THE PERSON. v.10 His appeal as an intercessor, "Paul the aged," would have touched Philemon's heart as he remembered the man who had been shipwrecked, beaten, and lived with a "thorn in the flesh." He wasn't seeking sympathy but rather appropriate Christian action from Philemon. As a prisoner of Christ Jesus, the One who had saved all three of those men, he clearly expresses the weakness of his age and the helplessness imposed by his bonds.
My son. Now he introduces a person as "my son," "my child" - a beloved one who needs care because his father is in chains. His name, "Onesimus," appears at the end of the sentence, where he makes his urgent appeal as an intercessor, much like one does for a suffering child, a fugitive slave, who is powerless against the claims of Roman law. Others need to understand that the extent of my interest in them is not merely superficial and self-centered. There is something very appealing about a person who I know has my best interests at heart, because I can see evidence of this in his concern for others. It may be in his attitude, his words, or his actions, but there is something that draws me in when love for others is evident.
It was an earnest and urgent matter to Paul that Onesimus be accepted by his former master as someone who had become a new creation in Christ Jesus. Past failures and sins have consequences that must be faced and corrected when we become Christians. Broken laws in society, broken promises, and therefore bad deeds need to be resolved before one’s testimony can be regarded as genuine by many people.
Paul wanted Philemon not to obey his request to please him, but to do so with a glad and open heart. Obedience only would make the master-slave relationship strained at best and merely a formal acquiescence. This letter reads as a friend would write, not an apostle; with earnest entreaty (refers to Onesimus as "my son," and assumes Philemon would do as he asked); frank acknowledgement of wrong done, and a promise to make good the loss. Paul vouches for a thorough change and could guarantee ("unprofitable, but now profitable.”) that a change was consistent with the new birth. On this occasion, he makes a congenial play on words and touches upon the divine aspect of God doing a sovereign work in them all. He carefully chooses words ("depart for a season"), mentioning his hope of being liberated and seeing Philemon.
Begotten. Becoming a spiritual son through the new birth does not occur simply because we have Christian parents or come from a Christian background. Nor does it happen through self-effort or willpower. Being born again is not a result of human effort; rather, it depends on receiving and believing in the Lord Jesus Christ as an individual act of faith. The desires of others, such as preachers or acquaintances, cannot impart new life in Christ. The new birth is a work of God, the Holy Spirit, who regenerates those who are spiritually dead to God. Nonetheless, a person who leads another to Christ often perceives the new believer as a spiritual son.
This new beginning is not only a work of God, but the power to live as a “new creature in Christ Jesus” comes from God. Those born again are “children of God by faith in Jesus Christ.” They have been granted the right of open access to God and a relationship with Him that is unattainable for humans who are sinful by nature. The new nature connects them by faith to the Eternal God as our heavenly Father and spiritual mentors as sons and daughters.
The bright light of a son living for God makes the dark background of their past fade as spiritual life develops. Onesimus may not have realized how much he was growing in faith, but Paul did, and he wanted Philemon to know of his confidence in Onesimus. The reality of personal faith in Christ was evident. In Onesimus, Paul saw someone who would be a faithful servant to Philemon and God.
Spiritual advice, like parental guidance, needs to be given urgently. Experience teaches young people who often dismiss warnings as meddling in their lives. A spiritual father describes God’s commandments as treasures to be guarded, kept, and not let go of. The “apple” of the eye refers to the pupil, which serves as the gateway to the brain for all the images of life around us, including light and dark, good and bad. The eye is especially sensitive due to its extreme value to the whole body. When you can see the pitfalls ahead and avoid them, following a godly course in life is the way to lead a righteous existence. Tying something around your finger serves as a reminder of something important that needs attention. When written on the heart, wisdom instructs our intelligence and controls our emotions and will, thus influencing our actions. Writing transforms it into a personal act, conveying a sense that the information is permanent. It does not alter the issue simply because people claim it does.
It is a great blessing when older individuals commit to instructing and guiding those who follow them and reach out to the next generation or two. We may not realize at the time that we model our values and demonstrate to our children and grandchildren what is important to us without being aware of it. Our spiritual children pick up certain impressions and actions that we have and replicate them. Phrases we use when we preach and pray, along with our hands, facial expressions, and body language, are often caught and practiced by those who come after us.
A spiritual father holds authority in God's work, along with the right and responsibility to guide those he has “begotten.” It is a father's duty to speak openly and honestly to his children. The way he communicates often reveals his concerns and the significance of what needs to be conveyed. As a steward, Paul the Apostle paid the price of following Christ in prison chains. Just as one begotten by a father, spiritual children should emulate the good example of those who brought them the Gospel. Integrity, honor, and faithfulness to the Lord Jesus Christ must be genuine.
We don't have to mimic everything a spiritual father does, but we should follow his example as he follows Christ. Spiritual doctrines and practices are learned from spiritual people. Fathers need to pass on principles that apply to specific situations. Talking about living by faith is one thing; living by faith is another. Teaching the truth is one thing; living the truth is another. It is not enough to know what is right; we must practice what is right.
When a father teaches, he takes personally to himself, everything he imparts to his son or daughter. He faces them, looks them in the eye, indicates that what he is about to say is important, and then clearly articulates what needs to be said. His emotional involvement is evident to the child. His genuine care for their understanding is reflected in his tone of voice, the pressure of his hand, and the expression on his face. There is no doubt that he wants the child to comprehend and get it right.
A living hope began when we trusted Christ and became children of God. Our Father provides us with the grace and strength to remain faithful to Him during our trials and as we navigate all of life's challenges here on earth. Not only do we have a living hope, but we also possess a permanent inheritance as heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ. God has chosen us, and as obedient children cleansed by the blood of Christ, this new birth instills in us a vibrancy of life, fueled by the assured hope of the inheritance we will share with our Lord forever.
The new birth has brought us a spiritual understanding and intuition that is often felt as the Holy Spirit "bears witness with our spirit" that we are born of God. For Christians, loving and appreciating God is as natural as breathing. Even though we have been "born of God" and it is not our practice to sin, we do sin. We do not continue in it, but we confess it to our Father, gratefully accept His forgiveness, and forsake it. Sin does not have dominion over us.
We know that we are born of God, and sin is not the controlling power in our lives. We also understand that we are children of God because He has given us this new life. We have been "born out of God." Our nature and eternal life have their source in God. We are part of His family by virtue of what He has done, not by anything we have done or might do.