Epistle to Philemon

Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:

(friendship). A Christian convert at Colosse in Phrygia, to whom Paul wrote an epistle during his captivity at Rome, in favor of Onesimus, Philemon’s servant. Eighteenth N. T. book.

Concise Bible Dictionary:

Nothing is known of Philemon beyond what is found in this epistle, nor is it clear where he resided. The similarity of the salutations to those found in the Epistle to the Colossians, and the reference to Onesimus in that epistle, leads to the conclusion that Philemon dwelt somewhere in the direction of Colosse (probably at Laodicea, Archippus being mentioned in Colossians 4:1717And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it. (Colossians 4:17) and Philemon 1:1-21Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlaborer, 2And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house: (Philemon 1‑2)), and that both epistles were sent from Rome about A.D. 62. Though the assembly in the house of Philemon is mentioned in Philemon 1:22And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house: (Philemon 2), the epistle is a personal one to Philemon and his wife.
Onesimus their slave had run away, and, having been converted under the ministry of Paul, he was sent back by the latter to his master. Paul does not ask for the freedom of Onesimus, but that he may now be received in grace as a brother, indeed, he received as the apostle’s “own bowels.” Paul does not assert apostolic authority, but entreats as the “prisoner” and “the aged.” Led by the Holy Spirit, the epistle is a gracious appeal, and difficulties are met in it in a matter requiring much delicacy. If the slave had robbed Philemon, Paul would repay it; but he reminds Philemon of how much he owed him, even his “own self besides.”
Some may be surprised that such an epistle should form part of the inspired word. But it is “profitable”; for fifteen hundred years slaves were extensively owned by Christians. Many may never have thought of seeking their conversion, or may have been prejudiced against it. A Boer in South Africa, though a Christian himself, once told a preacher that he was sure he might as well preach to the dogs as to his African servants. God saw the need of such an epistle. The slave had become “ a brother beloved.”

Bible Handbook:

Philemon is nowhere else named in the New Testament. This epistle being sent by Onesimus at the same time as the Epistle to the Colossians seems to intimate that Philemon resided somewhere in the same district. The salutations also being similar in both epistles leads to the conclusion that both were sent from Rome about A.D. 62.
Though ‘the assembly’ in his house is named in verse 2, the epistle is written to Philemon and his wife, but doubtless counting on the fellowship of the assembly in the gracious reception of Onesimus.
The occasion is that Onesimus, being a run-away slave, had been converted under Paul’s preaching, and is now sent back to Philemon, his master, not now as a slave merely, but as a brother beloved. Paul does not demand or ask for the freedom of Onesimus, for Christianity did not come to set the world right; but he did press that the slave should now be counted a brother, and indeed be received as Paul’s ‘own bowels.’ Paul did not assert any apostolic authority, but entreated as Paul the ‘prisoner’ and ‘the aged.’
To ask an injured master to receive back his runaway slave in grace was a delicate subject, but Paul, led by the Spirit, skilfully words the epistle, and meets every difficulty. If the slave had robbed his master, Paul would repay it; but he then reminds Philemon of how much he himself owed him, even his ‘own self besides’.
The grace of Christ enters into domestic matters, and elsewhere into the relations of masters and their slaves; for the ‘servants’ referred to in this connection in the various epistles were mostly slaves.

Related Books and Articles:

Philemon
Narrator: Ivona Gentwo
Duration: 49min