Week 5 - Fall Focus 2023
Digression to the Book of Philemon
Reminder: At the start of each meeting, set the time when you will suspend the Bible study discussion (you do not have to discuss every question) so that you have sufficient time to share requests and pray for one another.
OPENING
Colossians 3 22-4:1 reads:
22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.
1 Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
What do you think about these instructions?
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Slavery in first century Colossae was markedly different from the American form of slavery for a number of reasons. Iit was not race-based and not a life-long inter-generational status. However, it was far from what we would see as a redemptive social structure.
It is clear from this passage in Colossians and others that the Apostles accepted the institution of slavery. However, a deeper reading (and the testimony of history) show that the Gospel created a view of Human Identity that laid the groundwork for human abolition of slavery.
The Book of Philemon is closely associated with Colossians, and it is likely that Colossians and Philemon were delivered together. It seems possible that the book of Colossians was something of a cover letter for the urgent personal business Paul had with the man Philemon concerning the status of his escaped slave, Onesimus.
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READ PHILEMON 1:8-16
8 Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9 yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus— 10 that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
12 I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. 13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary. 15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— 16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
It is notable that in the book of Colossians, Paul mentions Onesimus as well (Col 4:9):
“Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you.”
It seems that Onesimus, a slave who belonged to Philemon, had escaped, but then became connected to Paul and converted to Christianity. In the book of Philemon, Paul is appealing for his freedom.
In the Book of Philemon, what does Paul say about the Identity of Philemon?
What is he saying about the identity of Onesimus?
What does Paul’s letter to Philemon tell us today about the social and personal implications of embracing a Gospel view of Identity?