The book of Philemon is often misread. Certainly there are some very valuable truths, but there is one passage which gives amazing insight into the mind and the will of God.
…but without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will. For perhaps he was for this reason separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever, no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. (Philemon 14-16)
This passage is addressed to Philemon, a personal friend of the Apostle Paul’s whom he led to Christ, likely in Ephesus. In question in this chapter is a slave named Onesimus. Onesimus stole from Philemon and fled to Rome, where he met up with Paul who was imprisoned there. Paul led Onesimus to Christ and Onesimus became a servant to Paul, voluntarily (MacArthur, 2005, p. 1827).
In this passage, Paul is asking Philemon for permission to keep Onesimus as his servant because he has become so valuable to him. As an Apostle, Paul had every right to command that he be allowed to keep Onesimus (v. 8), but chose instead to plead for him, recognizing that Philemon’s, “goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion, but…of free will” and that there is a possibility that “perhaps he [Onesimus] was separated from [Philemon] for a while,” by God in order that he could choose Christ and then Philemon could “have him back forever…as…more than a slave, a beloved brother…in the Lord” (vv. 14-16). The major truths are contained in the following concepts: Paul recognizes Philemon’s free will, Paul recognizes that God has a plan, Paul recognizes that in forcing Philemon to allow him to keep Onesimus, he would be overstepping God’s plan.
In verse 14, Paul says he does not want Philemon to act out of compulsion. This is better translated ‘necessity.’ Were Paul to command it, Philemon would have to allow it. Instead Paul wants him to act out of his free will, also translated ‘voluntarily.’ Many people will argue that Paul’s writings teach predestination, but this passage says otherwise. If Paul believed that all was predestined, he need not ask and he need not recognize Philemon’s ability to voluntarily make a decision.
In verse 15, it is implied that Paul would allow Philemon to make the decision because it may have been the will of God that Onesimus be with Paul for a short time in order to better serve his master. Paul knows that God had a specific calling for himself and therefore recognizes that God likely has a calling for Onesimus as well. Paul is willing to step aside and let God make the decision.
The interesting thing here is that Paul is willing to see God’s will done based on the decision of Philemon. He knows that as a brother in Christ, he should evaluate the situation and make an attempt to act in a way that demonstrates the character of Christ. This is why Paul writes, “Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, since I know that you will do even more than what I say” (v. 21). He knows that if it is God’s will, that Onesimus will return to him and with blessing.
It is pertinent at this point to consider how all of these implications of the text come together. It is by free will that we act, but as believers in Christ we must consider what the will of God is. At that point we are charged with the duty to demonstrate our faith through obedience to do God’s will. It is God’s design that the men and women who make up the church bring about His predetermined end voluntarily.
References
MacArthur, J. (2005). The MacArthur Bible Commentary. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Inc.
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The Decision of Philemon: To Follow or Not to Follow
