So I was reading through the wee book of Philemon today. Now, it's not like I haven't read the book before, but that's why we continue to read the Bible throughout our lives, isn't it? To glean from it things we haven't noticed before, or to see things in a different light. So I came to the end of the book and, I kid you not, I almost spit coffee out onto my computer and Bible. For what was before my eyes? Could it really be a two thousand year-old tradition, established by the Apostle Paul and carried into the 20th and 21st centuries by Steven Paul Jobs, the Apostle of Apple? Well, you read it and decide:
"One thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers."
"One thing more?" "One more thing..."?
Uncanny!
...or not. I mean, I suppose the most logical explanation is that it's just good presentation. You set up a good letter/speech by using certain words, phrases, and meter to establish a tone in order to take your audience to the place you want them to be. Then, for effect, you "boom!" them; you shock them. It comes out of left field and gives them all something to look forward to. In this case, Paul sort of wags his finger at Philemon and almost orders him around. But after all that, he says, "Oh, and by the way, get a room ready for me. I'll be there in three weeks. See? I don't hate you, I still love you and you're still my brother. You thought I was mad at you? Pshaw. Regardless of what you decide to do with Onesimus, you are important to me, Philemon."
In my NIV Study Bible, a text note says, "Luther said, ‘Even as Christ did for us with God the Father, thus Paul also does for Onesimus with Philemon.’ " I find that pretty powerful. Paul could've ordered Philemon to do what was right (verse 5), but he didn't. Instead, he pleaded with him and, get this, leveraged his positive relationship with Philemon to help lead him [Philemon] in the direction of Christian growth. On the surface, the subject of this chapter would be the fate of Onesimus. But it's not. The real matter at stake here in Philemon is how we interact with our Christian brothers and sisters, especially when they're doing things that we don't feel is right. Don't judge, and don't conditionalize your love: show that you care and really want the best for the person involved, and remind them that no matter what happens, you love them.
One of the things I look forward to as I'm reading through my Bible now is the transition from the Old Testament to the New Testament. I've been working my way through the Minor Prophets (with a break today in reading Philemon) and they've really opened my eyes in a way the OT hasn't before. I've actually been reading the OT almost exclusively for the past two years or so, and it's been very interesting to see the theme of redemption repeated throughout. I just can't wait for Malachi (or, as you may pronounce it, muh-lah-chee). I can see it now: "God, these people are terrible!" "Tell me about it! Malachi, I want you to preach to these people about their sins and how much they need me. Oh, and one more thing..."
"And she shall bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus; for it is he that shall save his people from their sins."
Postscript: Phil. 22 seems like a good verse from Apple's perspective, too, circa 1996. They weren't doing so hot, and there were some who believed that Jobs should have never left. Well, at the end of 1996 he returned, an answer to many a prayer.
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