1:4 I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,
1:5 hearing of your love, and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus,
and toward all the saints;
1:6 that the fellowship of your faith may become effective,
in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus.
1:7 For we have much joy and comfort in your love,
because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

1:8 Therefore, though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate,
1:9 yet for love's sake I rather beg, being such a one as Paul, the aged,
but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
1:10 I beg you for my child, whom I have become the father of in my chains,
Onesimus,{Onesimus means "useful."}

1:11 who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me.
1:12 I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,
1:13 whom I desired to keep with me,
that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the gospel.
1:14 But I was willing to do nothing without your consent,
that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will.

1:15 For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while,
that you would have him forever,
1:16 no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother,
especially to me, but how much rather to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

1:21 Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you,
knowing that you will do even beyond what I say.
1:22 Also, prepare a guest room for me,
for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.
1:23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,
1:24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
1:25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Now you would think that a prisoner in chains would outright reject the institution of slavery. But Paul recognizes that we are all slaves, for even as Christians we call Jesus Lord and Master; and that we all have even human authority over us to an extent, as Paul himself experienced in prison. Yet he saw his situation as under God's sovereignty and didn't promote rebellion. Nor did Jesus support the violent overthrow of the Roman government which occupied Israel as a foreign power.

Paul showed deference to Philemon allowing him to make the decision, rather than forcing him. It was Paul's opinion that slavery should be avoided, as he writes

"Were you a slave when you were called? Don't let it trouble you-- although if you can gain your freedom, do so.  For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord's freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ's slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men." 1Cor 7:21-23 (niv)

However, even according to the Law of Moses it is written, "If a slave has taken refuge with you, do not hand him over to his master.  Let him live among you wherever he likes and in whatever town he chooses. Do not oppress him." Deut 23:15,16 So under the law of Moses slaves were allowed to run away. This means that the Biblical version of slavery is one is which there is a degree of willingness on the slaves part, which is a much different connotation of slavery that how the term is usually understood today.

Paul's instruction to Onesimus was not in defiance of this law, for it was advice rather than forcing him to return. And so also he was attempting to correct the problem that may have led to Onesimus leaving in the first place.

vs 5 In many of his letters Paul makes mention of thanking God for the Christians on the basis of the outworkings of their faith. For such outworkings give evidence that such people have truly been born of God. The most common characteristic of those born of God is their love for other Christians.

vs 6 Sharing one's faith involves sharing applications of faith with Christians and sharing the gospel with non-Christians. It is in sharing one's faith with those around that can bring one to a full understanding of what we have in Christ. It is one thing to hear  the message and acknowledge it. But one's convictions are really deepened and revealed when one shares the message with others and makes it real. It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak." 2Cor 4:13

vs 8 Paul has a clear idea of what Philemon ought to do, which he mentions later.  But by saying this to him, he is practically giving him a polite command. For if Philemon doesn't do it, then he knows that Paul would think that he is not doing the thing that he ought to do. And as it is written:  "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins." Jas 4:17 This is a serious thing.

vs 9 Yet he wants him to respond not out of fear of condemnation, but rather in view of the love of Christ. This is how much of the Christian life is like and how it differs from living under the Law. Rather than being subjected to a set of rules and regulations, Christians are to be motived out of their faith in God's grace and apply the spirit of the Law rather than simply the letter.

vs 10 As I mentioned, Onesimus was Philemon's slave whom Paul converted while in a Roman prison. It is also apparent that Onesimus himself was not a prisoner there, but rather purposely came to see Paul in prison.

vs 11 Onesimus, having been converted was now a servant of Christ and a part of Christ's ministry on the earth. For ministry is not limited to an elite few, but extends to even recent converts.

vs 12 Unlike the apathetic impersonalism of modern ministry, Paul often developed emotional attachments to his people, along with a sense of responsibility.

vs 13 I can imagine that Onesimus would be particularly helpful to Paul in very practical ways. Onesimus had been a slave, quite familiar with identifying and meeting needs of his master. And one could imagine Paul, being in chains, having many practical needs. He could also empathize with and identify with the bondage Onesimus must have felt. One can imagine that under the culture of the day, slaves were viewed with a condescending, contemptuous attitude. But in Christianity, no one is to be view with such an attitude simply because of their position in the society. For Jesus himself was viewed as only a carpenter's son. One gets the sense that Paul is trying to get Philemon over his cultural prejudices to first view Onesimus as an equal and valuable Christian, before he deals with the freedom issue. One also gets the sense of a gentle rebuke as Paul expresses his feeling of being a bit neglected by Philemon in prison, much as parents do their children when they get older and seldom visit.

vs 14 Here Paul shows deference, not only on the basis of the authority the Philemon had over his slave, but also on the basis of his Christian service.

vs 15-16 This is an interesting verse for those who have suffered loss, particularly losing relationships for a time. One is reminded of Joh 12:24  "I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." (niv) One also senses an almost fatalist tone in Paul's argument as he uses the passive form of "separated". No doubt he saw God involved in this event of Onesimus running away, which worked out for the best in the end, though it was an act of rebellion. Although there is a danger in justfying acts of rebellion with the argument that the ends justifies the means. For much harm has come from such an idea. Rather one should view this as God working out the best inspite of our rebelliousness. Under Calvinism it seems one would have to conclude that God, in puppetlike fashion, causes Onesimus to rebel, making God guilty of instigating rebellion. But for the rest of us, we can say that God has decided to limit himself in his control over us so as to allow us a degree of free choice. As such, what did He have to work with? A rebellious slave. But even within those parameters, He can still exert influence, even as humans do over one another to a degree, so as to lead this slave to Himself even in the midst of his rebelliousness. Thus God does not force him to be rebellious, but rather leads him inspite of his sinfulness.  Thus God draws the unredeemed to himself leading them through circumstances that will help to bring them closer, if they cooperate, as it is written: "He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us."Acts 17:26,27 (niv)

vs 17-21 Notice how Paul treats Onesimus as Christ treats us.
"Welcome him as you would welcome me." One is reminded of the Matthew 25 sheep/goats judgement.
"If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me ... I will pay it back-- not to mention that you owe me your very self." Christ payed the penalty for our sins and bought us with his own blood. And one is also reminded of the parable of the good samaritan. Also that phrase "you owe me your very self." reminds us of how grateful and indebted we should be not only to Christ, but also to those who led us to Christ.

The note that Paul was writing this with his own hand is also significant. For most of his letters were dictated. Not that he couldn't write, but rather had some affliction that gave him problems writing - probably an eye disease. Thus in some letters to increase their intensity and intimacy, Paul would often end the letter with his own hand.

Paul invoked a sense of obligation within Philemon so as to provoke him to action. This is also what God does in us. For even for the unredeemed, God's riches are meant to lead one to repentance. (Romans 2:4)

And then verse 21 is another aspect of the Christian's motivation in serving God. We do because we are. God reckons us righteous. We are reckoned children of God. With that in mind we behave appropriately out of a positive motivation, and not simply out of fear of judgement.

vs 22 Obedience leads to intimacy. Jesus said, "Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." John 14:21 (niv) Just as Jesus likes to hang around Christians who are obedient, so also does Paul. So if you're obeying God, prepare more room for Him in your heart, because He's coming.

Joh 14:23  Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.
My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." (niv)