The Letter to Philemon

The Letter to Philemon is the shortest of the Apostle Paul’s letters in the New Testament. It is a personal and heartfelt appeal written to Philemon, a…

This short letter addressed to three specific individuals was written by Paul during an imprisonment, perhaps in Rome between A.D. 61 and 63 (see the Introduction to Colossians for other possible sites). It concerns Onesimus, a slave from Colossae (Col 4:9), who had run away from his master, perhaps guilty of theft in the process (Phlm 18). Onesimus was converted to Christ by Paul (Phlm 10). Paul sends him back to his master (Phlm 12) with this letter asking that he be welcomed willingly by his old master (Phlm 1:8-10; Phlm 1:14; Phlm 1:17) not just as a slave but as a brother in Christ (Phlm …