The Way of Love

Philemon 4 - 7 (December 13, 2009)

1) The Text

4When I remember you in my prayers, I always thank my God 5because I hear of your love for all the saints and your faith toward the Lord Jesus. 6I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective when you perceive all the good that we may do for Christ. 7I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother.

2) The Context

Philemon is the shortest of the epistles written by Paul. He sends Onesimus, a run-away slave and recent convert to Christianity, back to his master carrying this letter. Paul does not address the general question of slavery as a social institution, but he does plead with Philemon, on the basis of love, to take Onesimus back and treat him as a fellow Christian. Many centuries later, it was on this same basis that slavery was abolished in Western societies. While the ideas are the same as in other epistles, here we see Paul being delicate and tactful. At the time of writing, Paul was in prison - probably in Ephesus.

Although this appears to be a personal letter to Philemon, a slave owner, it is also addressed to “the church in your house” (v. 2). In the first century, the Christian community gathered at a member’s house. It is likely that the letter was read during worship. Paul writes not using his authority as an apostle (as he does in other letters) but as a “prisoner” (v. 1). (Perhaps “Apphia”, v. 2, was Philemon’s wife and “Archippus” his son.) It opens as letters usually did: from Paul, to various addressees, followed by best wishes (v. 3). Paul wishes “grace” (the Greek greeting) and “peace” (the Jewish) as well – from God.

This opening is followed, in verses 4 and 5, with a thanksgiving for news of Philemon's generosity. Paul thanks God because of Philemon's faith (rather than his faithfulness) in Christ, and its inevitable consequence, namely, his love of the brotherhood. Paul often used the word "saints" to mean his fellow Jewish believers, but here Gentile believers are probably included.

The meaning of verse 6 is difficult to arrive at. Translators add the "I pray" to make sense of the text. If Paul is picking up on the thought of prayer in v4, his prayer is for a living out of Philemon's faith ("sharing" here means fellowshipping, not witnessing). By living out faith in Christ, the believer grows in their knowledge and this leads to a closer union with Christ. The reading ends with verse 7. Clearly, Philemon has given practical care to the "saints" in the past and so now Paul recognizes his charity. Many have been "refreshed", encouraged and comforted through his love.

3) Interpretation

The Way of Love

In exercising leadership, we usually rely on people management skills and charisma. Very rarely do we rely on the type of management criteria applied by Paul in his letter to Philemon. Of course, Paul could have relied on his trump card and made his request to Philemon an apostolic command. Yet note, in the opening verse of the letter Paul has left out his usual title, "apostle". Paul does not make his appeal on the basis of his authority. So, on what basis does Paul make his appeal? He makes it on the basis of love. Love allows a request to be made and accepted. So, Paul makes note of Philemon's love and it is on this basis that he later makes his appeal, "I appeal to you on the basis of love", v9. The love upon which Paul made his appeal is Christian love - brotherly love, the love of the brotherhood.

Such love is a bonding union between the individual believer and Christ, and the individual believer with other believers. It is a care, a compassion, for the needs of other brothers and sisters within the framework of the fellowship of believers. Such compassion finds its dynamic in God's compassion toward us in Christ.

This quality of love, this divine characteristic, this ultimate compassion, is a special kind of loving. Such love images the nature of God, for "God is love."

We can describe this love in the following ways:

Christian love is not a sensual love, it is not sexual, yet it is like passion, but without the need for sexual union.
Christian love is not the love of a friend, yet it is like friendship, but without the need for compatibility.
Christian love is not the love of family, yet it is like family bonding (blood is thicker than water), but without the need for common genes.
Love should be the prime motivator for leadership or service. Hormones wane, interest declines, obligations are soon forgotten, but love endures forever, growing stronger and stronger.

Christian love motivates us for Christian service. It is not a tool for manipulation. When we encourage others to serve Jesus, let it be for the kingdom of God, and not our own little kingdom. The business of living in the world is the responsibility of each individual. The rule-of-thumb for survival in the world is you get back what you put in. Yet, mutual ministry in the Christian fellowship depends on another criterion. Our appeal to one another is best done on the basis of divine love, of God's love for us enlivening us to love.

Getting things done for the kingdom is best done through love.

4) Thought Exercise

In what ways can we demonstrate the Christian love described in this passage?

Is this a way to build heaven on earth?