Paul's Prison Epistles: Paul and PhilemonSample

Philemon as Master: Philemon 14

Here, Paul acknowledged Philemon’s authority over Onesimus, and revealed his own motivation for making an appeal to Philemon instead of commanding him. Paul wrote these words in Philemon 14:

I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced (Philemon 14).

Paul wanted Philemon himself to choose to do the right thing. And so he made it clear that his petition came as a request rather than as an apostolic command.

It may be that he wanted his friend to gain heavenly rewards by doing the right thing for the right reason. And perhaps he also thought that a voluntary reconciliation between the two men would make their brotherly relationship in Christ all the stronger.

Additionally, it appears that Paul wanted to show Philemon respect and to give his benevolence the benefit of the doubt. Then, if Philemon treated Onesimus well, it would provide greater encouragement both to Paul and to the church. This was Paul’s reasoning in Philemon 7-9, where he wrote in this way:

Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints. Therefore, although … I could … order you to do what you ought to do, yet I appeal to you on the basis of love (Philemon 7-9).

Essentially, Philemon’s past love and faithfulness to the church encouraged Paul to think that Philemon would be loving and faithful to Onesimus as well. 

In all likelihood, Paul chose this route for a variety of reasons, leaving Philemon in the traditional Roman role of a master who had to sit in judgment over his slave. He could decide harshly choosing to discipline Onesimus. Or he could judge mercifully, forgiving Onesimus for the sake of Christ, and for the sake of his friend the apostle Paul. The choice was truly his to make, although Paul made it abundantly clear which choice was the right one.