Some Men are Better than Others
I wanted to keep him here with me while I am in these chains for preaching the Good News, and he would have helped me on your behalf. But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent. I wanted you to help because you were willing, not because you were forced. It seems you lost Onesimus for a little while so that you could have him back forever. He is no longer like a slave to you. He is more than a slave, for he is a beloved brother, especially to me. Now he will mean much more to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.
Philemon 1:13–16 Read More
It’s funny how culture can affect us in ways that we don’t even know. We depend on the equality and freedom that is talked about in our culture, but there are times in the scriptures where equality takes a back seat to favoritism. Here is Onesimus, a runaway slave, who Paul says is now more valuable, and more important to Philemon, because he is a Christian.
To say that a person is more important because they are a Christian almost makes us cringe. How can anyone be better than anyone else? Aren’t we all equal?
As always, we have to read this in context. We don’t get a lot of context from the book of Philemon, but remember, Philemon was a Colossian. Paul just wrote to them: “So what about you? Well, there was a time when you were excluded! You were enemies in your thinking, and in wicked behavior. But now he has reconciled you in the body of his flesh, through death, in order to bring you into his presence holy, blameless and without any accusation.” (Col 1:21–22)
Paul recognizes that when Onesimus used to work for Philemon, he was in this category. He was an enemy of God in his thinking. He was wicked in his behavior, just like Philemon used to be. Now, Onesimus is blameless and without accusation before God. If God isn’t judging Onesimus, how should Philemon receive him?
What about that section about submitting to one another? Paul either wrote Colossians just before or just after Philemon, while Onesimus was there with him. While looking at Onesimus and thinking about his homecoming, Paul wrote “A word, too, for slaves: obey your earthly masters in everything. Don’t do it simply out of show, to curry favor with human beings, but wholeheartedly, because you fear the master. Whatever you do, give it your very best, as if you were working for the master and not for human beings. After all, you know that you’re going to receive the true inheritance from the master as your reward! It is the master, the king, that you are serving.” Col 3:22–24
With that context, you can see that Onesimus is now a better man than ever. Paul is respecting them both, by honoring Onesimus and by respecting the fact that Philemon is still the owner of Onesimus the slave. He does not demand O’s freedom, but gives Philemon freedom to make his own decisions.
The right decision will show that Philemon is also a better man than ever.
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