The Plea for Reconciliation
a sermon based on Philemon 1-21
by Rev. Randy L Quinn


Today we read almost the entire book of Philemon. In fact, there are only four more verses in the book. It doesn’t take too long to read. But if you are one of those who don’t remember the last time you read it, you aren’t alone. And if you are one of those who had a hard time finding Philemon in your Bible, you aren’t alone, either.

What you may have found most striking in hearing it today, however, is that this short letter from Paul reads differently than most New Testament epistles. It seems to be more of a personal letter to a particular person than it is a message from an apostle carrying God’s eternal message to the church.

But there are important things for us to hear in our text for today. Let’s begin by examining the three key characters in the story – each of whom has an important reminder for us.

The most familiar of these characters is the Apostle Paul who writes from jail. Scholars are not entirely in agreement, but most believe Paul is in Rome at the time he writes this letter, near the end of his life and ministry.

The second character is Philemon, the intended recipient of the letter. He was a slave-owner in Colossae, a small city in modern-day Turkey. Philemon had a close relationship with the apostle Paul, stemming from his own conversion to the Christian faith, some years earlier.

The final person we meet is Onesimus. Onesimus was a slave that became a Christian after meeting Paul in prison. Onesimus was most likely a runaway slave who had been caught and was being returned to Philemon. Paul apparently has Onesimus hand deliver this letter that would later become a part of the New Testament.

Three people. Three stories. Three reminders.

Let’s begin with the last one and work backwards. Onesimus. If you’ve never been in his shoes, you probably know someone who has. He broke the rules and is now facing the consequences of his actions. Whether he goes to Philemon in shackles or of his own free will, Onesimus must come face to face with the man who would determine his future.

It was a little more dramatic than we might experience in our homes, but it has some similarities to what many of us have seen or done. A teenager stays out past curfew and faces a period of being “grounded.” A young child is caught misbehaving at school and is sent to the principal’s office. A college student forgets to turn in an assignment on time and receives a lower grade. A businessman is in a hurry and is pulled over for speeding. A woman forgets to bring coins with her and finds a parking ticket when she returns to her car.

You could probably name your own experiences. We break the rules and have a choice to make: we can try to avoid punishment or we can face the consequences. If we try to avoid the punishment, we will find ourselves living in fear of being caught some day. The stress will only increase over time as we carry the load of our own guilt.

At the same time we know that no amount of explaining can change the facts of our wrong doing. Excuses don’t matter. A wrong has been done. Finding the courage to face the consequences for our actions usually ends with less pain and grief in the long run, even if it hurts to confess our sin.

But our consequences pale in comparison to what Onesimus faced. Philemon had a legal right to have Onesimus put to death.

It took great courage to admit his sin and place himself at the mercy of Philemon. But rather than flee, Onesimus does indeed return. How do we know? We don’t. We don’t know what Philemon did, either.

But – what other outcome can we imagine that would have ended with this letter being included in the canon of scripture? Had he not returned, this Epistle would have had nothing to offer to the church in any era, let alone our own. I think the most plausible explanation is that Onesimus himself kept the letter after being freed from slavery. It is a theory that cannot be confirmed, but not too many years after this letter was written, a man by the name of Onesimus became the Bishop of Ephesus. Could it be possible that it was only after he became the Bishop of Ephesus that this letter was read publicly in worship?

While that is purely conjecture, it would make the story of Onesimus worth reading as a reminder to each of us and all of us to confess our own sin and face the consequences of our actions. Living in guilt only adds to the burdens of life, while confessing our sin can lead to a life of freedom and joy.


But what about Philemon?

He is in the position of judge, jury, and executioner. He decides what evidence to hear as well as what is to be believed. In the end, he holds the future in his hands. He decides what to do with Onesimus.

Philemon had been wronged. Maybe he had been betrayed. Philemon must decide whether or not to forgive Onesimus. He must also decide whether or not to punish as well as they type of punishment to inflict on this returned slave.

Who among us has not been offended by someone?
Who among us has not been betrayed by a friend or colleague or loved one?

Some people harbor grudges that last a lifetime. Some continually remind us of the pain others caused them. They constantly look for opportunities to “get even.” Revenge is their primary focus. And often these same people live miserable lives, all because they refuse to forgive.

Whenever we find ourselves in that position, we find ourselves in the company of Philemon.

There are also people who have been hurt by or offended by the church. It may have been something a pastor said in a sermon – or something a pastor didn’t say! It may have been a violation of trust. It may have been an unintentional oversight. But you and I all know people who have no room for the church because of something that happened. They will often refer to this as a place where a “bunch of hypocrites gather each week to gossip.”

While that may not be an accurate picture of the church, it is nevertheless their perception. And their perceptions, like ours, are what we make decisions upon.

In many ways, people who have been alienated from the church are like Philemon, too.

Again, we don’t know what Philemon did. He had a choice to make, and no one could make that choice for him – though Paul was trying to persuade him to act with grace. The very fact that we are reading this story implies that Philemon did indeed find a way to forgive. And the reminder to us is the importance of forgiveness for our own spiritual well-being.


Finally there is Paul. What strikes me about Paul in this story is that he has friends in high places as well as friends in low places. Paul is as much a friend of Onesimus as he is of Philemon. He keeps company with street people and CEO’s.

What Paul is doing, however, is using his friendships to influence behavior. He encourages Onesimus to present himself before Philemon as a sinner ready to face his punishment. He also encourages Philemon to welcome Onesimus, no longer as a slave but as a brother in Christ.

He cannot dictate their actions, but Paul does serve as a bridge-builder between the two.

Whether we have been an Onesimus – or are one or know one – or whether we find ourselves identifying with the plight of Philemon, Paul reminds us that God’s desire is for reconciliation. The task of many of us is to be the bridge-builder.

To do that we must spend time building trust with people from all settings in life. Employers and employees, union workers and farmers, democrats and republicans, teachers and parents, administrators and clients, people who are unemployed and people who are retired, pillars of the church, pillars of the community as well as the disenfranchised who have rejected the church and isolate themselves from the community.

The Epistle of Philemon challenges us all, I believe, to examine our own situation and to open our eyes to those around us. Where we see lines that divide, Paul is encouraging us to build a bridge.

It is what Jesus did in his life and his death and his resurrection. No matter what we have done, Jesus bridges the gap that makes it possible for God to forgive us.

Thanks be to God.

Amen.