From Slave to Brother: Paul's Appeal to Philemon

November 14, 2024 - Thursday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time

Philemon 7-20

The letter of Paul to a well-to-do Christian, Philemon, is one of the shortest writings in the New Testament. Imprisoned and old, Paul pleads for a runaway slave of Philemon, Onesimus. In the ancient Roman Empire, this was a serious matter. If reported and captured, Onesimus could end up on the cross. We are not told why he ran away, but it probably had to do with harsh treatment or personal issues. According to historians, a slave who ran away from their master had two options to avoid punishment: they could either run to a god’s temple for protection or to an owner’s friend for mediation. Onesimus chose the second option and, like his master, was brought to faith by Paul.

From the perspective of the 21st century, the topic of slavery, which the letter deals with, may seem irrelevant. After all, slavery was abolished centuries ago. However, in Paul's world, slavery was woven into the fabric of society, and slaves were regarded as property with few protections. Ancient people could not imagine a functioning society without slavery, and the word "slave"—with a range of meanings—was often used to describe a relationship between two unequal people. Paul, who boasted of being a Roman citizen with all the rights granted only to free citizens of Rome, uses the term "slave" to describe his relationship with Christ (see Rom. 1:1).

However, Paul's short and personal letter to Philemon can still be a source of inspiration and insight for us today. First, we see how the Christian message changed the way Christ’s followers should relate to each other. By embracing the same faith as his master, Onesimus’s status changed: he was no longer a slave but a brother. Moreover, Paul indicated that Philemon should free Onesimus, and according to ancient tradition, he did so. Onesimus became a bishop of Ephesus, marked by deep love for his community (see Ignatius of Antioch’s "Letter to the Ephesians"). This raises a question: How do we relate to our brothers and sisters in faith? Are we actively working to transform relationships of inequality, whether in the Church or in society? How can we better live out the Gospel's call to recognize the dignity and equality of all people?

The way Paul dealt with this problem shows his mastery of negotiation. Paul does not speak from a position of authority but tries to motivate Philemon by appealing to his heart. The apostle writes from prison, and slavery was a form of prison. He describes himself as old and Onesimus as his "helper," with Onesimus’s help being done on behalf of Philemon. Finally, since Onesimus’s escape caused certain losses to his master, Paul is willing to pay for those losses. Paul knew how to plead successfully for Onesimus. How about us? How can we stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves, imitating Paul’s example of humble yet bold advocacy?

Paul's letter can inspire us to tackle new forms of slavery or slavery-like practices today. That is what Julia Immonen did. She founded the charity "Sport for Freedom" and, in 2011, with four other women, rowed across the Atlantic, advocating for freedom from all forms of slavery. Most of us cannot do something so extreme, but we can build communities where we treat each other as brothers and sisters and uphold the dignity of every human being.