”Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. Written from Rome to Philemon, by Onesimus a servant.“
Philemon 1:24-25 KJV
What a difficult letter Paul wrote, all about forgiving love, “and so does Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my companions in this ministry. May the unconditional love of the Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, be with your spirit!“ Paul showed with his actions what he told Philemon to do, by forgiving Onesimus and accepting him with love. Paul had done that with Mark, who was now his companion when earlier their relationship had fallen apart. John Mark was fully restored in his relationship with the apostle Paul. Since Mark’s death was in Alexandria in 62 AD, this epistle to Philemon was obviously written before then. This is the only place that records Mark and Luke being in the same place. Paul had two Gospel writers who travelled with him. When we walk the talk, when the Word of God is not just a theoretical study for preaching, but it becomes life for us when we come into an intimate relationship with the Living God, we work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Let’s not be hearers of the Word but doers also, walking in forgiving love. Hallelujah!
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