“不再是奴隶,而是高过奴隶,是亲爱的弟兄。对我固然是这样,对你来说,不论按肉身或在主内的关系,更是这样。”
腓利门书 1:16
“no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.”
Philemon 1:16
Onesimus knew what it meant to live on the edge of society. As a slave, Onesimus had apparently wronged his Christian master, Philemon, and was now in prison. While there, he met Paul and came to faith in Christ (v. 10). Though now a changed man, Onesimus was still a slave. Paul sent him back to Philemon with a letter urging him to receive Onesimus “no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother” (Philem. 1:16).
Philemon had a choice to make: He could treat Onesimus as his slave or welcome him as a brother in Christ.
It’s easy to allow the walls of socio-economic status, class, or cultural differences to separate us. The gospel of Christ removes those barriers, changing our lives and our relationships forever.
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