Philemon

What makes Philemon special?

This letter is typical of the kinds of letters people wrote in the Roman world. It is the shortest and most personal of Paul's letters. The way it is written suggests that Paul and Philemon were close friends. Most of the people mentioned in this letter, including Philemon's slave Onesimus, are also mentioned in Colossians (Col 4.7-9).

Why was Philemon written?

Philemon was a wealthy man who probably lived in Colossae. Like many wealthy people in the Roman world, he owned slaves (see the mini-article called “Slaves and Servants in the Time of Jesus,” LUK 12.35). But he was also a Christian who used his large house for church meetings (2). Paul is writing on behalf of Onesimus who had escaped from Philemon's household. Onesimus had become a follower of the Lord and a valuable friend to Paul. Paul is writing to say that he is sending Onesimus back to Philemon and to encourage Philemon to accept Onesimus as a friend and as a follower of the Lord.

What's the story behind the scene?

Paul may have written this letter while he was in prison in Ephesus, or he may have written it from Rome where he was forced to live in a house guarded by a soldier who made sure Paul did not go out and who could keep an eye on the kind of visitors he received (Acts 28.16-21).

Paul's concern is that Philemon treat his returning slave with kindness and love. He knew that Roman law allowed slave-owners to punish escaped slaves harshly, and he does not question Philemon's right to own slaves. In fact, Paul seems to accept slavery as part of society in his day (1 Cor 7.20-22). In his letters he urged slaves to obey their masters. But more importantly, he urged masters to be kind to their slaves (Col 3.22,23—4.1). In Galatians, Paul says that slaves and free persons who have faith in Christ are equal with each other in God's family (Gal 3.26-28).

How is Philemon constructed?

The letter may be outlined in the following way: