Fellow Bondsman

Philemon 1:16-25

"Not as a slave any longer but as [something] more than a slave, as a brother [Christian], especially dear to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh [as a servant] and in the Lord [as a fellow believer].

If then you consider me a partner and acomrade in fellowship, welcome and receive him as you would [welcome and receive] me.

And if he has done you any wrong in any way or owes anything [to you], charge that to my account.

I, Paul, write it with my own hand, I promise to repay it [in full]—and that is to say nothing [of the fact] that you owe me your very self!

Yes, brother, let me have some profit from you in the Lord. Cheer and refresh my heart in Christ.

I write to you [perfectly] confident of your obedient compliance, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

At the same time prepare a guest room [in expectation of extending your hospitality] to me, for I am hoping through your prayers to be granted [the gracious privilege of coming] to you.

Greetings to you from Epaphras, my fellow prisoner here in [the cause of] Christ Jesus (the Messiah),

And [from] Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

The grace (blessing and favor) of the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) be with your spirit. Amen (so be it)."

I love the sound of this part of Paul's letter to his brother in Jesus...

Paul is writing a letter to smooth over the feelings of Philemon about his slave who was captured and put in the stock yard with Paul while he was in jail for the sake of the gospel of Christ Jesus. The need for this new convert was great... The knowledge of his Being now even more valuable to him in that he can now join in the army of faithful to Jesus' Work

And to their work in His Name!

"Who do you value in This Army of Faith?"

PJCopty