保羅給腓利門的「明信片」是他所有信件中最短的，也是最具個人色彩的一封了！那是－篇外交與機智的傑作，討論的是最讓羅馬帝國頭痛的社會問題：奴隸制度。腓利門的奴隸阿尼西母偷竊主人的財物後潛逃到羅馬，在那裡認識了保羅(當時保羅被軟禁在一幢房子裡，徒28：16，30)信了耶穌基督，成為基督徒之後，阿尼西母面臨另一種掙扎－－保羅差他帶著這封信回去見相離日久的主人腓利門，促請腓利門饒恕他；阿尼西母離去的時候是個受捆綁的奴隸，如今回去卻是主裡的弟兄了！

        向你挑戰，在你搭公車或與幾個人共乘一車去上班時、和鄰人暍杯咖啡之際、或在一個適當的機會裡，不妨拿腓立門書給一位未信的朋友，請他讀廿五節，然後很親切的問：「你知道這個小故事在描述人怎樣才能回天家嗎？」
        然後繼續說：「就像阿尼西母一樣，你一直在逃避上帝，去走自己的道路，追尋自我實現，但即使你逃避創造你的主，卻一直走近愛你的救主，是誰死在十架上代你接受罪的刑罰？是誰代死使你與上帝和好？只要你接受基督之死的救恩，你欠祂的罪債就能付清，現在你願意親嘗罪蒙赦免的喜樂嗎？」
        這個禮拜，靠著上帝的力量和一位未信的朋友分享腓立門書的信息，然後抽空告訴我們結果如何!

阿尼西母外傳
        阿尼西母結果如何？腓利門對保羅的求情有什麼反應？雖然傳統提供了一些線索，但聖經並無明確記載，也許腓利門讓他自由，送他回去協助保羅(門13－14)。第二世紀的一位教會先祖曾說，後來阿尼西母在以弗所擔任牧師。

綑綁中的靈魂不得拯救。

English

        Paul's "postcard" to Philemon is the shortest and perhaps the most intimate of all his letters. It is a masterpiece of diplomacy and tact in dealing with a festering social sore in the Roman Empire: human slavery. Onesimus, a slave of Philemon, had stolen from his master and had run away to Rome. There he came in contact with Paul (who was under house arrest, Acts 28:16, 30) and with the claims of Jesus Christ. After his conversion, Onesimus faced yet another confrontation—this time with his estranged master, Philemon. Paul sends him back with this letter in hand, urging Philemon to extend forgiveness. Oncsimus had left as a bond servant. Now he was returning as a brother in the Lord.

        Here is a challenge. On your ride to work (if you carpool), over coffee with a neighbor, or on some other convenient occasion, hand the book of Philemon to an unsaved friend and ask him or her to read its 25 verses. Then lovingly ask, "Did you know that little story illustrates how to get to heaven?"
        Continue: "You, like Onesimus, have been running from God. You have gone your own way, seeking fulfillment in life. But even as you were running from the Creator who made you, you were running toward the Savior who loves you ... who died to pay sin's penalty ... who died to reconcile you to God. The debt which you owe your Master has been paid in full, if you will but accept the provision of Christ's death. Wouldn't you like to know the joy of sins forgiven right now?"
        In God's strength, share the message of Philemon with one unsaved friend this week. Follow up with a gospel tract, or make an appointment for further conversation.

An Extrabiblical Postscript on Onesimus —
        Whatever happened to Onesimus? How did Philemon react to Paul's plea? The Bible does not say, though tradition provides some interesting clues. Possibly Philemon freed his slave and sent him back to assist Paul (w. 13-14). Ignatius, a second-century church father, reports that Onesimus later became a minister in Ephesus.

Souls are not saved in bundles.