The letters of Pasul are full of profound theology, especially regarding the person and work of Christ. On many occasions this grows out of specific situations in congregations, often among people Paul knows. These are pastoral responses, one of the most personal being the letter to Philemon. In his providence the Lord allows situations to arise in churches so that important issues come to the fore and can be addressed by the ‘God-breathed’ word (2 Timothy 3:16) given by the Lord through his apostle. We consider Philemon 1-3 A pastor’s letter.
1. The senders
(i) Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus (v1). He is writing to a close friend and does not mention his apostolic status. He is a prisoner, probably in Rome. Note – ‘a prisoner of Jesus Christ’ – he is in these circumstances by the sovereign will of the Lord. He writes to a brother in Colosse, and the letter is probably brought at the same time as Colossians. The congregation was probably established by Epaphras, converted during Paul’s 3-year ministry in Ephesus.
(ii) Timothy our brother. Paul includes his much younger co-worker. Timothy was from Lystra (Acts 16:1) and later joined Paul on missionary journeys. He is with Paul during his imprisonment, a steadfast and reliable brother, and a spiritual son of Paul (1 Timothy 1:2).
2. The recipients
(i) Philemon. He is ‘our dear friend’ – there is real warmth in Paul’s words. He tells Philemon ‘Your love has given me great joy and encouragement(v7). Philemon is also a ‘fellow worker’, one who ‘refreshed the hearts of the saints’ (v7). He is a valued and valuable servant.
(ii) Apphia. Designated ‘our sister’, she is probably Philemon’s wife. God women played a very important role in the early church, even though not ordained to office. Another example is Lydia (Acts 16:14f). Valuable Christian service does not require ordination.
(iii) Archippus. Possibly the son of Philemon and Apphia, he is Paul’s ‘fellow soldier’. He appears to be a loyal and dedicated Christian worker, a man ready to face hardships. In Colossians 4:17 he is urged to ‘complete the work you have received in the Lord’.
(iv) the church that meets in your home. Without church buildings in the early centuries, the church met in homes. Philemon was probably well off, able to afford a large enough home to serve as a meeting place. The letter will be read in the congregation.
3. The greetings
Paul uses what became the normal form of Christian greeting. ‘Grace to you’ – a daily supply that lies behind every element of salvation and service. Also ‘peace’ – in Christ we have ‘peace with God’ (Romans 5:1), and so we desire to enjoy a sense of that peace in daily living, freed from the burdens and fears of the world. These blessings come ‘from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ’, applied by the Holy Spirit. We look always to the God who ‘is able to make all grace abound to you’ (2 Corinthians 9:8).