.
“But I do not want to do anything without your consent, that your good work may not be forced, but will be done” (verse 14).
One). “But I don’t want to do anything without your consent ”
2). “--This is so that your good work may not be forced, but will be done voluntarily.”
3. Paul is admonishing Philemon to think about what happened to Onesimus by faith.
1). He said that Onesimus ran away, but that would make him stay with you forever.
“Perhaps he left him for a little while so that you might have him forever” (verse 15).
There is a proverb that says, “Visidian slaves cannot be trusted.”
Onesimus is a Pisidian slave. So it means that even though you are an unreliable slave, you will now serve faithfully until the day you die.
2). Onesimus said that you were related only physically, but now you are related in the Lord.
“From now on, we will no longer be treated like slaves, but more than slaves, that we shall put them to be brothers, beloved, how much more so with me in the flesh and in the Lord” (verse 16).
Paul said that he and Onesimus have a relationship of faith, but you Philemon have a relationship that is deeper than me because it is a relationship between two things: the flesh and faith.
4. Paul is asking Philemon to receive him as he would to me.
“Therefore, if you know me as a fellow worker, receive him as you would me” (verse 17).
If Philemon actually regards Paul as a brother in Christ or a co-worker in the gospel, it means that he should treat Onesimus the same way.
Lessons learned and application
1. One of the evidences of becoming a new person in Christ is to be a useful person.
A Christian is to be a godly person, but also a useful person on earth.
2. In order for a Christian to receive forgiveness, he must correct his relationship with God as well as with people.
Because of this, Onesimus returned to Philemon.
3. Christians should be generous to those who repent of their mistakes and return.
So we have to cooperate so that he can start again.