Philemon · chapter 1 of 1
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Philemon 1 is a personal letter from Paul, a prisoner, to his friend and coworker Philemon. Paul appeals, out of love and not by command, that he receive Onesimus, whom he fathered in the faith during his imprisonment, no longer as a slave but as a beloved brother. He offers to repay any debt of Onesimus, trusts that Philemon will do even more than he asks and announces that he hopes to visit him soon.
Philemon is Paul's shortest and most personal letter. It is addressed to a believer who hosted a church that met in his house and deals with a delicate matter between him and Onesimus, who had been away from his household. The letter does not explain every detail, but it shows how the gospel transforms relationships and how a leader uses persuasion and love.
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and our brother Timothy greet Philemon, their beloved coworker, Apphia our sister, Archippus our fellow soldier and the church that meets in Philemon's house, with grace and peace. Paul thanks God as he hears of the love and faith Philemon has toward the Lord Jesus and all the saints, and prays that the sharing of his faith may be effective. Paul rejoices that the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through him.
Therefore, though he has much boldness in Christ to command what is required, he prefers to appeal for love's sake, as an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus. He appeals to him for his child Onesimus, whom he fathered in his imprisonment. Formerly he was useless to Philemon, but now he is useful, and Paul sends him back, sending his very heart. He would gladly have kept him, but preferred to do nothing without Philemon's consent, so that his goodness might be of his own accord and not by compulsion.
Perhaps this is why he was parted from him for a while, that Philemon might have him back forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave, as a beloved brother, especially to Paul, and how much more to Philemon, both in the flesh and in the Lord. If Philemon considers Paul a partner, let him receive him as he would receive Paul. If he has wronged him at all, or owes anything, let Philemon charge it to Paul's account: Paul writes it with his own hand and will repay it, to say nothing of Philemon owing Paul even his own self. He asks Philemon to give him joy in the Lord and refresh his heart in Christ.
Confident of his obedience, Paul knows Philemon will do even more than he asks, and asks him to prepare a guest room, for he hopes to visit them. Epaphras, Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke send greetings, and the letter ends with the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
References follow ESV book names and verse numbers. Read each verse in your Bible before the explanation.
Paul prays that the sharing of Philemon's faith may be effective for the knowledge of every good thing that is ours in Christ. True faith is shared and produces concrete actions that do good to others.
Though he could command, Paul prefers to appeal out of love. His apostolic authority is set aside so that Philemon may decide freely. Love persuades rather than imposes, and treats people as brothers, not subordinates.
Perhaps Onesimus was parted for a while so that Philemon might have him back forever, no longer as a slave but as a beloved brother. Paul does not condemn the separation or describe everything that happened, but he sees God's hand and a new relationship in Christ.
Paul asks that Philemon receive Onesimus as he would receive him and charge any wrong or debt to his account. It is a small reflection of the work of Christ, who takes on himself what others owe.
6 questions with answers and references, ready for Sunday school, small group or a Bible quiz night.
Answer: Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus. — Philemon 1:1
Answer: A church. — Philemon 1:2
Answer: Out of love, and so that Philemon's goodness would be voluntary and not forced. — Philemon 1:8-9
Answer: Formerly useless, now useful. — Philemon 1:11
Answer: No longer as a slave, but as a beloved brother. — Philemon 1:16
Answer: To charge it to his account and repay it himself. — Philemon 1:18-19
The letter asks how we treat those who have failed us or who have less power than we do. Paul does not ignore the harm, but asks that the person be seen in the light of the gospel: a beloved brother. In a small group you can talk about a relationship that needs reconciliation and what concrete step each person can take.
It also invites us to be like Paul, who stands beside the one who has fallen and answers for him. And to persuade with love instead of using authority to impose. One possible action is to write a message to someone with whom there is distance, with sincere gratitude and a willingness to be reconciled, letting the other person decide freely.
The letter ends without telling how Philemon responded, and that omission leaves the decision with the reader. Paul has shown that the gospel does not leave relationships untouched: it turns slaves into brothers and asks for reconciliation in the name of Christ.
The traditional reading sees it this way: he fled from Philemon and found Paul in prison. The text does not say so in those words. Others propose that he was sent to Paul with help, or that he sought Paul to mediate in a dispute. What is certain is that there was a separation and that Paul asks for a new welcome.
Paul does not attack the institution directly, but asks that Onesimus be received as a beloved brother, which undermines the foundation of slavery, which rests on inequality. Many Christians have seen in this text a seed that contributed to its abolition, though it took centuries.
In Colossians 4:9 Paul mentions Onesimus as one of them, and several companions send greetings in both letters. For that reason it is thought that Philemon lived in Colossae or nearby and that both letters were sent at the same time, but the text of Philemon does not name the place.