Big Things Come from Small Letters | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: Big Things Come from Small Letters | Previous Challenge Entry
By Michael Karoly
12/09/06
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When I think of an ‘unsung hero’, I think of someone who doesn’t get wide recognition for doing something that brought a positive result to a person or group of people. An ‘unsung hero’ has to be humble, knowing that whatever they do won’t be plastered over the news and on billboards and magazines. They do something because they care; they have compassion. They are willing to risk a great deal to do the right thing. They are willing to be an example of light in a world of darkness.

In Scripture there was a small, intimate letter delivered to a New Testament figure who, in my opinion, can be called an ‘unsung hero’. His name was Philemon, and the letter was given to him by his runaway slave, Onesimus. Philemon seemed to have been a very prosperous man; according to the letter Paul wrote, Philemon’s home was a meeting place for the church. Paul seemed to care very deeply about Philemon, and he especially appreciated how faithful a brother in the Lord Philemon was. And in this letter, Paul asked Philemon to do the right thing by forgiving Onesimus and treating him as an equal Christian brother.

I don’t know why Onesimus ran away; if Philemon was such a God-fearing and loving man (as the text implies), it’s hard to imagine that Onesimus or any of the slaves in Philemon’s household would have been mistreated or abused. Technically though, Onesimus was Philemon’s property- and he ran away. Somehow he managed to find Paul and accept Jesus; Paul described Onesimus using the terms ‘son’ and ‘useful’ (I picture a one-time rebel finding peace in a saving relationship with Jesus).

When Tychicus and Onesimus carried Paul’s letter to the church in Colossae, Onesimus returned home to Philemon and gave him this small, intimate letter, not knowing what Philemon would do. I wonder how nervous or scared Onesimus might have been standing before Philemon; legally it was Philemon’s right to do whatever he saw fit, including ordering Onesimus back into service for the household. After all, Onesimus was still Philemon’s property. But Paul’s letter showed his desire for reconciliation between brothers in the Lord; it showed his desire to see Philemon set the example before God and the community by giving Onesimus his freedom and treating him as a full member of Christ’s family.

I have no idea what went through Philemon’s mind. As he read this letter he may have been angry or upset, perhaps even happy or confused to see Onesimus again. And Paul’s plea was very convincing; the proof was standing before him in the person of Onesimus. But it was still Philemon’s decision; it was his choice to make. Does he forgive and reconcile with Onesimus or turn a deaf ear to Paul’s (and God’s) pleas? Did he wonder what people would think, and would he lose face in the community if he let this slave go?

In the end, I believe Philemon humbly chose to be obedient to the Lord and released Onesimus from slavery, thereby freeing him to serve God’s purposes. It was God’s words through Paul that called Philemon to put into action the love and compassion he had in his heart for the Father, for Jesus, and for His church, including all her members whoever they were. Onesimus had clearly become one of them, and Philemon chose to do the right thing- he chose to be light in what could have been a dark situation. And through that decision God worked a wonderful positive: in Ephesus around 90 A.D., Paul’s letters may have been collected and published for the first time as a group. The bishop of the church of Ephesus at that time was named…Onesimus. And maybe, just maybe, this was the same Onesimus who was once a runaway slave who saved that letter Paul wrote to Philemon as the years passed.

I believe they were the same person, and I believe Onesimus included that short, intimate letter with the others as a means of thanking and honoring Jesus and Paul and paying tribute to Philemon. Big things came from that small letter: freedom, a bishop, a corpus of Paul’s letters we can read and reflect on, and an ‘unsung hero’. Perhaps Philemon was one of Onesimus’ ‘unsung heroes’ too- I don’t know. I hope to ask him one day when I see him.

Philemon (NIV)

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