Wednesday Bible Study: The end of all things- Philemon

 

Imagine my surprise when I just saw that somehow I managed to schedule both parts of Peter's letters on the same day!  That must mean either somebody needed to hear about Peter this past week, or someone needed to read about Philemon this post.  Either way, I hope this bit-different take on Philemon is helpful.

You see, Philemon and Colossians were delivered at the same time and by the same people.  Let me set the stage here.  While Colossians was written for the Church as a whole, Philemon was sent to the man in the title specifically, as well as to his household- his wife Apphia and son Archippus, who as we learn had a lot to do with running the church from their household.  And it started with Paul praising the service of Philemon- and then explaining how his slave, Onesimus, had ran away, came to where Paul was, and was brought to faith.  Now Paul was sending him back, and asking Philemon to forgive and accept him back.  And it shouldn't seem a hard job to someone whose service to the saints has just been so highly praised.  But let's stop and think on two things here.

First, Onesimus RAN AWAY from Philemon.  Why is that?  Paul doesn't say; but I wonder if there is a clue in something Paul asked to be mentioned to Archippus:

Col 4:17  And say to Archippus, "See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord."

Is there also a problem with Philemon's SON?  I wonder, especially after just noting how this chapter in Colossians started:

Col 4:1  Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Which made me curious, and I backtracked a little more:

Col 3:18  Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
Col 3:19  Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.
Col 3:20  Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
Col 3:21  Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.
Col 3:22  Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.

So, now I wonder if in spite of all his wonderful service to everyone else, that Philemon might not have been a prince in his own household.  Philemon is described as sharing the Gospel and refreshing the believers, and I doubt Paul says this in light flattery.  But... sometimes you can be busy outside the home and neglectful in it.  And Paul had very strict teachings on that, just ask Timothy:

1Ti 5:8  But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Perhaps Philemon had let things go out of balance at home.  Was he unintentionally discouraging Archippus?  Did he insensitively run Onesimus off?  Paul described Archippus as a 'fellow soldier'; but even a soldier needs encouragement.  Was Philemon too much of a General in the home?

We don't know.  But we can get a glimpse of the consequences.  Whether you are a believer or not, integrity involves being the same IN the home as you are OUTSIDE it.  Hopefully I'll remember this when I come home in a "Philemon mood."