If Paul's words still have persuasive power for us today, consider how helpless poor Philemon must have been when faced with a personal letter from the apostle who had been responsible for his own conversion. The canonical letter to Philemon aptly demonstrates Paul's mastery of this communication form, leaving us little doubt about the outcome of this thorny situation.

At the outset Paul reminds Philemon that he is part of a "beloved" community, a community identified by its love for one another. Paul not only identifies Philemon as a companionable friend, but as an equally active co-worker for the cause of Christ with Paul himself. Like Paul, then, Philemon is designated as one who is working to bring the gospel into the world through the testimony of his words and actions. By naming App…