The writer of Philemon is the Apostle Paul.
The letter was written probably A.D. 64. It is considered to be one of the letters Paul wrote while in prison. The theme is Onesimus, a slave of Philemon. A slave of Colosse, had robbed his master and fled to Rome. There he became a convert through Paul, who sent him back to Philemon, his master, with this letter.
“…he [Paul} wrote this letter to Philemon, apparently an officer of the church at Colosse, to be conveyed by Onesimus, his servant, who had fled from his master, and made his way to Rome, where he had been converted to Christianity under the ministry of Paul. The letter states to Philemon the circumstances of the case, and enjoins upon him to receive his servant again, though not now as a servant, that is, as a slave, but as a Christian brother.” Click
“It is written to Philemon, an active Christian of Colosse, a convert of Paul, in behalf of Onesimus, a runaway slave of Philemon, who had found refuge in Rome, had in some way been brought under Paul's instruction during his first Roman imprisonment, and had been brought to Christ.”
“Under the Roman law the slave was not considered a man, but a chattel without any civil rights whatever, completely at the mercy of his master. The master could sell him, give him away, torture him, crucify him, put him to death, even feed him to the fishes, and there was no law to interfere in his behalf. But when Christ came he introduced new relations between man and man. All in the church were a brotherhood. In Christ Jesus there was neither bond nor free, male nor female. All stood on a footing of equality before the Lord; all were brethren; all God's children, and to be bound to each other by the ties of brotherly love.”
“The servant was to continue to render faithful service to a master who was a brother beloved, and the master was to love and trust his servant as a brother, and to do unto him as he would be done by in such a relation. Hence in the early church thousands of masters and slaves met on an equal footing and often the slaves were the bishops who ruled the church and watched over the spiritual welfare of their masters.” Click
“Paul ends by requesting Philemon to prepare him a lodging, as he trusted soon to be set free and visit Colosse. This Epistle is addressed also to Apphia, supposed from its domestic subject to have been Philemon's wife, and Archippus (a minister of the Colossian Church, Colossians 4:17 relative.” Click
David Vaughn
David4054@charter.net
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Philemon 1
1. Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker,
2. to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church that meets in your home:
3. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4. I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers,
5. because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.
6. I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.
7. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.
8. Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do,
9. yet I appeal to you on the basis of love. I then, as Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus—
10. I appeal to you for my son Onesimus,[a] who became my son while I was in chains.
11. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
12. I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you.
13. I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel.
14. But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced.
15. Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good—
16. 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 man and as a brother in the Lord.
17. So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.
18. If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me.
19. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self.
20. I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.
21. Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.
22. And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.
23. Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings.
24. And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.
25. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.