The Annual Review

who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me.  Philemon 1:11 NASB

Useless – This is an odd thing to say.  After all, we’re speaking about a slave.  What does a slave do?  Whatever the master commands.  A slave is useful precisely because a slave does what’s required.  So, why does Paul write that at times in the past Onesimus was of no value to Philemon?  Why would Philemon keep a worthless slave?  Useless slaves are discarded.

First consider the term achrēstŏs, derived from the negative particle a and chrēstŏs (in ancient Greek, the term means, “useless, unprofitable, unserviceable”).^[1]  Of course, Paul could mean that Onesimus was useless to Philemon after he ran away.  That seems abundantly clear.  But why would Paul bother to mention something so obvious, particularly when he continues by saying that Onesimus will become useful to both Philemon and him?  It seems as though Paul is deliberately exaggerating the former lack of value in order to present a positive future role.

Philemon would have thought, “What is he talking about?”  Slaves, even disobedient ones, have value—as long as they are under the control of the master.  The only time Onesimus was achrēstŏs was after he escaped.  Philemon might have thought, “Well, Paul, if Onesimus returns at least I can recover some of my investment.  So, send him back and I’ll put him to work.”

But Paul sets the stage differently.  According to Paul, no matter how obedient or disobedient, Onesimus’ former state under Philemon was useless.  True, Onesimus served his master (how well we don’t know), but from Paul’s perspective all that former service has no real value.  As far as Paul is concerned, Onesimus’ work review is a total failure.  Why?  Because God has another role for Onesimus to play and until he is able to carry out that role, everything else his master counts as valuable is, in fact, worthless.  Paul isn’t trying to convince Philemon that Onesimus wasn’t a good investment.  He’s trying to convince Philemon that his investment in Onesimus needs a different objective.  Onesimus must serve God through Philemon.  And if Philemon allows this change in objective, Philemon will also serve Paul—and God.  Onesimus’ new role is useful to both men.

You and I are in this mix.  Maybe you’re like Paul, trying to convince another person to reassess the opportunities of a third party, to let God have His way with some under your authority.[2]  Maybe you’re like Philemon, confronted with a decision about letting someone become what God intended by putting aside your former assessment.  Or maybe you’re like Onesimus, asked to enter the fray again with God’s point of view in mind.  One of the three.  Which one?

Topical Index: achrēstŏs, useless, intention, Philemon 1:11

^[1] Liddell, H. G. (1996). A lexicon: Abridged from Liddell and Scott’s Greek-English lexicon (p. 142). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

[2] For example, my book, Guardian Angel, is all about husbands letting God have His way with their wives—as God intended.