Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-28

preserved for us. IL neeoS TO DE Iedu
with a desire to catch the spirit OF the
apostle by reading between the lines to
see the personality of the Ambassador
to the Gentiles. During his inprison-
ment, that some have suggested was in
Ephesus, although most men beheVe
that it was during his first tmprlson-
ment in Rome, it was Paul's JOY to
win a runaway slave, who belonged to
dear friend of his in Colosse, Tor
Christ Jesus. We do not know the IN
cidents that brought these two men to-
gether. one hunted for his betrayal OF
his trust and as a runaway slave, the
other a prisoner in his own hired house,
waiting his discharge and freedom, that
he expected was only few months at
the most distant Possibly Onesimus.
the slave. had come through the leader
ship of the Holy Spirit into Paul's home,
seeking help.
When he left the residence OF the
apostle to return to the master whom
he had wronged, Onesimus was a
ranged man. He saw his errors and
wanted to make amends for the same.
He knew that Philemon could take MS
life, because he belonged to him ana
under the Roman law he possessed that
power, but Paul had pointed out to him
his duty, so he went back with this per-
sonal letter believing that his old mas
ter would forgive him and, because. ne
had been born again, would treat MIN
as brother in Christ.
Paul faced difficult task when he
tried to untangle the affairs OF the con-
verified slave, who had attached himself
to the apostle and demonstrated his
love for him in a practical way. In
fact. from a human standpoint he nae
made himself almost indispensable TO
the pri-cn preacher. The sla'e had
filed the apostles soul with JOY and
love. Paul knew the peril of protecting
the runaway slave from the standpoint
of the government, so he dictated this
letter to Philemon to insure OneSimus
a release from the peril that he feared
he faced Paul evidently expected that
Philemon would, out of his great love
for his friend, send him back to the
apostle to minister unto Paufs needs.
PhiIemon's Love Praised.
One hesitates to point out the excel
lencies Of this courteous. tactful and
Diplomatic letter for fear that any
ANALYSIS of its charm and beauty would
destroy it, just as you mar a flower
when you break it up into its parts
for study. Paul had heard from
Epaphras and Onesimus something OF
the generous hospitality that Philemon
had shown to his brethren in Christ.
He placed his home at the disposal OF
the church in Colosse for their meeting
place. Possibly Onesimus may have
heard the message of salvation for sin
ners preached in his masters home,
SO that when he reached Rome he had
sought to find Paul and learn from
him the way of life.
While Paul puts Philemon's love for
brethren in Christ Jesus first, he at
least suggests that both his phil n
thropy and fraternal attitude toward
the household of God had its source In
his faith in his Lord and Saviour, as
the basis of the apostles thanksgiving
| for his friends love and prayer that
| philemon should be made practical and
| helpful through his fellowship with his
brethren, He had rejoiced in his
| friends deeds and assured him that 1t
had been a source of help and strength
| to Paul because Philemon shared his
| love with him.
Paul Pleads Friendship.
The spiritual tie that united the
anostle with the owner of the converted
runaway slave was the basis OF Pauls
plea for Philemon to be generous and
| friendly to Onesimus. The apostle did
not use any authority in making his
request. but sought a favor from his
| friend by letter, because he was the
aged prisoner of Christ. Legally Rome
held him, but Paul points out that IT
was due to his loyalty to Jesus that
made him a prisoner. This personal
| Ps
mon to be considerate and generous TO
| his runaway slave, who had found
Christ Jesus, ss a Saviour, under PauPs
| teaching. While under the Roman au-
thority. Philemon could have punished
| Onesinus severely, Paul knew that the
| conscience of his friend and the attl-
| tude of the members of the church
| toward Onesimus would be dlnerenC'
because he returned willingly as
/ brother in Christ.
Paul showed his deep interest in the
welfare of Onesimus because he had
| been converted under his ministry.
Burdened with the care Of the churches
| and his own defense, he pleads with
philemon, who had found salvation
under the apostles preaching, to treat
| Onesimus, as a son of the man VINO
had won him for Christ. The runaway
slave had made great advance since he
| left Philemon's home, which Paui
delicately suggests may have been proVl-
Dental Not once does Paul speak OF
Onesinus as q runaway slave. He re-
fers to him as being parted from
Philemon for a season, that thou
shouldest have him forever; no longer
| as a servant, but as proCneI
beloved" A great change had taken
place in Onesimus during his absence
He was a useless slave when he left
He was a fugitive from Justice When
after travelling over 500 miles, the run
away slave and thief came under the
influence of Paul. Being born again
he proved helpful and valuable 10 tne
apostle, whose messenger he was, When
he presented to Philemon the letter OF
his dearest friend, Paul, who assured
his wealthy brother in Christ that
Onesimus had returned true to MS
name, valuable both to Philemon ano
Paul. who asked that he be treated as
his son or as he would have treated
the apostle.
| Assuming the Debt.
While Paul may have come into 9
legacy and been able to carry on MI
missionary work in his own home
Philemon would recall how the apostle
was depending upon Is own toll, as
tentnaker. when he learned from hin
the way Of salvation. Paul, probably
penniless prisoner, recognized the deb
which Onesimus owned Philemon. anc
offers to pay it. He knew that Phle'
mon would never collect that account
for his generous, Christlike nature woult
refuse the offer, yet Paul meant it anc
if called upon would have made gooe
his promise, just as Jesus provided fol
! the squaring OF our accounts with th'
Father
One of Paul's assistants accompanied
OnesimuS with letter for the church
; that met in the home of Philemon
When Philemon learned from the lips o.
| Ia. Fo,,,,ay cIo 1ra the doom love that Pan