Series: Renewal
Philemon 1:4-6 ESV
Philemon 1:8-16 (Onesimus)
Philemon 1:4-7 MSG
While the letter Paul and a Timothy wrote to Philemon was very brief, it was to the point and it was power packed with love.
In Philemon 1:4-6 they wrote,“I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.”
I’ve said before (and probably will say again) that I am a huge fan of movies, particularly old movies.
I binge watch specific movies (meaning they stay on my radar and I watch the same movies from the same genre’s over and over again.
One of my passions is for watching old movies, especially religious movies. I could not even venture a guess how many times I’ve watched Ten Commandments, King of Kings, and Sampson and Delilah directed by Cecile B. De Mille.
Others on my list through the years include The Agony and the Ecstasy, The Greatest Story Ever Told, The Chosen, and all of the movies Bing Crosby starred in as a Priest.
The list could go on and on.
At one time I owned most of those movies in one format or another. If I could have one wish granted it would be that movies would be in one format only…
I do not know if I “see” stories and movies in my mind and in my dreams because I have watched movies or if I watch movies just because I love them.
When I read Paul and Timothy’s letter to Philemon I visualized the two sitting together talking and praying about the situation with Philemon about the slave Onesimus.
I would begin the scene with Paul and Timothy discussing the situation with the slave. Paul appealed to Philemon (gently reminding him he could command him to take Onesimus back) in love. Paul also reminded Philemon that he was old which gave him the right to be respected. In addition to that, he reminded Philemon he WAS a prisoner for the sake of Jesus. In the First Century those we all reasons for Philemon to give Paul respect and consideration.
In today’s world it would be akin to having a highly educated mentor you respect and love ask you to do something for him because of that love.
I envision a future cut-away scene (in the movie in my head) where Philemon is reading the letter and when he gets to the part of the letter where Paul speaks of his “reason” for asking Philemon tears up and remembers his experiences with Paul as his teacher, mentor, and guide. Upon reading Paul’s words and request Philemon is moved simply because of his past relationship with Paul. As we watch the movie we may remember people from our past who mentored and cared for us on our journey.
That part of Paul’s letter to Philemon mattered. It mattered to Paul and it would have mattered to Philemon. In the movie (in my head) that may very well have been the climax…the reason for the audience to connect and understand the relationship between Paul and Philemon.
They were like father and son who had a past.
They loved each other enough to take any request to heart.
In the scene after praying and brainstorming Paul and Timothy would determine a good course of action. Paul was a master negotiator and had stellar argumentation skills and he would have utilized those as he wrote the letter. We have to remember that they didn’t have the opportunity to send the letter and follow up with an instant change. They only had one shot before the letter was sent.
We also have to remember that Paul probably knew his fate. The letter was probably written in 61-62 AD. and (this would have been another scene in the movie) Emperor Nero was on the throne. His reign began in 54 A.D. and lasted around 14 years. At the time Paul and Timothy wrote the letter they would have been well aware of Nero’s utter lack of regard for the people of the Way of Jesus. Paul was well aware that Nero could and would at any moment send Roman guards to seize him and martyr him for being a follower and leader of the people of the Way of Jesus. Paul was in fact executed at the hand of Nero prior to the emperor’s demise.
I think every time Paul woke up to a new day he was keenly aware this could be his last. Knowing that, Paul and Timothy used every opportunity to talk about love and faith.
Personally speaking I am not sure Paul knew the full implications of his letters to churches and individuals. Could he have known the impact his communications would have on millions and millions of followers of the people of the Way of Jesus? Would he have even thought his letter to Philemon would have been part of scripture that students of the Gospel message would decipher? Did he have ANY idea millions would consider and remember the love of Jesus that Paul, Timothy, Philemon, and Onesimus shared?
Realistically Paul and Timothy stayed connected with many people who traveled to various churches. They must have been told about the very good work Philemon was doing for the Gospel. They would most certainly have discussed what they had heard about his sharing the message of the Gospel and all the good things they were doing for Jesus. Those things would have been at the forefront of their minds.
In the scene in my head I envision Paul and Timothy carefully planning the structure of the letter and discussing how to begin the letter with the good things they had heard about Philemon.
After all you do not want to jump right in with a request regarding a difficult situation. It ‘goes down better’ if you begin with the good things you’ve heard from others.
The letter was brief but it was brilliantly crafted.
I love the opening part of the letter from The Message version.
In Philemon 1:4-7 we get a good understanding of the depth and breadth of the text in this section of scripture, “Every time your name comes up in my prayers, I say, “Oh, thank you, God!” I keep hearing of the love and faith you have for the Master Jesus, which brims over to other believers. And I keep praying that this faith we hold in common keeps showing up in the good things we do, and that people recognize Christ in all of it. Friend, you have no idea how good your love makes me feel, doubly so when I see your hospitality to fellow believers.”
2020 plus years later as I read the letter I know I am a dreamer. I see pictures and scenes. I see Paul and Timothy sitting under house arrest praying and writ people all across the Roman world. Personally I think Philemon has what it takes to make a great movie.
Spiritual Practice: Be mindful
Think about Paul and Timothy writing the letter. What were they thinking?
In God, Deborah
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