… ⁶and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ’s sake.

The fellowship of your faith” proves to be a unique phrase, used only here in the Bible, and thus only here by the apostle Paul as he continues to build his case. After reading Paul’s prayer of thanks and now the request to God for him (v. 4–5), Philemon will be prepared to read the request Paul is about to ask of him, that is, Philemon. Paul was not about simply dispensing truth, but he was a pragmatist. Truth must work. Faith and fellowship must be real and effective. And so, the phrase conveys the sense of true, practical fellowship among those of the same faith in Jesus Christ. It must be “effective.”

We are reminded of what Paul wrote to the Philippians:

Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. (Phil. 2:1–4)

Paul is about to call Philemon to this standard of fellowship with his runaway slave who is now a brother in Christ. Onesimus has now entered into the fellowship of faith. The challenge for Philemon is this: which principle takes priority, the master-slave relationship (which was completely legal in Roman culture and society, and had cost Philemon money to procure) or the “fellowship of faith” relationship?

It is easy for us today to think it should be obvious what to do. Or that Paul should have come right out and proclaimed that slavery is wrong, and that Philemon should release Onesimus immediately. However, that would be laying down a form of a Christian law that would begin to feel like the OT law dressed in new garb. The early Christians needed to work out the implications of their freedom in Christ and what that would mean for the accepted social and legal structures of their day. After all, people from all variety of backgrounds and relationships were coming to faith, and the implications were enormous, with far-reaching consequences for life.

How compelling it must have been for Philemon to read Paul’s prayer!

Lord, may the fellowship of my faith become more effective toward others.