Philemon
Themes in the Book of Philemon:• Forgiveness is a key theme. Just as God forgives us, he expects us to forgive others, as we find in the Lord's Prayer. Paul even offered to pay Philemon for anything Onesimus had stolen.
• Equality exists among believers. Although Onesimus was a slave, Paul asked Philemon to consider him the same as him, a brother in Christ. Paul was an apostle, an exalted position, but he appealed to Philemon as a fellow Christian instead of a church authority figure.
• Grace is a gift from God, and out of gratitude, we can show grace to others. Jesus constantly commanded his disciples to love one another, and that the difference between them and pagans would be how they showed love. Paul requested that same kind of love from Philemon, which runs contrary to our human instinct.
• Equality exists among believers. Although Onesimus was a slave, Paul asked Philemon to consider him the same as him, a brother in Christ. Paul was an apostle, an exalted position, but he appealed to Philemon as a fellow Christian instead of a church authority figure.
• Grace is a gift from God, and out of gratitude, we can show grace to others. Jesus constantly commanded his disciples to love one another, and that the difference between them and pagans would be how they showed love. Paul requested that same kind of love from Philemon, which runs contrary to our human instinct.