FRIDAY
This week we’ve been looking at the love that the Apostles expressed for the churches that they wrote to. Today let’s see that love reciprocated.
Philemon 7 7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.
Paul here tells Philemon how much his love has meant to him. Philemon’s love for Paul has given him great joy and encouragement. Philemon hosted a church in his home and likely hosted Paul on his missionary journeys as Paul asks him to prepare a guest room for him when he gets out of prison. Philemon’s love had led him to refresh the hearts of God’s people. The word for “heart” here is our word splanchnon from Tuesday. It’s the seat of the affections, heart in our rendering today. Philemon’s love for Paul and the church in his home has been a source of joy and encouragement to Paul because Philemon has helped the Lord’s people gain rest from their toil in the world.
Also, note how Paul calls him brother. Again, this love that they share is a familial love.
Really, the whole letter of Philemon is a great example of love to be expressed in the church. Onesimus was a runaway slave from his master Philemon. It seems as if Onesimus came to believe in Jesus while he was away, and he began assisting Paul while he was in prison. Paul challenges Philemon now to welcome Onesimus back, not as a slave, but as a brother (v. 16). Paul even demonstrates his great love for Onesimus by offering to pay Philemon anything that Onesimus owes him (v. 18). Paul could order Philemon to do what he says based on his apostolic authority, but instead he appeals to him on the basis of love (v. 9).
Philemon Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker—2 also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your home: 3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. 6 I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. 7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people. 8 Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9 yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus—10 that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me. 12 I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. 13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary. 15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever—16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord. 17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. 20 I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. 21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask. 22 And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers. 23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. 24 And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers. 25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.