Philemon 1: Receive Him as a Brother
From prison Paul appeals to his friend Philemon to forgive and welcome back the runaway slave Onesimus, now a beloved brother in Christ.
Philemon 1 (WEB)
1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker,
2 to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,
5 hearing of your love, and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints;
6 that the fellowship of your faith may become effective, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus.
7 For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
8 Therefore though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate,
9 yet for love’s sake I rather beg, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
10 I beg you for my child, whom I have become the father of in my chains, Onesimus,
11 who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me.
12 I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,
13 whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News.
14 But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will.
15 For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while, that you would have him forever,
16 no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much rather to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
17 If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.
18 But if he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, put that to my account.
19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self besides).
20 Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord.
21 Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even beyond what I say.
22 Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,
24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
Philemon 1 (KJV)
1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,
2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:
3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,
5 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;
6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
8 Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,
9 Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:
11 Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:
12 Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:
13 Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:
14 But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.
15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;
16 Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?
17 If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.
18 If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;
19 I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.
20 Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.
21 Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.
22 But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.
23 There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;
24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.
25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. Written from Rome to Philemon, by Onesimus a servant.
Philemon 1 (ASV)
1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved and fellow-worker,
2 and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church in thy house:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I thank my God always, making mention of thee in my prayers,
5 hearing of thy love, and of the faith which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints;
6 that the fellowship of thy faith may become effectual, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in you, unto Christ.
7 For I had much joy and comfort in thy love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through thee, brother.
8 Wherefore, though I have all boldness in Christ to enjoin thee that which is befitting,
9 yet for love’s sake I rather beseech, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now a prisoner also of Christ Jesus:
10 I beseech thee for my child, whom I have begotten in my bonds, Onesimus,
11 who once was unprofitable to thee, but now is profitable to thee and to me:
12 whom I have sent back to thee in his own person, that is, my very heart:
13 whom I would fain have kept with me, that in thy behalf he might minister unto me in the bonds of the gospel:
14 but without thy mind I would do nothing; that thy goodness should not be as of necessity, but of free will.
15 For perhaps he was therefore parted from thee for a season, that thou shouldest have him for ever;
16 no longer as a servant, but more than a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much rather to thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
17 If then thou countest me a partner, receive him as myself.
18 But if he hath wronged thee at all, or oweth thee aught, put that to mine account;
19 I Paul write it with mine own hand, I will repay it: that I say not unto thee that thou owest to me even thine own self besides.
20 Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my heart in Christ.
21 Having confidence in thine obedience I write unto thee, knowing that thou wilt do even beyond what I say.
22 But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I hope that through your prayers I shall be granted unto you.
23 Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus, saluteth thee;
24 and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-workers.
25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
Summary
Paul writes as a prisoner of Christ Jesus, joined by Timothy, to his beloved fellow worker Philemon, to Apphia and Archippus, and to the church that meets in Philemon's house. He opens with grace and peace, then gives thanks to God for Philemon, whose love and faith toward the Lord Jesus and toward the saints have brought Paul much joy, for through Philemon the hearts of the saints have been refreshed. On the strength of that love Paul makes his appeal. Although he has full authority in Christ to command, he chooses for love's sake to beg as Paul the aged, a prisoner of Jesus Christ. He pleads for Onesimus, his child whom he fathered in the gospel while in chains, the one who once was useless but now is useful to them both. Paul is sending him back, though he would gladly have kept him, because he wants Philemon's goodness to be freely given rather than forced. Perhaps, Paul suggests, Onesimus was separated for a while so that he might be received back forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother. Paul asks Philemon to receive him as he would receive Paul, offers to repay any wrong in his own hand, and closes with confidence that Philemon will do even beyond what is asked, with greetings and a benediction of grace.
Main Characters
- Paul — The apostle writing from prison as "the aged," who appeals for love's sake rather than commanding, and offers to pay Onesimus's debt himself.
- Philemon — Paul's beloved fellow worker and host of a house church, commended for love and faith, asked to forgive and welcome Onesimus home as a brother.
- Onesimus — Philemon's runaway slave, converted under Paul in chains; once useless, now useful, sent back as Paul's own heart and a beloved brother.
- Apphia and Archippus — Members of Philemon's household and church—Apphia called beloved and Archippus a fellow soldier—included as witnesses to Paul's appeal.
Key Verse
Philemon 1:16 (WEB)
no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much rather to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
Lessons Learned
- The gospel turns enemies and strangers into beloved brothers and sisters in Christ.
- Love that has a right to command often chooses instead to appeal.
- Christ takes our debt to his own account so that we may be received.
- A faith refreshed by grace overflows to refresh and reconcile others.
- True faith refreshes others. Paul rejoices that "the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother" (Philemon 1:7, WEB). Love received from Christ flows outward to comfort and restore others.
- Grace appeals rather than commands. Paul has "all boldness in Christ to command," yet "for love's sake I rather beg" (Philemon 1:8-9, WEB). He wants obedience that springs from a willing heart.
- The gospel redeems the useless. Onesimus "once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me" (Philemon 1:11, WEB). Christ gives new worth and purpose to lives others have discarded.
- Christ bears our debt. Paul says, "if he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, put that to my account" (Philemon 1:18, WEB), echoing the cross where our debt was charged to another.
- How does Paul describe Philemon's character in his opening thanksgiving, and why does it matter for the appeal that follows?
- Why does Paul choose to beg "for love's sake" rather than command, even though he has the authority to command?
- What is the significance of Onesimus being changed from "useless" to "useful," and how does this reflect the gospel?
- When Paul says "put that to my account" (1:18), how does this picture what Jesus has done for us?
- Is there a relationship where God is calling you to move from holding a wrong against someone to welcoming them as a brother or sister? What might that look like?
- Paul praises Philemon's love and faith toward the Lord and the saints, noting that he has refreshed their hearts (1:4-7). By recalling this proven character first, Paul appeals to who Philemon already is in Christ, expecting that same love now to reach Onesimus.
- Paul deliberately lays down his right to command so that Philemon's response will be "of free will" and not "of necessity" (1:14). Forgiveness compelled is no forgiveness at all; grace seeks a willing heart. Help the group see how love persuades rather than forces.
- The wordplay on Onesimus's name—which means "useful"—highlights the gospel's transforming power (1:11). A man written off as worthless becomes valuable to Paul and Philemon alike. Invite the group to consider how Christ redeems and re-purposes lives the world dismisses.
- Paul places himself in Onesimus's debt, offering to repay in his own hand whatever is owed (1:18-19). This is a small portrait of the cross, where Christ assumed our debt so we could be received by God. Point the group to the grace that has already covered their account.
- This is a personal-application question with no single answer. As leader, invite members to name, even silently, someone they struggle to forgive, and to consider one gracious step toward reconciliation. Close by remembering the mercy that received us while we were still useless.