17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.
Have you ever been welcomed warmly because someone else opened the door for your reception? Someone else, whose reputation and character made them welcome to that group, opened the way for you to be welcomed by that same group. That other person put their reputation on the line when they said that you were someone who could be trusted, who should be received. The movie Meet the Parents talks about the ‘circle of friends.’ Only a few are in the circle and entrance to that circle must be earned. And once trust has been lost, you are rejected from that circle, and reentrance into that circle is very difficult. Paul is putting his reputation on the line for a runaway slave. Paul is asking his owner to consider this slave a close, trusted friend, rather than as a rebellious, disobedient slave. Paul wants Philemon to open up his circle of trust and let the slave back in that circle. Not only that, Paul wants Philemon to open the very small circle that Paul has access to and let this slave in. Paul in essence is giving up his seat in that circle for this slave. It might be like this. Suppose you had a nanny whom you trusted with the raising of your children. Then all of a sudden, they leave, taking all your diamonds and expensive electronics with them. (You might have to use your imagination to increase the size of your diamonds to feel the impact of the loss!) Or maybe they took your child with them. You search frantically, but have given up hope of recovery. Then, out of the blue, you get a letter from a close friend, asking that you accept this nanny back into your home, because they are asking you to accept them back. Would you be willing to do that based on your friend’s letter? That struggle you are feeling as you think about this must be similar to Philemon’s struggle. What would your answer be? Would you let them back into your home, care for your children, watch over your wealth?
The Arnold Journey 