Philemon: Short and sweet

Surprisingly, Philemon gets taught quite a bit in Bible study classes. Care to guess why? Because it's really short!

And, I think, because it's really sweet. It's a letter Paul wrote to a friend whose slave had run away and come to Paul. Paul was sending the slave back home, with a letter exhorting the friend, Philemon, to accept the runaway graciously and as a Christian brother.

I like the letter because it seems so personal. Paul wasn't writing down any great theological treatise or answering any knotty questions, or admonishing any backsliding believers. Well, actually he was. The letter to Philemon does deal with the issue of God's grace to sinners, the body of Christ among the fellowship of believers, moral obligations of believers, and so on.

I like the way the letter starts with some friendly affirmation. I like the little word play. The name of the slave, "Onesimus," means "useful," and Paul wrote that he had become useful to Paul in prison. I like the part about "I'll take care of any financial obligations--although, if you remember, you owe your very salvation to me."

And I always like the cheerful request to prepare a room because Paul was planning to come visit soon.

The whole letter--25 verses--is just so intimate, friendly, earnest.
And sweet.