Paul's Prison Epistles: Paul's ImprisonmentSample

Themes in Paul’s Letters—Writing: Philemon 1:1-25

Paul’s writing ministry during the years of his imprisonment is demonstrated by his New Testament letters to the churches in Colosse, Ephesus, and Philippi, and to the Colossian man, Philemon. Through these letters Paul was able to provide relevant pastoral ministry to churches and individuals. And since these writings were preserved for us in the New Testament, Paul’s ministry has been multiplied throughout the world for the past two thousand years.

Paul’s writings reveal a rich ministry to churches and individuals with whom he had ongoing relationships. He knew many things about their circumstances and about them personally. And as a result, Paul was able to address many specific issues that concerned his audiences, both personal and theological. He even instructed some individuals by name. Despite his inability to travel, Paul’s ministry was informed and carefully tailored to the specific situations of the churches and individuals to whom he wrote.

Consider, for instance, that in his letter to the Philippians Paul engaged in pastoral ministry by exhorting two women, Syntyche and Euodia, to reconcile with one another. These were women Paul knew, women who had labored alongside him, but who had come into disagreement with one another. Paul’s concern for them was personal and loving, and his solution to their problem was tremendously tender.  We read his words to them in Philippians 4:2:

I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord (Philippians 4:2).

In much the same way, Paul also pleaded for reconciliation between believers in the book of Philemon. There he interceded on behalf of a slave named Onesimus who had fled his Colossian master Philemon. In fact, the entire book of Philemon is dedicated to petitioning Philemon to be gracious to Onesimus.

Apparently after fleeing his master, Onesimus had sought out Philemon’s friend, Paul. And under Paul’s ministry, Onesimus had become a Christian. Moreover, Onesimus had remained with Paul and had ministered to him in prison. So, Paul’s ministry to Onesimus and Philemon was deeply personal, and he took care as their pastor and as their friend to reconcile their relationship.

Paul also directed his letters to the theological issues that involved the church as a whole, providing authoritative apostolic instruction with a pastoral hand. His teaching ministry as an authoritative representative of Christ did not falter during his imprisonment. Rather, Paul continued to provide infallible revelations of truth during this time and continued to apply that truth to the church through his letters.

As we have seen, both Acts and Paul’s New Testament letters indicate that Paul was actively involved in ministry during his imprisonment. He knew that God had provided prison to him as an opportunity spread the gospel and to provide an example for the saints. And inspired with this knowledge, he conducted a robust ministry of preaching, praying, suffering, and writing, through which he faithfully discharged all his duties as an apostle of Jesus Christ.