1. PHILEMON
ISSUE NO. 1BOB.WANGWENYI@GMAIL.COM
I M M E R S I O N B I B L E P R O J E C T
JUNE 2016, NANJING
This is a study on the book of Philemon from
the angle of Onesimus, the run-away salve.
This is a study on the book of Philemon
from the Angle of Apostle Paul.
FROM A SLAVE
TO A BROTHER
RECONCILED
IN CHRIST

2. FOR THIS PERHAPS IS WHY HE
WAS PARTED FROM YOU FOR A
WHILE, THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE
HIM BACK FOREVER, NO
LONGER AS A SLAVE BUT MORE
THAN A SLAVE, AS A BELOVED
BROTHER—ESPECIALLY TO ME,
BUT HOW MUCH MORE TO
YOU, BOTH IN THE FLESH AND
IN THE LORD.
PAUL:
Philemon 1:15-16
p.1

3. A SLAVE
A BROTHER
F R O M
T O
Onesimus comes off in the
book as a runaway slave. In the
ancient Roman culture, a run-
away slave was a huge betrayal
to his master, and according to
the Roman legal system, a
runaway slave should be sent
to his master and his master
can legally kill him. In many
cases, many owners did this.
It is worth mentioning that Paul
was the person who led
Philemon to Christ, and more
than likely Onesimus knew Paul
or Knew things about Paul at
that time.
We can also assume that he
knew the consequences he
would get if he ran away from
his master. So, why did he run
away from Philemon? Why to
Rome? Did he make a plan to
visit Paul or was it a total
“coincidence” that he was
planning on doing something
else and ended up meeting
Paul in prison?
These questions can not be
answered due to the lack of
historical evidence. All we
know is that he met Paul who
was in prison which opened
doors for his transformation,
and he became a brother in
Christ. We also know that he
served Paul when this letter
was written and by the way
Paul vouched for him, Paul was
sure that he was saved by
Christ.
Paul decided to send Onesimus
back to his master Philemon,
not because he did not want
Onesimus’ service, but because
he thought reconciliation was
more important: He wanted
Philemon to not punish him but
forgive him, not only forgive
him but also accept him, not
just accept him as a slave who
can only obey and be seen as a
property, but also as a brother
in Christ who will share the joy
of eternity in Heaven one day.
F R O M A S L A V E T O A B R O T H E R | 2
Edited By Byron Wong

4. Onesimus, whose name literally means “useful,
beneficial” , before he accepted Christ, was
“not useful, not beneficial” as a slave before
he accepted Christ. After he accepted Christ, he
is beneficial to both Paul and Philemon, not as a
slave or a servant, but as a genuine faithful
brother in Christ.
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IMMERSION BIBLE PROJECT | ISSUE NO. 1PHILEMON
Because of a culturally incorrect action, Onesimus was
in deep trouble. He deserved to be punished, and he
knew it, until Paul wrote this “crazy letter”.
God shows up in a merciful way, doesn’t he?
We all have had experiences running away from our
“master”— people who led us and sometimes had
authority on us, at some point in our lives. We became
disappointers that made others feel betrayed and we
felt extremely guilty because of it, leading us to accept
serious consequences because of it.
When that happens, we know that we deserved
punishment.
And because this is a valley in our lives, it often comes
with confusion, guilt, shame and desperation.
That is when we realize that we need resolution, either
we resolve these problems by ourselves, or ask other
people to resolve these problems for us. Many times
we cannot resolve problems by ourselves.
It is like the lost son knowing he needed to come back to
his father, but seriously worried about the consequences
he needs to accept. It is like Peter weeping bitterly after
realizing he did deny Jesus 3 times just how Jesus
anticipated this. It is also like the criminal beating his
chest crying and begging for God’s mercy.
Real humility often comes from a place like that, a place
where people know how messed up their life is and how
sinful we are.
When we really understand sin by being broken
ourselves, we truly bow down to seek help. This is when
God’s gentle and beautiful touch heals and restores us.
God allows things to happen in our lives because even
when it happens, God can still use this as a great
opportunity to shine in our lives.

5. RECONCILED
IN CHRIST
61-62AD
THE BOOKOF PHILEMON
WAS WRITTENIN
AT THE SAME TIME OF
THE BOOKOF
COLOSSIANS
THEBOOKOFPHILEMONWASWRITTENINTHEYEAR60-62AD, DURINGAPOSTLE
PAUL’SFIRSTIMPRISONMENT. IAMFASCINATEDBYTHEFACTTHATINTHEENDOF
THEBOOK, PAULINTENTIONALLYMENTIONEDMARKASONEOFHISΣΥΝΕΡΓΌΣ
(SUNERGOS). ΣΥΝΕΡΓΌΣ ISTHEGREEKWORDFOR” FELLOWWORKERS”. THISIS
THESAMEMARKWHOHADCHOSENTOWITHDRAWFROMHIMANDBARNABASIN
PAMPHYLIA, THESAMEMARKWHOCAUSEDASHARPDISAGREEMENTBETWEEN
THETWOCLOSEBROTHERSINCHRISTANDEVENTUALLYCAUSEDTHESPLITOF
PAULANDBARNABAS’SMINISTRYINTHEYEAROF49AD.
EDITTED BY
PHILEMON
49 AD
THE TIME PAUL AND
BARNABAS SPLIT

6. FROMPAUL'SPERSPECTIVE
ReconciledinChrist
'06 '16
June 2016Immersion Bible Project
oreover, in the book of Colossians which was
written basically at the same time, Paul specifically
told Christians in Colossae to welcome Mark if he
comes to them, because Mark was one of the “only
men of the circumcision among my fellow workers
for the kingdom of God” and he has been “a
comfort” to Paul. Later in 64-66AD, he wrote in 2
Timthy 4;11: “Get mark and bring him with you, for
he is very useful to me in the ministry”. The word
“useful”-- εὔχρηστον-- is the same word he
used in the book of Philemon 1:11, when he said
“now he is indeed useful to you and to me”.
Later, we all know that Mark became the
author of the gospel of Mark.
It is clear to me that the Book of Philemon
was not only about reconciliation between
Onesimus and Philemon but it also
indirectly tells us a story about the
reconciliation between Paul and Mark. It
makes Paul not only was the mediator
between Onesimus and Philemon, but also
a person concerned in the reconciliation
story between him and Mark.
In this short, one chapter book, there are
two stories that both talked about the same
theme: reconciliation.
M
p.5

7. In Colossians 3:14, Paul
wrote, “and above all
these put on love,
which binds everything
together in perfect
harmony.” I think this
verse is the best way
to conclude this part
of the reflection.
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IMMERSION BIBLE PROJECT | ISSUE NO. 1PHILEMON
Reconciliationrequiresrisk-takingandmaturity
overpersonalemotions.
Paul could have chosen the “safe way” to keep
Onesimus with him, instead of sending onesimus back
to his master and putting his life in jeopardy; Paul also
could have chosen to keep blaming John Mark for
being the cause of dividing him and Barnabas, isolate
him in his ministry and make him taste his own
medicine.
But he did not do either one of these. On one hand, he
sent Onesimus back, and it was not because he does
not care for his life. On the contrary, he loves
Onesimus so much that he believes it is worthwhile for
Onesimus to take the risk and make things right with
Philemon who was his master but now a brother in
Christ. On the other hand, Paul trusted Philemon to
take his words seriously and will receive Onesimus as
a brother in Christ with joy. To him, the fact that they
are all brothers in Christ is more important than certain
cultural norms and personal conflicts. To be able to
see that gives them a chance to reconcile with each
other.
Reconciliationalsorequireshumility,andmanytimes
thatmeanswearewillingtoletgoofthepowerwe
have,andchoosetobevulnerableinfrontofother
people.
I believe Paul were respected by Philemon as a spiritual
authority, even maybe as a father figure, but Paul chose to
let that power go and instead, he took the vulnerable
position as “an old man” and “a prisoner for Christ Jesus”
to appeal to Philemon. God reconciled with us by
sending His Son down to the earth as a vulnerable baby
form, and Jesus the King of Kings washed his disciples’
feet as a servent… All these prove that God reaches out to
us to make things right by being extremely humble and
vulnerable. He wants us who believe in Him to do the
same when we deal with others.
Throughhumilityheshowsushowtoloveothers,and
thislovecallsustoreconcilewithourbrothersand
sisters,sothatwecanglorifyHimaswetakeupthe
crossofmakingthingsrightandchoosingtobemore
likeHim.
“For love’s sake,” Paul said. The love that makes Paul
wrote not from an authoritarian point of view but exactly
the opposite, which Paul believes is also in Philemon,
makes Paul feel confident that Philemon will receive
Onesimus in Christ with joy. Same can be said about Paul
and Mark’s situation. Paul’s love for Christ allows him to
envision beyond the conflict between him and Mark. And
on the other side Mark’s love for Christ makes the
reconciliation fruitful as he grew to be the person who
God designed him to be.
FROMPAUL'S
PERSPECTIVE