An Appeal Based on Love
1. What responsibility do we all have?
Answer 1: We all have the responsibility to maintain and protect the peace of the congregation. Jehovah makes that peace possible, but each of us can contribute to it by the way we treat our brothers.
Answer 2: Peace among Jehovah’s servants is a treasure because it helps us imagine life in Paradise. So we should not take it for granted; we must work to promote it every day.
Answer 3: We can protect peace by treating our brothers kindly, handling offenses properly, and asking for forgiveness when we have hurt someone. The account involving Paul, Philemon, and Onesimus teaches us how to do this.
THE PEACE that exists among Jehovah’s servants is a priceless treasure. It helps us imagine what life will be like in Paradise (Isa. 32:17, 18). Although Jehovah makes this peace possible, each of us has the responsibility to maintain and protect it (Rom. 12:18). How can we promote peace within the congregation when dealing with our brothers? How can we do so when someone offends us? And what if we are the ones who offend someone? To find the answers, let us examine an account involving Paul, Philemon, and Onesimus, in which the apostle made an appeal based on love.
Isaiah 32:17-18 — The result of true righteousness will be peace, And the fruitage of true righteousness will be lasting tranquility and security. My people will dwell in a peaceful abiding place, In secure dwellings and in tranquil resting-places.
Answer 1: Isaiah shows that true righteousness produces peace, tranquility, and security. Congregational peace is a foretaste of that future, and all of us can safeguard it by our conduct.
Romans 12:18 — If possible, as far as it depends on you, be peaceable with all men.
Answer 2: Romans reminds us that we should be peaceable as far as it depends on us. This means not always waiting for the other person to take the first step, but looking for ways to preserve a good relationship.
Answer 3: Paul appealed to Philemon’s love for Christ and for the brothers. Rather than increase the tension caused by the situation involving Onesimus, he sought to have reconciliation protect everyone’s peace.
3. What might Paul have wondered when sending Onesimus back? (See also the picture.)
Answer 1: Paul may have wondered how Philemon would react when he saw Onesimus again. Legally, he could punish him severely, and that could affect not only the two of them but also the congregation.
Answer 2: He may also have been concerned that a controversy would arise between slaves and masters. Paul understood that this delicate situation could endanger the peace, so he acted with prudence and love.
Colossians 4:7 — Tychicus, my beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow slave in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me.
Answer 3: Tychicus brought reliable information to the brothers and helped deliver the letters. This shows that Paul did everything reasonable to handle the situation in an orderly way and promote peace.
4, 5. How can the elders contribute to a peaceful atmosphere in the congregation?
Answer 1: The elders contribute to peace when they treat the brothers as friends, just as Paul treated Philemon. They do not act as though they are superior, but as loving shepherds.
Answer 2: They can spend time with the brothers, listen to them, and make them feel valued. This warm and respectful treatment builds trust and helps the congregation feel secure.
Answer 3: When the elders set a good example of friendship and kindness, they encourage everyone to do the same. In this way, they help create an atmosphere in which it is easier to resolve problems peacefully.
6. Why is it important to praise others?
Answer 1: Sincere praise makes the brothers feel loved and valued. It can be a very timely remedy for someone struggling with feelings of insecurity.
Answer 2: Feelings of insecurity can make us irritable, defensive, or competitive. Therefore, kind and sincere words can protect peace and do much good.
Answer 3: Let us not praise only visible accomplishments. We can also recognize the efforts of our brothers. If we see something good in someone, let us not keep it to ourselves—let us tell him kindly.
7. Why must we be careful about what we say about others? (Philemon 10-12)
Answer 1: What we say about a brother influences how others view and treat him. Positive words can encourage kind treatment; negative words can damage his reputation and make a situation worse.
Answer 2: Paul spoke well of Onesimus. His words likely helped Philemon view him as a Christian brother and not merely from the standpoint of what had happened before.
Answer 3: To speak well of others, we first need to work at having a positive opinion of them. Focusing on their good qualities will help us use words that promote peace.
8. What will help us think and speak well of our brothers? (See also the pictures.)
Answer 1: Paul thanked Jehovah for the good qualities of Philemon and many other Christians. Although he saw their faults, he chose to focus on their virtues.
Answer 2: We can ask Jehovah to bless our brothers. When we pray for them and give thanks for their qualities, it becomes more natural to think well of them and speak positively.
Answer 3: The pictures remind us that words of appreciation can be very encouraging. Having a positive view of our brothers moves us to build them up before others, not put them down.
9. Why is it so striking that Paul spoke kindly to Philemon?
Answer 1: It is striking because Paul was going through very difficult circumstances. He had suffered violence, unjust imprisonments, and a shipwreck, and he was still under house arrest.
Answer 2: Despite his stress and trials, Paul wrote an affectionate and kind letter. He did not allow his traumatic experiences to determine how he treated Philemon.
Answer 3: When we are tired or worried, we may be tempted to take out our frustration on others. Paul’s example encourages us to keep speaking kindly.
10. What does Onesimus’ example teach us?
Answer 1: Onesimus acknowledged his mistake and did his part to make peace. He teaches us that when we offend someone, we should not avoid the problem or let time resolve it on its own.
Answer 2: Returning to Philemon required humility and courage. Onesimus was willing to make a long and difficult journey and to accept the possible consequences of his actions.
Answer 3: Although he may have thought he had reasons to run away, he did not allow that to stop him from seeking peace. We too must put reconciliation ahead of justifying our position.
11. If we have offended someone, how can we make peace? (See also the pictures.)
Answer 1: We must take the initiative to make peace. Starting with a sincere apology shows humility and can be the first step toward restoring a valuable friendship.
Answer 2: We also need to listen to the other person and try to understand how he feels. An apology should not include excuses or blame others, because that can diminish its value.
Answer 3: Asking for forgiveness can be difficult, but it is often the quickest way to make peace. As the picture shows, a humble and sincere conversation can help heal a wound.
12. Why was Paul convinced that Philemon would forgive Onesimus?
Answer 1: Paul was convinced that Philemon would forgive Onesimus because he knew his good qualities. He knew that Philemon was a man of love and faith and that he loved the brothers.
Answer 2: Paul did not focus on the seriousness of the problem or pressure Philemon. He trusted that his friend’s Christian qualities would move him to welcome Onesimus kindly.
Answer 3: This teaches us not to be quick to think that a brother will not forgive. Love and faith can move Jehovah’s servants to act in a very generous way.
13. Why is showing love essential to maintaining peace? (Colossians 3:14)
Colossians 3:14 — But besides all these things, clothe yourselves with love, for it is a perfect bond of union.
Answer 1: Love is essential because it is the perfect bond of union. It is the quality that contributes most to the brothers’ remaining united and to the congregation’s preserving peace.
Answer 2: Philemon needed love in order to forgive Onesimus. Similarly, the more we love our brothers, the easier it will be to forgive them and treat them kindly when they make mistakes.
Answer 3: Love does not minimize an offense, but it helps us not allow an offense to break our unity. It moves us to seek our brother’s good and restore peace.
14. How do we know that Philemon was hospitable?
Answer 1: We know that Philemon was hospitable because the congregation met in his home. He used what he had to support the worship of Jehovah and benefit his brothers.
Answer 2: Paul also asked him to prepare a place for him to stay. This request indicates that he knew Philemon was generous and willing to receive others.
Answer 3: His hospitality surely made those who visited him feel welcome and encouraged. In this way, he strengthened love and unity within the congregation.
15. Why will we love our brothers more if we are hospitable? (See also the pictures.)
Answer 1: Hospitality allows us to get to know our brothers better, especially those who are not in our closest circle. As we spend time with them, our affection and respect grow.
John 6:44 — No man can come to me unless the Father, who sent me, draws him, and I will resurrect him on the last day.
Answer 2: Jesus explained that the Father draws people. Keeping this in mind helps us value each brother as part of Jehovah’s family and look for what is good in him.
Answer 3: When we learn about others’ background, how they learned the truth, and the trials they have endured, we better understand their value. This helps us forgive and preserve unity.
16. What may Philemon have done to apply the words of Colossians 3:13?
Colossians 3:13 — Continue putting up with one another and forgiving one another freely even if anyone has a cause for complaint against another. Just as Jehovah freely forgave you, you must also do the same.
Answer 1: When he heard this counsel in the congregation, Philemon may have thought of Onesimus. If he still felt resentment, he knew that he had to continue putting up with him and forgive him generously.
Answer 2: Philemon may have remembered that Jehovah had generously forgiven him. This comparison would have given him a powerful reason not to hold on to the offense and to treat Onesimus mercifully.
Answer 3: When we find it hard to forgive, this counsel helps us go beyond our initial feelings. We can decide to continue treating our brother kindly and stop feeding resentment.
17. What does Paul’s counsel “Continue putting up with one another” mean?
Answer 1: It means being patient with our brothers and treating them kindly even when they irritate or offend us. Putting up with one another does not mean withdrawing from one another, but continuing to show love.
Answer 2: Jehovah knows our weaknesses perfectly, but he focuses on our virtues and continues to show us loyal love and mercy. His example teaches us how to view others.
Answer 3: Remembering our brothers’ good qualities helps us tolerate their mistakes. Just as we care for a plant even when it has no flowers, we continue to value a brother when he disappoints us.
18. What does each of us want to do?
Answer 1: We want to look every day for ways to promote peace in the congregation. Jehovah values every effort we make, even if it seems small, to maintain a peaceful atmosphere.
Answer 2: We want to continue treating our brothers kindly and speaking well of them. And if we offend them, we want to ask for forgiveness and make peace without delay.
Answer 3: We also want to cultivate strong love that enables us to forgive generously. In this way, we will do our part to help the congregation be characterized by peace.
WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM THE FOLLOWING BIBLE CHARACTERS?
Answer 1: From Paul we learn to contribute to peace by treating our brothers with affection, respect, and kindness. His way of appealing to love helped guide a delicate situation toward a good outcome.
Answer 2: From Onesimus we learn to acknowledge our mistakes and take the initiative to make peace. Humbly facing a difficult situation can restore a friendship.
Answer 3: From Philemon we learn to forgive with love, to be hospitable, and to see what is good in our brothers. These qualities strengthen unity and protect the peace of the congregation.
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