Sermon Summary -- Philemon

There are three options open to Philemon when Onesimus shows up on Philemon's doorstep.

1. He could grant Paul's request and give Onesimus' freedom unconditionally and send him on his way; or
   
2. He could keep Onesiimus a slave but give him more "special treatment" as a fellow Christian; or
   
3. He could do nothing, keeping him as a slave -- even make his life more difficult as a run-a-way slave.

If Philemon did anyone of these options, he would have been well within the social norm of his day, exercising his right as a slave owner.

Paul offers a fourth option, which is the theological center of this short letter. Paul, in verses 15-16, offers a new vision of the new creation brought about in Christ's coming. Onesimus is recommended to Philemon to become a "beloved brother." Thus, the relationship of master/slave is broken in the coming of the Christ -- and Philemon can make a visible witness to the new creation in Christ by giving his slave his freedom and redefining their personal relationship.

The force of this short letter is to show in a specific way that Christ's coming inaugurates the new creation and Onesimus can make it "incarnate" in his redefining how he will travel this life with Onesimus -- as beloved brothers. For the modern Church, we need to look at those institutions (such as slavery or other forms of evil) that set up social boundaries that deny the reality of God new creation and set before them a new way to see the marginalied other.