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Philemon 16 – No Longer as a Slave
V.16 – No longer as a slave, but more than a slave
Here is a hint of manumission, but Paul never commands emancipation ‑ only equality (1 Cor.7:22). “No longer as a slave” is elliptical. He is trying to change the focus of his friend’s thinking. The first thing that Philemon should see is a brother, not a slave; a man in the image of God, not chattel. This does not mean that “no longer as a slave” negates his social status. The primary purpose of this verse is not to alter the social relationship, but the spiritual ‑ “as a brother.” Lightfoot rightly says, “It describes not the possible view of Philemon, but the actual state of Onesimus. The `no more as a slave’ is an absolute fact whether Philemon chooses to recognize it or not.” (St.Paul’s Epistles To The Colossians & Philemon, J.B. Lightfoot, p.343.) Schaff uses these words, “the form remained, the thing itself was gone.” (History Of The Christian Church, Philip Schaff, v.1, p.795.) Remember, “Christianity does not abolish the distinctions of rank and station, but morally equalizes them.” (Critical And Exegetical Hand‑Book To The Epistles To The Philippians And Colossians, And To Philemon, H.A.W. Meyer, p.410.)
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