Philemon 1-25
I mentioned last year in my final comment below that Mark Bruner would be visiting St. Andrew’s for his Asbury graduation in November. That visit did not happen, but as circumstances would have it, I can now report again that Mark will be visiting next month! He will be here on November 7, probably joining with the music team and sharing a bit on happenings in his mission field. Looking forward to seeing him again…!
I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for Christ’s service. (v. 6) In truth, I only learned Economics when I started teaching it. To teach the material I had to know it better than ever I needed it for an upcoming exam. It has often been said that the teacher learns more than the student and I can certainly confirm that. To the point of the verse above, I read it that Paul is saying essentially the same thing, that our sharing of our faith will strengthen our faith. There is a warm feeling that I get when I am talking with someone about Jesus or extending an invitation to St. Andrew’s. I don’t know that it strengthens my faith every time, but it does encourage me in my own behavior, in my own sharing of the Gospel.
…the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother. (v. 7b, NASB) I have come to believe that Philemon was quite well off. We know that he had a servant/slave, Onesimus, and only wealthier people (or politicians or higher-ranking soldiers) had servants or slaves back then. But the verse noted above also strengthens the notion of his wealth, that the saints have been refreshed through him. Although the verse says the hearts of the saints, I can see a possibility for Philemon’s financial support for missionaries for their work in and around Ephesus and Colossae. Again, we’ve seen that in the missionaries that St. Andrew’s supports through our Mission Committee. They are truly thankful for the support the MC sends, and are even more grateful when a gift arrives “out of the blue”, an unexpected gift over and above the MC’s base contribution. So I think Philemon was doing much the same for “the saints” in Asia.
So tomorrow, another epistle directed to this same geographic area: Colossians!
See also: August 16 / Philemon 1:1-7; August 17 / Philemon 1:8-16; August 18 / Philemon 1:17-25
I am so glad we will get to see Mark soon! It will be a joyous occasion.
I was pondering upon the relationship between Onesimus (his name means useful) and Philemon. This book is all about changing relationships. I wonder if Onesimus had been listening in or sitting in on the Christian gatherings at Philemon’s house. Did Paul or Philemon speak with him then or with the other slaves? Did Onesimus see hypocrites who welcomed all, but not slaves? (Possible explanation for running away.) Did Philemon free him later as well as treat him as a Christian brother? I keep thinking of employer-employee relations between Christians now. Or other situations where there is a power or other differential. Ouch, so many issues in our social and economic relationships today among Christians and those we pray to become believers. They will know you are Christians by your love.