Philemon 21 21Convinced of your obedience, I have written to you, knowing that you will do even more than the things I say.
Paul begins to close the letter. This is his last comment on the topic of Onesimus. The rest of the letter will deal with other personal matters and greetings. Paul believes the best in Philemon and that he will respond like Paul hopes. Paul even uses the strong word convinced or persuaded (pepoithōs). This could have put more subtle social pressure on Philemon to respond positively to Onesimus’ return. Obedience (hypakoē) should not be read to mean that somehow Philemon was in an inferior position from Paul, although Paul does have authority as an apostle.
Significantly, no where in the letter does Paul appeal to this apostolic authority like he does in other letters. He comes to Philemon as a “prisoner of Christ,” obedient to Christ and free from any earthly force or position. He writes as a person “in Christ” who has deep insight into the ways of Christ. Philemon does not need to obey Paul as such but obey Christ. Paul has articulated the mind of Christ about how two brothers should respond to one another. Philemon must obey the way of Christ. Paul has done his best in this letter to point out that way in simple and persuasive but not coercive terms.
Paul is confident that Philemon’s faith and love were growing as he led his house church and would continue to grow through this experience. This was actually a test of Philemon’s love and faith. If he accepted Onesimus back as a brother and fellow minister of the gospel, his relationship with Christ would grow. God’s grace was behind this the whole situation: Paul’s encounter with Onesimus and the future encounter between Philemon and Onesimus. God’s grace is at work in all the encounters we have with other people. They may not always be as dramatic as the one behind this letter, but even the small encounters can have big outcomes. We never know what impact even simple words may have on people that may send them in a direction that will change their lives.
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