The gospel affects every relationship

It is wrong to say that we value God’s grace but are not gracious towards others. This passage is about grace in action which goes against the societal norms of the day. The apostle Paul is a ‘prisoner for Christ’. Paul writes to Philemon as one who bears the marks of Christ’s service. It is a very personal letter. He takes a situation and applies the gospel to it. It seems Paul wants the readers to learn about the outworking of the gospel in relation to Onesimus, a runaway slave.

Paul comes to Philemon with a gracious plea for Onesimus. Paul could have used his position to order Philemon but rather appeals to Philemon on the basis of love. Paul’s plea is not about himself it is about Onesimus who has become a Christian through Paul’s ministry to him in prison. Paul asks Philemon to receive his former slave, Onesimus, back as now a brother in Christ. Paul alludes to Philemon ‘Let me be as Christ to you as he is to him’. Paul had been the instrument of Philemon’s salvation as well as Onesimus’. The gospel transforms all relationships.