Kollel Vetchanan

Kollel Vetchanan

Philemon, all

Phm 1:1 Sha’ul, a prisoner of Messiah Yeshua, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker,

Phm 1:2  to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house:

Phm 1:3  Grace to you and shalom from Elohim our Father and Adonai Yeshua the Messiah.

Phm 1:4  I thank my Elohim always, making mention of you in my prayers,

Phm 1:5  hearing of your love, and of the faith which you have toward Adonai Yeshua, and toward all the holy ones;

Phm 1:6  that the fellowship of your faith may become effective, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Messiah Yeshua.

Paul is praying that the fellowship of his faith “may become effective,” meaning that right now it is not effective.  He has, as it says in Revelation, the form of godliness but no power therein.  He is representative of those professing faith in the last days – he means well, perhaps, but the light doesn’t shine through him in either obedience or in good works, because he is lukewarm toward his fellow Believers.

Philemon, continued:

Phm 1:7  For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the holy ones have been refreshed through you, brother.

Love is a great thing, but by itself it is not enough.  We NEED obedience and faith to make Love truly a force for good.  With love, we can do small things, but with true faith that includes obedience, we are a light to the world.

Philemon, continued:

Phm 1:8  Therefore, though I have all boldness in Messiah to command you that which is appropriate,

Phm 1:9  yet for love’s sake I rather beg, being such a one as Sha’ul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Yeshua the Messiah.

Paul here appeals to his “love,” because commanding him to obey would apparently not worked, since his faith is “not effective.”  Most likely that means he still has rebellion in his heart and obedience (that is, submission) is not something to which Paul could appeal.

Philemon, continued:

Phm 1:10  I beg you for my child, whom I have become the father of in my chains, Onesimus,

Phm 1:11  who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me.

Phm 1:12  I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,

Phm 1:13  whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News.

Phm 1:14  But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will.

Clearly Philemon’s “consent” is important – to Philemon!  Paul appeals to his sense of self-aggrandizement.  Like the Laodiceans, he thinks he is rich, yet truly he is quite poor in Spirit.

Philemon, continued:

Phm 1:15  For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while, that you would have him forever,

Phm 1:16  no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much rather to you, both in the flesh and in Adonai.

Phm 1:17  If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.

“If.”

Philemon, continued:

Phm 1:18  But if he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, put that to my account.

Phm 1:19  I, Sha’ul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self besides).

Also like the Laodiceans, this man’s money is more important to him than what is best for his fellow believer.  Paul here makes a sideways jab at the man’s greed, even.

Philemon, continued:

Phm 1:20  Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in Adonai. Refresh my heart in Adonai.

Phm 1:21  Having confidence in your attentive listening, I write to you, knowing that you will do even beyond what I say.

Only after laying on a thick guilt trip does Paul carefully and indirectly  suggest some “obedience” is due (as this word is often translated, though that is NOT the primary meaning).  We might consider this a play on words, or at least on meanings of words – Paul’s skill in linguistics is evident, apparently with the hope of shaming the man into compliance.

G5218 ὑπακοή hupakoē hoop-ak-o-ay’

From G5219; attentive hearkening, that is, (by implication) compliance or submission: – obedience, (make) obedient, obey (-ing).

Philemon, continued:

Phm 1:22  Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.

Phm 1:23  Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Messiah Yeshua, greets you,

Phm 1:24  as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

Phm 1:25  The grace of Adonai Yeshua the Messiah be with your spirit. Amein.

Next week:  Parashat Ekev.