Brotherly love is a bond of union, and a basic principle of ethical behavior explains the Apostle Paul in his letter to Philemon. And this adult love (Agape), the love projected to the whole creation of the Lord, leads us to life in common and to the spiritual gift of Concord (political friendship according to Aristotle) as Paul expresses to this rich man from the city of Colosse: "I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we shake for the sake of Christ. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord's people.", Philemon 4-7.
In this Letter to Philemon, Paul begs for Onesimus, a runaway slave, who he considers his son by the baptism in Jesus, and asks Philemon to receive him as a brother because we are all debtors in the love of Christ:
"Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever—no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.
So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self.", Philemon 15-19.
For Paul, a preacher of the Kingdom of Heaven, the empire of the mercy ("Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful", Luke 6:36), the government of holiness ("Be holy because I am holy", 1 Peter 1:16), there is a fundamental moral change after Christ, there is no longer a free man and a slave man, but brothers in Jesus, brothers in his love.
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