For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, 16 no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
American slavery is the biggest defect in the history of the United States. It was based on race and slaves were treated as chattel. Paul has taken a beating for his lack of a stance against slavery in the first century Roman Empire. There are key differences. The Romans were indiscriminate in their slave choices, Britons, Germans, and Gauls, no matter their race or skin color, were enslaved. Also, in Paul’s context, there were no employers or employees and slavery was the norm for the empire. Yet here we see Paul writing on behalf of an escaped slave, Onesimus, to be treated not as property and executed for escape, but received as a brother in the Lord.
We can make no defense of slavery’s evils, especially in light of the 19th century use of Scripture to defend it and to perpetuate it. It does not change the fact that here, Paul presents Onesimus and Philemon as equals in the family of God, in their need of a Savior, and their call into the community of believers. We do not know how this story ends but we can envision the church in Colossae meeting at the house of Philemon and Onesimus, not serving but being served. That is the power of the gospel at work.
Dear Lord, thank you for the deliverance from bondage to sin that you gave us with the cross. Help us to see each other as brothers and sisters. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Churc