Philemon is a very short book and seems to be mostly an everyday letter about an everyday topic. Some might question its usefulness or even its right to be in the Bible at all. But then God inspired it to be there so he must have a purpose in mind.
A close read of the letter to Philemon shows it to be a very gospel-oriented correspondence. Paul’s words in verse 18, “charge it to me,” are an echo of the heart of the gospel. Paul is willing to bear the debt of Onesimus because Christ bore our debt before God.
The whole letter is a living illustration of . . . . Christian sacrifice for the sake of reconciliation. Each of the three men involved are called on to willingly “take on someone else’s debt” for the good of the others.
The Apostle Paul writes from prison, already suffering for the gospel. Yet even there, he sacrifices further by sending away Onesimus, who had become like a “son” to him in faith (v. 10).
Onesimus was a runaway slave. For him it was no small step to follow the apostle’s advice and return to the house of his master Philemon where he could potentially face anger or worse. He trusted in God’s grace and the appeal Paul makes on his behalf.
Then Philemon is asked to receive Onesimus not as a slave but a brother in Christ. This does not seem to us to be such a difficult request, but at the time it would upend social norms and possibly cause financial loss. His response in Christian love would be one of mercy, not justice.
Faith in Christ changes all our relationships. We continually go back to his willingness to charge our offenses to him. As Isaiah, the prophet, reminds us: But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed (Isaiah 53:5). At the cross, he absorbed the full cost of our rebellion so that we might be reconciled to the Father and to one another.
We can forgive others’ wrongs to us. We can humbly give up our own comfort for the sake of reconciliation. Paul’s “charge it to me” ultimately points us back to Christ.
17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. … 25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
(Philemon 1:17-18,25)