In this letter to Philemon, Paul the great Apostle to the Gentiles, pleads for a runaway young slave. Paul is in prison once again, and this time a negro slave is tossed in there with him. Paul wastes no time, he explain the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that God has included everyone to join all sinners to accept Jesus, called the Messiah. even to you slave boy.
The letter itself is filled with pressure to an old Christian friend, who has been know to refresh those Christians who were on the run away from the Jews who were seeking to kill them. He has been a friend of Paul's for a long time, and in fact, Paul led him to Jesus as His personal Savior.
Paul reminds him that he has been a lover of those in need; that Paul now begs him to return him a favor, and that is, to receive the slave as a brother in the Lord, that when Paul is released this young slave boy will be released with him. Then Paul writes, we both will come and visit you, prepare a guest room for me, and I want to know that if this slave that you owned, but was captured and thrown into jail with me, that you own your very soul to me!
He goes on and writes, "I am an old man now, and I do have trouble just caring for my own personal needs; but this slave boy has been doing that, and you know that you should be here doing it, instead of this poor slave boy.
If Philemon had that slave boy returned to him, he had three options, he could have him beaten with rods and scourged. he could have him branded with an "F" on his forehead, meaning "Fugitive" or he could of had him crucified.
Many of the run away slaves were crucified by their owners, they thought that they might cause an uprising and all the slaves would rebel and kill there masters, and take over their own wealth.
This story can be seen as this: The slave is us...lost sinners in prison, waiting to be judged, Paul is the mediator, or Jesus who after His crucified is now in heaven, pleading before His Father on our behalf. Philemon is God, He is the one who has the final judgment.
Paul concludes this little note to his friend by writing of all those Christian who are aware that Paul is sending this letter.
If you haven't read the Letter to Philemon, I suggest you take you Bibles out, look it up, and compare what this blog that I have written to your own thoughts. In His name I humbly submit this blog, John Romaine
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