Paul's Prison Epistles: Paul and PhilemonSample

God as Ruler: Philemon 15-16

After laying out the various human parties in their relations to one another, Paul reminded Philemon of God’s role as providential ruler in verses 15 and 16. In this section he pondered the greater good that God might bring out of Onesimus’ sin if Philemon would only grant his request. 

Paul referred to God’s providential hand in Philemon 15-16, writing these encouraging words to Philemon:

Perhaps the reason [Onesimus] was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good — no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord (Philemon 15-16).

The Lord providentially controls everything in the universe. And he often permits bad things to happen in order that his good purposes might be accomplished. Paul suggested that in this case God had orchestrated events to bring Onesimus and Philemon into conflict in order that Onesimus would be forced to seek Paul’s advocacy. And the Lord allowed this in order that, through Paul’s ministry, Onesimus might be brought to faith in Christ, and subsequently reconciled to Philemon as an equal in the Lord.

By speaking about God’s providential control of the universe, Paul asked Philemon to step back from the conflict with Onesimus in order to see it from the perspective of God’s plan. Yes, Philemon was angry, and he had a right to be. But the problems with Onesimus were insignificant compared to the blessings that God had bestowed through their strife.

Philemon was a good man. And once he realized that God had orchestrated the conflict with Onesimus in order to save a lost soul, his anger may well have turned to joy, just as Paul had hoped.