In this episode, we arrive at a striking moment in Paul’s letter. As he prepares to make his appeal on behalf of Onesimus, Paul pauses to acknowledge something significant — he has the authority in Christ to simply command Philemon to do what is right. His apostolic confidence is not in himself, but in Christ. Yet Paul does not lead with his authority. He names it, sets it aside, and chooses a different path entirely. This tension between authority and love sets the stage for everything that follows in the letter.
“Therefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is proper…”
— Philemon 8 (NASB 1995)
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