Faith and Love: The Foundation for Paul's Appeal (Philemon 1-7)

-Sung Psalm- 66---In Paul's letter to Philemon, the apostle calls a master to free his slave.--Some have wondered why Paul did not appeal to OT law. After all, Deuteronomy 23-15 says that -you shall not give up to his master a slave who has escaped from his master to you.- And yet Onesimus has escaped from Philemon and has sought refuge with Paul.--In our Politics and the Kingdom of God study, we have had some opportunity to reflect on how the OT law applies today - and now in the book of Philemon, we can see how Paul applies the law.--He doesn't simply say, -Hey look, Moses says I shouldn't return him-- After all, the Mosaic law was given to Israel - and under Roman law, Paul was obligated to send Onesimus back. So what we see here is how Paul applies the equity of the Law - the principle - to a Roman situation.--Paul submits to the governing authorities - he sends the slave back to his master - but along with the slave, he sends a letter that is designed to convince Philemon to set Onesimus free.--If Paul had attacked the institution of slavery - insisting that slavery was morally wrong - and threatening to excommunicate Philemon if he refused to emancipate all his slaves, Paul would have turned the church into a revolutionary institution.--But while Paul thinks that freedom is better than slavery - Paul does not think that the gospel should be subordinated to political ends. There are lots of problems in every society.--Rather, Paul wants us to see that our new identity in Christ also brings a new community in Christ. We are a family. Our old ways of thinking about -family- will be challenged by this.