PHILEMON: ATTRIBUTES OF A FORGIVING PERSON

Paul’s brief letter to Philemon, a Christian slave-owner who has been wronged by a slave named Onesimus, presents a wonderful example of God’s forgiveness and restoration, and the need to forgive others that have done us wrong. We all have times in our lives where we need to forgive and be forgiven. As long as we live in our human flesh, we will be hurt and hurt others.

I believe that forgiveness is the key to healing. It is the starting point in the healing process. We can never know true inner peace until we have forgiven. I know it’s not easy. We may feel completely justified in holding onto an unforgiving attitude. But the problem with that is bitterness gets in and takes root. We continually think about it, reliving it over and over, but it needn’t be that way. It’s only destroying us and taking away our joy and peace in life.

Philemon needed to forgive Onesimus for stealing from him and running away. Paul sees in Philemon godly attributes that leaves the Apostle little doubt that Philemon will be unwilling to forgive and accept Onesimus back, not as a slave, but as a brother (vv. 15-16). Those same attributes are to be found in every Christian that enables us to choose to forgive and place the offense at the foot of the cross and leave it there.