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Paul's letters · New Testament · 1 chapter

The book of Philemon

The gospel that makes a slave a brother

Author
The apostle Paul, with Timothy (1:1)
Written
Around AD 60–62, during his imprisonment (probably in Rome), at the same time as Colossians
Time covered
Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome (Acts 28:30-31)
Key word
Reconciliation

From prison, Paul writes to Philemon, a Christian in whose home a church meets, about a delicate matter. Onesimus, Philemon’s slave, left him, perhaps causing him loss, and was then converted through Paul. After praising Philemon’s faith and love (1:4-7), Paul, who could command, prefers to appeal in the name of love (1:8-9). He sends Onesimus back, once “useless,” now “useful,” and asks that he be received no longer as a slave but as a beloved brother, “as myself” (1:10-17). He takes the debt upon himself (1:18-19) and announces his visit (1:22).

Main theme

Paul intercedes with Philemon for Onesimus, his slave who has become a Christian: he asks him to receive him no longer as a slave but as a beloved brother, and takes his debt upon himself.

Outline

  1. Philemon 1-3 — Greeting

    Paul, a prisoner, and Timothy greet Philemon, Apphia, Archippus, and the church that meets in his house.

  2. Philemon 4-7 — Thanksgiving

    Paul praises Philemon’s faith and love, which have refreshed the hearts of the saints.

  3. Philemon 8-21 — The request for Onesimus

    Paul sends back the converted Onesimus and asks that he be received as a brother, taking his debt upon himself.

  4. Philemon 22-25 — Plans and greetings

    Paul asks for a lodging, passes on his companions’ greetings, and wishes them grace.

Key points

  • Paul writes as a “prisoner of Jesus Christ,” not as an apostle giving orders (1:1, 1:9).
  • A church meets in Philemon’s house; his love has “refreshed the hearts of the saints” (1:2, 1:7).
  • Paul could command, but he prefers to appeal for love’s sake (1:8-9).
  • Onesimus, converted through Paul in prison, has gone from “useless” to “useful” (1:10-11).
  • Paul wants a voluntary kindness, not a forced one: he does not keep Onesimus without his master’s consent (1:13-14).
  • The separation was perhaps permitted so that Philemon might have Onesimus back forever, as a beloved brother (1:15-16).
  • “Receive him as myself”; “put that on mine account”: Paul stands surety for Onesimus (1:17-19).
  • Paul counts on Philemon to do “more than I say” (1:21).
For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
Philemon 7 — Philemon’s practical love, which has refreshed the hearts of the saints.
I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:
Philemon 10–11 — The conversion of Onesimus in prison, and the wordplay useless / useful.
For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?
Philemon 15–16 — Providence rereads history: a lost slave is found again as a brother forever.

Jesus in Philemon

Philemon is a living picture of the gospel. As Paul says to Philemon “receive him as myself” and “if he oweth thee ought, put that on mine account” (1:17-18), so Christ presents us to the Father and takes our debt upon himself. In Christ, the slave becomes “a brother beloved” (1:16), for there is neither bond nor free (Gal 3:28).

Did you know?

  • Onesimus means “useful” in Greek: hence Paul’s wordplay, “in time past useless, but now useful” (1:11).
  • With its 25 verses, Philemon is the shortest of Paul’s letters.
  • Martin Luther wrote in his preface to this letter: “We are all his Onesimuses, if we believe,” with Christ pleading for us as Paul did for the slave.

Quiz on Philemon

What is the name of the slave for whom Paul intercedes?

Where does the church greeted at the beginning of the letter meet?

How does Paul introduce himself in the very first verse?

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