Icon
About the Philemon Icon: Paul sends a letter and a runaway slave to his friend Philemon. Philemon is the slave’s master, but Paul advises Philemon to accept him back as a brother instead of as a slave.
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Video
The Bible Project Video: Philemon (RS)
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Additional Suggested Resources
- NET Bible study suite – free access to the NET Bible text and NET Bible notes
Philemon 1
Salutation
From Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our dear friend and colaborer, 2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your house. 3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
Thanks for Philemon’s Love and Faith
4 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. 6 I pray that the faith you share with us may deepen your understanding of every blessing that belongs to you in Christ. 7 I have had great joy and encouragement because of your love, for the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
Paul’s Request for Onesimus
8 So, although I have quite a lot of confidence in Christ and could command you to do what is proper, 9 I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love – I, Paul, an old man and even now a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus – 10 I am appealing to you concerning my child, whose spiritual father I have become during my imprisonment, that is, Onesimus, 11 who was formerly useless to you, but is now useful to you and me. 12 I have sent him (who is my very heart) back to you. 13 I wanted to keep him with me so that he could serve me in your place during my imprisonment for the sake of the gospel. 14 However, without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your good deed would not be out of compulsion, but from your own willingness. 15 For perhaps it was for this reason that he was separated from you for a little while, so that you would have him back eternally, 16 no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a dear brother. He is especially so to me, and even more so to you now, both humanly speaking and in the Lord. 17 Therefore if you regard me as a partner, accept him as you would me. 18 Now if he has defrauded you of anything or owes you anything, charge what he owes to me. 19 I, Paul, have written this letter with my own hand: I will repay it. I could also mention that you owe me your very self. 20 Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ. 21 Since I was confident that you would obey, I wrote to you, because I knew that you would do even more than what I am asking you to do. 22 At the same time also, prepare a place for me to stay, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given back to you.
Devotional Article: Useless Without the Gospel
(Read: Philemon, Psalm 30)
Philemon might seem like an odd book to include in the Bible—it’s only one chapter, 25 verses of a very personal letter from Paul to Philemon. But it reveals a bigger picture of how the Gospel changes everything, even the most strained relationships.
Onesimus was a slave, owned by Philemon. He stole from his master and ran away to Rome, most likely never to be seen again. But then Onesimus met Paul—the same Paul that led Philemon to Christ!—and Onesimus was saved as well. So how does that change how a master and slave relate to one another?
Through Jesus’ death on the cross and forgiveness of our sins, all those who confess and believe not only have eternal life, but become brothers and sisters in Christ. In our eyes and in the perspective of the culture of the time, Philemon and Onesimus only had one relationship—master and runaway slave, the wealthy Christian and the useless thief. But in the Kingdom, because they’re both Christians, now they’re brothers. They have the same Heavenly Father and share in the same eternal inheritance. The old is gone, the new has come.
Paul says, “Formerly Onesimus was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.” Philemon lost a slave, but gained a brother; he lost property and found family. The owner/owned relationship is gone, replaced by brotherhood in God’s Kingdom. Both the slave and the slavemaster can fellowship as redeemed sinners, saved by grace through faith. Because God reconciles us to Himself through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, Philemon and Onesimus can be reconciled to one another.
Like Onesimus, we’re useless without the Gospel. We’re dead in our sins. But God, being rich in mercy, made us alive together with Christ. Together. Because of Jesus, we can have hope that all our relationships can be reconciled, no matter the situation.
Concluding Greetings
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you. 24 Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my colaborers, greet you too. 25 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
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