A Response to Philo's Discussion

A Response to Philo's Discussion

Paul's letter to Philemon begins with a thankful and encouraging note. He affirms the people of Philemon and encourages them to continue in what they are doing for God. Along with affirmation Paul sheds a bit of wisdom.

The main point in the book of Philemon is basically an analogy used multiple times throughout the Bible. The concept of Slave and Master is used throughout Christian theology as an example of our relationship with God. In the readings for this week the passages mostly discuss slaves and their obedience to their masters. Also in return, the master must treat the slave fairly because that master also has a master in Heaven to be held accountable to. In our Christian faith it is important to remember that no matter what role we play on earth that God's calling far outweighs any earthly responsibility. If we are a slave on earth we must be obedient first to God and second to our master. In Titus it says that we can show Christ to our masters through our respect and dutiful attitude.

It is possible to be a slave and still be free in the soul, as Philo writes. It is possible because of our freedom through Christ. Freedom, even though it does not often seem that way, is a state of mind, rather than situation. It is only complete freedom through Christ. That is the message that Philo is trying to get across in his discussion.

In Colossians it discusses the importance of not just doing something because you have to do it, but doing something and going after it with all of your heart, even the menial duties of our day. God desires his followers to not half-heartedly follow him, but whole-heartedly. He also considers his followers to be one body of believes, not separate sections. This is important to note because it shows that master and slave both hold the same ranking in God's eyes.

This all can be tied in to Paul's letter on behalf of Onesimus in several parts. First, the letter ties in the fact that all followers of God are part of one body, meaning that Paul had ever right to send a letter of accountability, affirmation, and hoping hospitality. Secondly, Paul uses an analogy of slave and master in Philemon verses 8-11. He writes about once being a prisoner to sin, but now a prisoner of Jesus, once useless, now useful. Even though he is in a sense still a prisoner, he is a distinctly