¹Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved brother and fellow worker …

Curious book that it is, this one-chapter letter of Paul’s provides an apostolic example of the use of rhetoric, that is, the art of persuasion, for influencing. In particular, we see a grace-filled application of Christian love and reconciliation. Christ revolutionizes relationships and transforms Christians fixed in repressive, cold, legalistic structures when the parties involved all become followers of our Lord. Finally, on a practical note, we will learn in this letter how we, too, can influence others.

The back story is that Philemon, like many Romans, owned a slave. Onesimus was his runaway. Both had become Christians, the latter apparently under Paul’s ministry while both met in prison. Paul is now sending Onesimus back to his “owner,” along with this letter that challenges Philemon to accept his “slave” as a brother in Christ. Of course, this has significant ramifications, not just in the personal life of Onesimus, but financially and culturally for Philemon. Further, it speaks to the subject of how Christianity affects the practice of slavery, and it addresses how Christians who are involved in either side of the master/slave scenario are to behave within those relationships when the entire system of slavery is accepted practice in the culture. So this letter, though short in length, carries teaching for us today, as it applies to the whole spectrum of formal human economic and cultural relationships involving authority and submission.

The writing begins typically of Paul, with his introduction and his “credentials.” Given the gravity of the subject matter, Paul interestingly does not use his apostle card in addressing Philemon. Instead, he identifies himself with, in this case, the lowly member of the relationship. The irony and self-effacement are obvious when we consider that he is addressing the slave master about his runaway slave. Paul speaks as one who himself has been captured and imprisoned (five times he uses the word “prisoner” or “imprisonment”). He is an apostle of God, and verse 19 suggests that Paul had led Philemon to Christ. But now the imprisoned apostle addresses the slave master as a beloved brother and fellow worker. It would be entirely unsuitable for Paul to “pull rank” and use apostolic authority when he is trying to persuade a slave owner not to “pull rank.” He is demonstrating by his approach to Philemon how one should act toward a fellow believer who is under his authority.

Lord, help me understand how I should treat my fellow believers over whom I have authority or over whom I find myself in the superior role.