Philemon 1:15-18 - No longer as a slave but as a dear brother

1:15,16

We see here the overthrow of slavery, not by political power but by the power of the gospel. When Onesimus ran away it would seem to Philemon that he had lost something, but this short term suffering or loss was just the prelude to something much greater. He would indeed get Onesimus back, not as a slave, but as a brother in the Lord. We don’t know how Philemon treated his slaves, presumably quite well, but a deeper change in heart was about to take place. It is interesting that the change in Onesimus’s heart seems to have already taken place, now a change in Philemon’s heart was taking place too. The richness of the gospel is infinitely greater than anything the world gives us. So Onesimus would be valuable to Philemon not as a slave, but as a fellow man and a brother in the Lord, the power of slavery has been broken by the power of the gospel.

1:17,18

Paul is also realistic, and appreciates that there was significant financial loss to Philemon. I guess that Philemon would not have been concerned about this if his heart was changed as Paul hoped, but Paul does not pretend that these concerns do not exist, and Paul does not tell him he must just forget about them. Paul is relying on the power of the gospel. So Paul says he himself will make good any financial cost there has been.