. (20-22) Paul’s confidence in Philemon’s response.
Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord. Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. But, meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you.
a. Let me have joy from you in the Lord: Joy is more literally profit. It translates the ancient Greek word oninemi, the root word for the name “Onesimus.” Paul used another play on words and the name Onesimus to communicate a not so subtle request: “Let me have Onesimus back from you in the Lord.”
b. Refresh my heart in the Lord: Earlier in the letter, Paul said that Philemon was a man who refreshed the heart of the saints (Philemon 7). Now, he specifically told Philemon how he could refresh Paul’s heart: by allowing Onesimus to stay with Paul.
c. Knowing that you will do even more than I say: Paul’s letter, full of appeal, was also full of hope. Philemon was not a bad or a harsh man. Paul had every reason to expect that he would fulfill his Christian duty and do even more than Paul asked.
d. But, meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me: This showed the close relationship between Paul and Philemon. Paul knew that hospitality always waited for him at Philemon’s home.
e. I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you: Paul wanted Philemon to pray, and he didn’t think the prayers were a mere formality. Paul believed that it would be through the prayers of Philemon that they would once again be together.
C. Conclusion.
1. (23-24) Paul sends greetings to Philemon from common friends in Rome.
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers.
a. Ephaphras… Mark… Aristachus… my fellow laborers: Each of these names is also mentioned in the conclusion of the letter to the Colossians (Colossians 4:10-17). This confirms that the two letters went to the same place. Philemon lived in Colosse.
i. Fellow prisoner: “Literally ‘a prisoner of war,’ used metaphorically.” (Oesterley)
b. Demas: “Demas is supposed to be the same who continued in his attachment to Paul till his last imprisonment at Rome: after which he left him for what is supposed to have been the love of the world, 2 Timothy 4:10.” (Clarke)
2. (25) Conclusion to the letter.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
a. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit: We see some enduring principles from Paul’s letter to Philemon.
i. Paul never called for an overthrow of the system of slavery, yet the principles in the letter to Philemon destroy slavery. The greatest social changes come when people are changed, one heart at a time. In our society, racism and our low regard for the unborn cannot be eliminated by laws; a change of heart must occur.
ii. Onesimus was obligated to return to his master. When we do something wrong, we must do our best to set it right. Being made a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) does not end our responsibility to make restitution; it increases our obligation, even when restitution is difficult.
iii. Onesimus was morally responsible for his wrongs. The letter to Philemon demonstrates that we are not primarily directed by economics, despite the ideas of Marxists and modern liberals. Whether rich or poor, we are to be directed by the Spirit of God, not our economic status.
iv. “No part of the New Testament more clearly demonstrates integrated Christian thinking and living. It offers a blend, utterly characteristic of Paul, of love, wisdom, humour, gentleness, tact, and above all Christian and human maturity.” (Wright)
b. Amen: The conclusion of the letter can lead us to ask, “Why is the letter to Philemon in our Bibles?” In A.D. 110, the bishop of Ephesus was named Onesimus, and it could have been this same man. If Onesimus was in his late teens or early twenties when Paul wrote this letter, he would then be about 70 years old in A.D.110 and that was not an unreasonable age for a bishop in those days.
i. “Ignatius, in his Epistle to the Ephesians, maketh mention of Onesimus, as pastor of Ephesus, next after Timothy. The Roman Martyrologue saith, that he was stoned to death at Rome, under Trajan the emperor.” (Trapp)
ii. There is also some historical evidence that the letters of Paul were first gathered as a group in the city of Ephesus. Perhaps Onesimus first compiled the letters and wanted to make sure his letter – his charter of freedom – was included.