Philemon made his home available for Christian meetings.
Only an indifferent boy Philemon did not feed the animal.
In Philemon 24 he is named as a fellow-worker of Paul.
Why did Paul not ask Philemon to grant freedom to Onesimus?
One was Philemon, and the other was Onesimus. Who were these men?
Philemon 1:17 If thou count me therefore a partner,
receive him as myself.
Philemon 1:17 If you count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.
Philemon 1:12 I am sending him- who is
my very heart- back to you.
He will see, with Paul,
that a slave can be“a brother in the Lord”(Philemon 1:16).
Philemon 1:17 If then you regard me a partner, accept him as you would me.
Philemon's Love and Faith 4Philemon,
each time I mention you in my prayers, I thank God.
Paul, in the New Testament,
taught that a slave can be"a brother in the Lord"(Philemon 1:16).
And surely it was a blessing that Philemon and Onesimus became united in Christian brotherhood.
Philemon 1:18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything,
charge it to me.
Love had already prompted Philemon to open his house for use as a Christian meeting place.
We learn from Col. 4:10 that Paul once more
accepted John Mark as a fellow worker(Philemon 24).
While imprisoned at Rome about 60- 61 C. E.,
Paul wrote a letter addressed primarily to Philemon.
Philemon 1:8 Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ
to command you to do what is required,
Philemon 1:8 Therefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ
to order you to do what is proper,
Philemon 1:17 If therefore you regard me as a comrade,
receive him as if he were I myself.
Now forsaken by the majority, martyrdom loomed.- Acts 28: 30; 2 Timothy 4: 6- 8,
16; Philemon 22.
The slave Onesimus robbed his master, Philemon, and ran away, made his way to Rome and to Paul.
Because Philemon could now have him back as a willing,
honest Christian brother, not as an unwilling, possibly dishonest slave.
Philemon 1:8 For this reason, although I have great boldness in
Christ to command you to do what is right.
BIBLE PRINCIPLE:“ Your good deed may be done, not under compulsion, but
of your own free will.” - Philemon 14.
That is why they refer to one another as“ brother” and“ sister.”- Compare Mark 3: 31-
35; Philemon 1, 2.
Onesimus would now be“ profitable,” or“
useful,” thus living up to the meaning of his name.- Philemon 1, 10- 12.
To our dear coworker Philemon, 2 our sister Apphia,
our fellow soldier Archippus, and the church that meets in your house.
Onesimus was still the property of Philemon, and Paul wrote to smooth the way for his return to his master.
Philemon 1:21 Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee,
knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.