New Testament 101: Philemon

Philemon was a wealthy man who owned slaves and who used his large house for church meetings (2).  He probably lived in Colossae since Paul’s letter to the Colossians mentions Onesimus, a slave of Philemon, and Archippus (Colossians 4: 9, 17).

Paul is writing from jail on behalf of Onesimus, a runaway slave owned by Philemon. Onesimus had become a follower of the Lord and a valuable friend to Paul, and Paul is writing to encourage Philemon to accept Onesimus also as a friend and follower of the Lord.

This letter is an excellent example of the art of letter-writing in the Roman world and it is the most personal of all Paul’s letters.  The way the letter is written suggests that Paul and Philemon were close friends.

A Quick Look at this Letter

1. Greetings to Philemon (1:3)
2. Paul Speaks to Philemon about Onesimus (4-22)
3. Final Greetings and a Prayer (23-25)

Beryl