I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel,
Paul writes from prison about Onesimus, a runaway slave who found faith through him and is going back to his owner, Philemon. Here Paul admits he wanted to keep the man, and then gives the wish up.
What Paul Wanted To Keep
Onesimus had become useful to Paul in prison. Paul counts his service as Philemon's own, given "on your behalf":
Arno Clemens GaebeleinHe lets Philemon know that Onesimus had made himself so dear that he was as dear to him as his own heart. He would have liked to keep him at his side in Rome. There Onesimus would have done for Paul every service that Philemon would have done, if Philemon had been in Rome.
A Wish, Not A Decision
What Paul wanted and what Paul decided were two different things:
J. A. TrenchIn Philemon 13 the apostle "would have" kept Onesimus with him: he was desirous of it. But without Philemon's mind he "willed to do nothing."
Bonds Of The Gospel
Paul was content in his chains, and he speaks of bonds of another kind too. One writer traces them back to Christ:
The Bible TreasuryHe was content to be in bonds, because he was the Lord's prisoner. In the same way, he was glad to recognise the bonds that made Philemon one with him for ever. Speaking of Onesimus, he says he would have kept him with him, "in the bonds of the gospel." Here is the very mind of Christ. Christ was content to suffer alone, and for us. He called no one in to share all that He had to do in atonement. No one could have stood with Him in that. And what was it all for? That we might be united to Him in eternal bonds. The present purpose of this union is to serve Him in His people, and to confess Him in the world that has shut Him out.
Grace That Protects Another's Rights
Paul had real need of Onesimus. He sent him back anyway:
William KellyThe fine feeling and the sense of what is proper that grace forms are truly beautiful. Nothing upholds what is right so much as grace. It gives up what is owed to itself, and it upholds what is owed to others! This is of the greatest importance for our souls to heed. The opposite, sadly, is what usually appears. A person abuses grace by humbling another. The use of grace is to humble yourself, and to show all godly respect to everyone else in your place.
The Question Of Slavery
Paul never argues about whether Philemon has a right to own a man. He works on the owner's heart instead:
Leslie M. GrantSlavery was always contrary to God's thoughts. Even so, Paul does not ignore Philemon's position as master over his slave. He sends him back, even though he could have used him for spiritual profit himself, as verse 13 shows... Christianity makes no effort to put right the bad social order of the world. It does not try to fix the world's politics or its economy either. But it does speak in earnest to the heart and conscience of the believer. The aim is that he may gladly and willingly honour God in every relationship he is in. Laws will not change men's hearts. But changed hearts show themselves in changed personal conduct.
Service That Must Be Free
Paul could have kept Onesimus and left Philemon to accept it. He would not force a kindness:
William KellyLove is of God, but it is always holy and always free. So Paul, speaking for Onesimus, took great care. He wanted everything to flow through Philemon's heart, by the working of the Spirit, to Christ's honour. His grace had shone out in the slave. Could Paul look for anything else in the master? He had real need as a prisoner for Christ, and he valued the service of love. Even so, he looks for it from Philemon just as much as from Onesimus.
Summary
- Wish — Paul desired to keep Onesimus, but he willed to do nothing without Philemon's consent.
- Place — kept at Paul's side, Onesimus would have given the service Philemon would have given in person.
- Bonds — Paul's chains became a place of shared service. Christ suffered alone so that we could be joined to Him for ever.
- Right — grace gives up what it is owed and defends what others are owed. It humbles the one who has it, not the one who receives it.
- Free — a forced kindness counts for nothing. The good had to come from Philemon's own heart, since grace had already done its work in his slave.