It sounds like Paul led Philemon to Christ as well as Philemon’s slave, Onesimus.

Paul doesn’t appeal to Philemon to release Onesimus, but he does urge him to receive him as he would Paul himself and to not hold anything against him. Paul is hoping Philemon will send Onesimus back to him. It seems Philemon lent him out to serve Paul while he was in prison.

We don’t know the story here. Sometimes slavery was someone needing money and so they sold themselves. Working for someone gave you a home and food. We aren’t given instructions to free slaves, just in how to treat each other. Masters aren’t to threaten. Slaves are to serve as if they were serving Christ.

They need to love each other and treat each other the way they would want to be treated.

Christians, of course, have been at the front of all anti-slavery movements. People kidnapped or attacked for the purpose of taking slaves is a whole different matter. Separating families and all other such evils are not condoned at all by what the Bible allows for slavery. I did teach several lessons on slavery when it came up in Exodus 21 if you’d like to read more.

Philemon is a man of means, and he is using what he has for the Lord. He does sacrifice in sending his servant to serve Paul.

Paul requests a guest room be prepared for him. Paul mentions Philemon refreshing the hearts of the saints. He has brought joy and comfort to the believers because of the love he has showed with what he had to give.

Paul prays an amazing prayer for Philemon about the effectiveness of his sharing of his faith. May we be effective in sharing our faith as well, leading people into the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for Christ’s sake.

It’s for Christ’s sake. It’s all for Jesus. We’ve been given everything. And it’s all for Him.