1. Paul’s Epistle to Philemon
From Useless to Useful
Paul’s Epistle to Philemon

2. Things to Know
Letters read to the whole church (1 Th. 5:27; Col. 4:16).
Philemon’s church: Colossae (Col. 4:9, 17; Phm. 2, 8, 10)
Philemon: church assembly host (Phm. 1, 2; “your” is singular).
Likely: that “Philemon” was also read to the whole church.
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3. A Remarkable Little Letter
25 verses, 335 Greek words
“… concerns an issue of broad social concern in the ancient world”- Joseph Fitzmeyer
Our direction:
Must: understand 1st century Greco-Roman slavery
A lesson for changing the world
To help the Useless become Useful

4. 1 ~ ”There was no action or belief or institution in the ancient world that was not one way or another affected by the possibility that someone involved might be a slave.” ~ Anchor Bible Dictionary
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5. images source - http://www.louisianau.com/sair11/images/atlanta.jpg
Just Imagine - 1/3 slaves
2014 metro-Atlanta population: 5.45 million*
1.82 million would be slaves!
* worldpopulationreview.com, 8/2/15
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6. 2 ~ The economy was based on slavery (Greece & Rome were just 2 of 5 societies in history whose economies were based on slavery). ~ Anchor Bible Dictionary
Slaves: not non-human, but not legally human.
Slaves were not a social or economic class; opportunities depended on the status of their owners.
Slaves did not share a common plight; “slaves of the world unite!” would have gone nowhere.
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7. - and therefore the correct understanding of relevant NT texts.
3 ~ Completely unlike New World slavery in the 17th-19th centuries. ~ Anchor Bible Dictionary
“… it must be stressed that for the most part knowledge of slavery
as practiced in the New World in the 17th-19th centuries has hindered
more than helped achieving an appropriate, historical understanding
of social-economic life in the Mediterranean world of the 1st century”
- and therefore the correct understanding of relevant NT texts.
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8. Differences Racial factors played no role.
Education was greatly encouraged (some slaves were better educated than their owners).
Many slaves carried out sensitive and highly responsible social functions.
Slaves could own property (including other slaves).
Their religious and cultural traditions were the same as those of the freeborn.
No laws prohibited public assembly of slaves.
The majority of urban and domestic slaves could legitimately anticipate being emancipated by age 30.
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9. “If only we could change the world.”
Paul never tried to change the existing social structure (slavery) (see Gal. 3:27, 28; 1 Cor. 7:20-22)
Futile: the world is worldly
He did:
Emphasize religious renewal
Transform . . .
Interiorize . . .
and Christianize the social structure
Person-by-person, inside- out
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10. (“Onesimus” means useful, beneficial - 10, 11, 20)
From Useless to Useful
(“Onesimus” means useful, beneficial - 10, 11, 20)
Necessity 1: The one needing to change must be received by brothers and sisters who will allow him or her to change (see Rom. 15:7).
Onesimus had changed (10, 13, 16)
Would Philemon worship with Onesimus? [difference # 5]
Would Philemon proceed with freeing Oneimus (perhaps even early)? [difference # 7]
Really at stake: would Philemon be Christian?
Humbling himself for the sake of Onesimus (Phil. 2:5-8)?
More interested in Onesimus’s salvation than his own slave-owner rights?
With a new attitude toward this person, convicted that faith and love should determine the action of the Christian?

11. (“Onesimus” means useful, beneficial - 10, 11, 20)
From Useless to Useful
(“Onesimus” means useful, beneficial - 10, 11, 20)
Necessity 2: The “useless” (outsiders, outcasts) need Christ-followers who will stand with and advocate for them.
Paul: said what needed saying.
Paul: facilitated the receiving.
“Paul takes the part of Onesimus and, as best he can, pleads his cause with his master. He presents himself as if he were himself Onesimus, who has done wrong; yet he does this, not with force or compulsion, as he had a right to do, but he empties himself of his right to get Philemon to waive his right. Just as Christ did for us with God the Father, so Paul does for Onesimus with Philemon.” ~ Martin Luther

12. Who will be a Paul for today’s Onesimuses?

13. Q: “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners
Q: “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” A: “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” ~ Luke 5:30-32
“Such an understanding of Jesus and his church was strange to Greco-Roman readers. In Origen’s Against Celsus, 3.59f., Celsus, the pagan critic of Christianity, complains that ordinarily those invited to participate in religious solemnities are the pure who live an honorable life. Christians, however, invite anyone who is a sinner, or foolish, or simpleminded. In short, any unfortunate will be accepted in the kingdom of God.”
~ Charles Talbert, Reading Luke, 66
May it ever be so!