One of the traits most to be admired in the life of a brother or sister of Jesus is strength of character. Many of us will have known those whose display of Christian virtue has won our deep admiration and been of great help to us in our formative years.
The apostle Paul’s short but compelling epistle to Philemon is an example of how two people of strong character can learn to mutually respect one another. We need hardly say that in a majority of cases two such people, humanly speaking, usually clash; it is when the Truth is the ruling principle in life that such a clash can be avoided, but even then it needs a full measure of what some may term “Christian diplomacy”, but which the writer prefers to call “brotherly love”.
We shall recall that Onesimus, who had been a slave of Philemon, had committed some misdemeanour and had left the home of his master. At some point in his travels he had come into contact with the Truth and with the apostle Paul. Onesimus had been baptised into Christ and was considered by Paul to be “a brother beloved”, and the time came when Paul had to write to Colosse to Philemon seeking to bring about reconciliation.
Need we emphasise the fact that this was a delicate situation? a situation which could bring about an exercise of the necessary virtues?
Such was the case—and we are blessed in being able to see the character of Paul and Philemon thrown into relief by this situation.
Consider for a moment the “credentials” of the two men. Of Paul we can read so much, and each time we read his words we seem to find more depth in his character. He was the man who could become “all things to all men” for the specific purpose of winning some for Christ, and, whilst on one hand he would defend the Truth in a most robust manner, he could also carry that burden of “care for all the churches” which he felt to be such a responsibility. Here indeed was balance, without compromise.
The character of Philemon is revealed in words written by Paul. He was a man of faith, and of love toward his brethen and sisters: so much so that Paul thanked God for such a man and in his great heartedness made mention of him always in his prayers. That Philemon was a hospitable man is seen in the rejoicing of Paul when he writes, “For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you” (R.S.V.). Whilst Philemon appears to have been a man of means, we are concerned with the spirit in which he “entertained” (Hebrews 13. 2). He was what we may term a “cheerful giver”.
How must he have felt when he received this letter from Paul? Here surely was a test of his character, a test that we may perhaps view in the light of Paul’s own humility, for note Paul’s words in verses 8 and 9. There was ground for boldness on Paul’s part whereby he might “Command” . . . “yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal” (R.S.V.). Here is the contrast: of “Commanding” on the one hand, or “calling for aid” on the other, and Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, who wrote by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, preferred to call for Philemon’s aid in this matter. Surely Philemon’s nobility of character would respond, for Paul’s own appreciation of his character is further manifest as he writes, “Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say” (R.S.V.).
Such mutual respect seems to have been strengthened by the way in which Onesimus carried out his work for Christ. He was living up to his name: “Profitable”, and so would add his help to the solving of this situation.
We may be sure that, in the varying situations in which we may find ourselves, a mutual appreciation of strength of character may be of immeasurable help, and serve to keep the torch of Truth burning clearly in the few and evil days that remain of this present order.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One