So, I was reading my Bible the other day. And according to the plan that I am following, the next place in Scripture that I was to read was Philemon. Now, I’m pretty sure that Philemon isn’t anyone’s favorite book of the Bible. And there probably haven’t been a ton of sermons preached from it. So, a little review of the letter is in order.
Paul is writing to his friend and fellow Christian Philemon about someone that they both know, Onesimus. Paul met this fellow and was the means by which he became a Christian. However, there’s this thing about Onesimus that is the point of the letter. He is a runaway slave. And whom did he run away from? You guessed it: Philemon. Paul would prefer to have Onesimus stay with him, but he knows that that wouldn’t be right. He is Philemon’s slave. So, Paul sends Onesimus back to him. And he writes to Philemon (= our New Testament letter) in order to intercede for Onesimus. Paul pledges to cover any debt that Onesimus might owe Philemon.
Now, here’s the thing. Paul returned a slave to a slave owner. What should we think about that? It fits with other things that Paul taught. So, just to give one example, Paul wrote:
We hear much, these days, about the evil of slavery in the history of our country. And it was evil. How should we respond to that part of our past? What should we think when it comes to the people who owned slaves? Should we just condemn them all? What would have been a good response to that evil? Was fighting a war with more than half a million deaths the best option? It will take careful thinking, biblical thinking, if we are going to come to wise and godly answers to these questions. That won’t be easy, but it is necessary.
Paul is writing to his friend and fellow Christian Philemon about someone that they both know, Onesimus. Paul met this fellow and was the means by which he became a Christian. However, there’s this thing about Onesimus that is the point of the letter. He is a runaway slave. And whom did he run away from? You guessed it: Philemon. Paul would prefer to have Onesimus stay with him, but he knows that that wouldn’t be right. He is Philemon’s slave. So, Paul sends Onesimus back to him. And he writes to Philemon (= our New Testament letter) in order to intercede for Onesimus. Paul pledges to cover any debt that Onesimus might owe Philemon.
Now, here’s the thing. Paul returned a slave to a slave owner. What should we think about that? It fits with other things that Paul taught. So, just to give one example, Paul wrote:
Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; Ephesians 6:5So, are we to condemn Paul for his attitude toward slaves?
We hear much, these days, about the evil of slavery in the history of our country. And it was evil. How should we respond to that part of our past? What should we think when it comes to the people who owned slaves? Should we just condemn them all? What would have been a good response to that evil? Was fighting a war with more than half a million deaths the best option? It will take careful thinking, biblical thinking, if we are going to come to wise and godly answers to these questions. That won’t be easy, but it is necessary.
Is there only one wise and godly answer to this? And if so, what is it? Slavery is one of MANY controversial issues today and each side thinks their answer is the right one.
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