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About this book: Philemon

Philemon is the shortest and most personal of Paul's letters, a single page written from prison to a Christian slaveholder in Colossae. Onesimus, a slave of Philemon, had left and somehow come into Paul's company, where he came to faith in Christ. Paul now sends him back, carrying this letter. Rather than giving an order, Paul appeals to love and asks Philemon to welcome Onesimus no longer merely as a slave but as a beloved brother, and to count any debt against Paul's own account. The letter does not directly call for abolishing slavery, and readers have long discussed why. Yet it plants an idea that undermines the whole system: in Christ, master and slave are family. Its quiet lesson is that the gospel reshapes relationships through forgiveness, generosity and costly love, and it shows Paul practicing what he preaches about reconciliation.

Author
The apostle Paul, writing with Timothy; this is widely accepted.
Date
Probably the early 60s AD, from a Roman imprisonment, though some suggest Ephesus or Caesarea.
Audience
Philemon, a believer in Colossae, along with Apphia, Archippus and the church in his house.

Themes

Forgiveness and reconciliationBrothers and sisters in ChristAppeal rather than commandGenerosity that pays the debt

Outline

  1. 1:1–1:3Greeting
  2. 1:4–1:7Thanksgiving for Philemon's love
  3. 1:8–1:16The appeal for Onesimus
  4. 1:17–1:22Welcome him as you would welcome me
  5. 1:23–1:25Final greetings and blessing

Key verses

Philemon 1:15-16 →Philemon 1:17-18 →
About this chapterIn this short personal letter, Paul writes from prison to Philemon, a Christian leader in Colossae, about Onesimus, a slave who had left him and whom Paul now calls his son in the faith. Paul praises Philemon's love and faith and says that although he could command him, he prefers to appeal out of love. He sends Onesimus back, asking Philemon to receive him no longer merely as a slave but as a beloved brother, and offers to repay anything owed. Paul expects Philemon to do even more than asked. The letter never directly condemns slavery, and readers have long debated its implications.

In this short personal letter, Paul writes from prison to Philemon, a Christian leader in Colossae, about Onesimus, a slave who had left him and whom Paul now calls his son in the faith. Paul praises Philemon's love and faith and says that although he could command him, he prefers to appeal out of love. He sends Onesimus back, asking Philemon to receive him no longer merely as a slave but as a beloved brother, and offers to repay anything owed. Paul expects Philemon to do even more than asked. The letter never directly condemns slavery, and readers have long debated its implications.

Themes

  • Reconciliation
  • Love over command
  • Brother, not slave

Key verses

Audio Bible · Philemon 1

Listen while you go about your day.

Philemon 1

Berean Standard Bible25 verses · 2 min read

1Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker, 2to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets at your house: 3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4I always thank my God, remembering you in my prayers, 5because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. 6I pray that your partnership in the faith may become effective as you fully acknowledge every good thing that is ours in Christ. 7I take great joy and encouragement in your love, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints. 8So although in Christ I am bold enough to order you to do what is proper, 9I prefer to appeal on the basis of love. For I, Paul, am now aged, and a prisoner of Christ Jesus as well. 10I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whose father I became while I was in chains. 11Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me. 12I am sending back to you him who is my very heart. 13I would have liked to keep him with me, so that on your behalf he could minister to me in my chains for the gospel. 14But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your goodness will not be out of compulsion, but by your own free will. 15For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for good— 16no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a beloved brother. He is especially beloved to me, but even more so to you, both in person and in the Lord. 17So if you consider me a partner, receive him as you would receive me. 18But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to my account. 19I, Paul, write this with my own hand. I will repay it—not to mention that you owe me your very self. 20Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ. 21Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask. 22In the meantime, prepare a guest room for me, because I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you. 23Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings, 24as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. 25The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Verses in Philemon 1
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Chapters of Philemon

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