As Paul writes his most personal correspondence in all the New Testament, he does so from a position of humility not authority. He is writing to a dear friend and aims to call his brother in Christ (Philemon) to handle a recently escaped slave (Onesimus) with the grace and peace made available through the finished work of Christ. Now that Onesimus is a fellow-believer, the gospel is to flavor their relationship… not just past actions and offenses. The good news of Jesus has something to say about our relationships in the church, even those that are heavy and hurtful.
