“I prefer to beg you by appealing to love” (FILEM. 9).
1. What responsibility do we all have?
We all have a responsibility to maintain and protect the peace of the congregation. Although Jehovah makes that peace possible, each one of us must contribute to it by treating our brothers and sisters with love, respect, and kindness, and by doing our best to maintain unity and resolve conflicts lovingly.
THE PLEA
2. Briefly tell the story of Philemon and Onesimus (Philemon 8, 9, 17).
Philemon was a Christian in Colossae who had a slave named Onesimus, who ran away to Rome and perhaps stole some money from him. There, Onesimus met Paul and became a Christian. Since, according to Roman law, he had to return to his master, Paul sent him back and wrote to Philemon asking him to receive him kindly, appealing to his love for Christ and for the brothers.
3. What might Paul have wondered when he sent Onesimus back? (See also the image.)
Paul may have wondered how Philemon would react to Onesimus's return, whether he would severely punish him for running away, and how this situation would affect the congregation. He may also have worried about potential conflicts between the slaves and their masters. Paul knew that all of this could jeopardize the peace of the congregation, so he wrote a letter to Philemon to help him handle the situation with love.
ILLUSTRATION
Philemon reads aloud Paul's letter in front of a group that includes Onesimus and Tychicus (see paragraph 3).
WHAT WE LEARN FROM PAUL
4, 5. How can elders contribute to a peaceful atmosphere in the congregation?
Elders can contribute to a peaceful atmosphere in the congregation by treating their brothers and sisters as friends, rather than acting as if they were the masters of God's sheep. They should be loving shepherds, dedicating time to them, listening to them, valuing them, and helping them when they need it. In this way, they will set a good example and encourage everyone to foster peace and unity.
6. Why is it important to praise others?
It's important to praise others because we all need to feel loved and valued. Sincere praise can alleviate feelings of insecurity, encourage us, and help us avoid developing a competitive or defensive attitude. Therefore, we should look for opportunities to praise our loved ones, not only for their achievements but also for their efforts.
7. Why should we be careful about what we say about others? (Philemon 10-12).
We must be careful about what we say about others because our words can influence how others see and treat them. If we speak well of our siblings, we can help others value and treat them with kindness. But if we speak ill of them, we could damage their reputation and affect how others treat them. Therefore, we should strive to have a positive opinion of our siblings and speak well of them. To achieve this, we must make an effort to get to know them better and focus on their positive qualities.
8. What will help us to think and speak well of our siblings? (See also the pictures.)
It will help us to follow Paul’s example, who focused on the good qualities of his brothers, even though he was aware of their shortcomings. We too should get into the habit of thinking well of them and praying to Jehovah to bless them. In this way, we will naturally speak positively about our brothers and show them how much we value them.
ILLUSTRATION
Series of images: 1. Paul writes a letter with his hand in chains. 2. In a Kingdom Hall, an older brother congratulates a younger brother in front of others.
Like Paul, let us have a positive opinion of our brothers and speak well of them (see paragraph 8).
9. Why is it so striking that Paul spoke kindly to Philemon?
It is striking because Paul went through many difficult situations: he was violently attacked, unjustly imprisoned, shipwrecked, and under house arrest when he wrote to Philemon. Despite all this stress and suffering, he did not allow his circumstances to negatively influence how he treated others, but instead wrote to him with affection and kindness. His example teaches us that even when we are tired or going through trials, we should strive to treat others with love and thus contribute to maintaining peace in the congregation.
WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM ONÉSIMO
10. What does the example of Onesimus teach us?
The example of Onesimus teaches us that when we offend someone, we must acknowledge our mistake and make an effort to reconcile. Even if it's not easy and requires sacrifices, we must be willing to repair our friendship. Onesimus didn't let difficulties, such as having to travel over 1,400 kilometers, prevent him from reconciling with Philemon, who was now his spiritual brother.
11. If we have offended someone, how can we make peace? (See also the pictures.)
If we have offended someone, we must take the initiative to make amends. We can begin by sincerely apologizing, listening to the other person, and trying to understand how they feel. We must also acknowledge our mistake without making excuses or blaming others. Although asking for forgiveness requires humility, doing so will help us regain the friendship and maintain peace.
ILLUSTRATION
Series of images: 1. Onesimus. 2. Two brothers are sitting in a park, and one is sincerely apologizing to the other.
Like Onesimus, let us be humble and promote peace (see paragraph 11).
WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM PHILEMON
12. Why was Paul convinced that Philemon would forgive Onesimus?
Paul was convinced that Philemon would forgive Onesimus because he knew his good qualities, especially his love for Christ and for his brothers and sisters. He knew that these qualities would move him to forgive Onesimus and welcome him back warmly, as a spiritual brother.
13. Why is showing love essential to maintaining peace? (Colossians 3:14).
Showing love is essential for maintaining peace because, as Paul said in his letter to the congregation in Colossae, at Colossians 3:14, love is “a perfect bond of union.” When we love our brothers and sisters, it is easier for us to forgive them, treat them with kindness, and overlook their mistakes. In this way, we contribute to maintaining unity and peace in the congregation.
14. How do we know that Philemon was hospitable?
We know that Philemon was hospitable because he offered his home for the congregation to meet in. Furthermore, Paul asked him to prepare a place to stay, which shows that he trusted Philemon's hospitality. His generosity made those who benefited from it feel welcome and encouraged.
15. Why will we love our brothers and sisters more if we are hospitable? (See also the pictures).
We will love our brothers and sisters more if we are hospitable because we will have the opportunity to get to know them better, even those who are not part of our inner circle or with whom we have little in common. By learning their story, how they learned the truth, and the trials they have faced, we will come to love and respect them more. Furthermore, hospitality will help us think the best of them and forgive them when they make mistakes.
ILLUSTRATION
Series of images: 1. Philemon with Paul's letter. 2. At a social gathering, the brothers from the previous images are smiling and chatting with other brothers.
Like Philemon, let us be hospitable to contribute to the unity of the congregation (see paragraph 15).
16. What might Philemon have done to apply the words of Colossians 3:13?
As Philemon listened to Paul's counsel to the congregation in Colossae, he may have thought about Onesimus and wondered if he still harbored resentment toward him. If so, he knew he should continue to bear with him and generously forgive him, just as Paul advised at Colossians 3:13.
17. What does Paul's advice "Keep putting up with one another" mean?
Paul’s counsel, “Keep putting up with one another,” means that we should be patient with our brothers and treat them kindly, even when they irritate or offend us. To do this, we must imitate Jehovah, who knows our weaknesses and prefers to focus on our strengths. If we strive to see our brothers as Jehovah sees them, we will find it easier to forgive them, understand them, and overlook their mistakes, just as they do with us.
18. What do each of us want to do?
Each of us wants to contribute to maintaining peace in the congregation. To do this, we should treat our brothers and sisters with kindness, speak well of them, and, if we offend someone, apologize and make peace. Furthermore, we want to cultivate a strong love for our brothers and sisters that will enable us to forgive them generously. In this way, we will contribute to a peaceful atmosphere in the congregation and will be able to enjoy abundant peace for all eternity, just as Psalm 37:11 promises.
WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM THE FOLLOWING BIBLICAL CHARACTERS?
The apostle Paul
From Paul we learn to treat our brothers and sisters as friends, with love, respect, and kindness, without considering ourselves superior to them. We also learn the importance of sincerely praising them, speaking well of them, and focusing on their good qualities, even while being aware of their shortcomings.
Furthermore, their example teaches us that even when we are tired, stressed, or going through difficulties, we should strive to treat others with kindness. In this way, we will contribute to maintaining peace and unity in the congregation.
Onesimus
From Onesimus we learn that when we offend someone, we must acknowledge our mistake and take the initiative to make peace, even if it means making sacrifices or enduring hardship. We must also sincerely apologize, listen to the other person, and try to understand how they feel, without justifying ourselves or blaming others. Although asking for forgiveness requires humility, it will help us regain friendship and maintain peace with our brothers and sisters.
Philemon
From Philemon we learn that love is essential for maintaining peace in the congregation, because it helps us to forgive those who offend us and to treat them with kindness. We also learn the importance of hospitality, since this allows us to get to know our brothers and sisters better, understand their circumstances, and appreciate their qualities.
If we cultivate strong love and are hospitable, it will be easier for us to think the best of others, forgive them generously, and contribute to the peace and unity of the congregation.
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