Philemon 3-7
A private letter written to Philemon that has become very
public, and was probably written from the time Paul was in Rome. In my Thompson Chain-Reference Bible it
refers to Philemon in this way; “Philemon was apparently a member of the church at Colosse,
which seems to have met in his house, v. 2.
As Paul had never been in Colosse (Col 2:1), Philemon must have met him
elsewhere, possibly in Ephesus, which was not far away.” If a person were going to have a private
letter exposed to the whole world, this would be the type of letter you would
have wanted others to read.
Paul is telling Philemon that he not only thinks about him,
but that he is thankful for him and shares that with God our Father. Paul tells Philemon that he has heard of his
love and his faith that is being expressed to the Lord Jesus and to all the
saints. If your mind works like mine,
you may ask, how did Paul hear about Philemon, in that he is in prison in Rome,
and he has never been to Colosse? I
believe this insight came from a run away slave named Onesimus, a slave Paul
calls his child, and goes on to state that he became a father in the faith to
Onesimus while in prison at Rome.
Philemon may also consider himself a child by faith in
Christ Jesus and see Paul as his spiritual father. We can only assume that they have met and it
may have been at Ephesus during Paul’s visit there. If you got this part of a letter from anyone
how would it affect you? “I thank my God
always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of
the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and all the saints, and I pray
that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of
every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. For I have derived much joy and comfort from your
love, my brother; because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through
you.” If that letter came
from just about anyone it would blow your doors off, but when it came from a giant
in the faith, an apostle of Christ; you would surely share this with your best
friend, and because Philemon’s best friend was Jesus Christ, He chose to share
it with you and me.
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
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