Main idea: The letter to Philemon encourages us all to abolish our favouritism and treat one another as brothers and sisters. Apostle Paul advocates for Philemon, a Christian in Colossae, to forgive his runaway slave Onesimius for escaping, and to accept Onesimus as a brother and equal heir in Christ.
Who wrote it?
The letter comes from Paul and Timothy (Philemon 1:1). Paul and Timothy send greetings from fellow prisoner Epaphras, as well as his coworkers John Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke. This letter is widely believed to be an authentic letter of Paul, along with Galatians, Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Philippians, and 1 Thessalonians. Debate remains on whether Paul or an imitator wrote Colossians, Ephesians, and 2 Thessalonians. It is widely believed that Paul's imitators wrote 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus.
Who delivered it?
This letter to Philemon was likely carried and delivered by Tychicus and Onesimus at the same time as they carried the letter to the Colossians (Colossians 4:7-9).
When was it written?
Paul wrote it while he was an older man (Philemon 1:9), a prisoner (Philemon 1:1) perhaps under house arrest in Rome (Acts 28:14-31). It may have been about AD 60-62 since Colossae was nearly destroyed by an earthquake around AD 60-64. It appears that Philemon, Colossians, and Ephesians were written at a similar time. I provide a timeline of Paul's letters here.
Who is the audience?
Philemon, our dear friend and fellow worker
Apphia, our sister
Archippus, our fellow soldier
The church that meets in your house (in Greek, "your" is singular", likely Philemon's home.
This audience lives in Colossae, a city in the Lycus Valley of Asia Minor (now Turkey). It appears that Paul never visited Colossae (Colossians 1:4) but his fellow prisoner Ephaphras (Philemon 1:23) told Paul of their faith (Colossians 1:4-8). Epaphras is from Colossae (Colossians 4:12).
Who is Philemon?
A Roman citizen of high status and high economic value, owning a large home at which he hosts the Christian congregation of Colossae. He has money, status, and slaves. He is a Christian and may have met Paul in Ephesus since Paul has never been to Colossae but Paul indicates that Philemon received new life in Christ from Paul (Philemon 1:19).
Who is Onesimus?
A slave who was useful to Philemon escaped and possibly owes money to Philemon.
A spiritual child of Paul, who became a believer in Christ while Paul was in prison and has become useful to Paul.
Who is Apphia?
Traditional male interpretations call Apphia the wife of Philemon. However, the Greek text uses the singular meaning for "your house". It is not a house that is shared by Philemon and Apphia. When Paul mentions a husband and wife team, he refers to them as a couple. Here, Paul refers to Philemon and Apphia separately, each with their own description. Paul calls his ministry colleague Timothy his "brother". Paul calls Phoebe his "sister", a deacon and patron in Cenchrea who delivers Paul's letter to the Romans. Apphia may also be a ministry colleague. Apphia may have been included personally in the greeting because Paul wants her to support his request that Philemon forgive Onesimus. Since she is named before Archippus, she may have held higher status than him. She likely held a formal office in the Colossians congregation.
Who is Archipus?
Traditional interpretations call Archipus the son of Philemon but Paul does not indicate that. Paul calls him a fellow soldier, potentially indicating his leadership in spiritual warfare in Colossae and Laodicea. He has been given a special ministry (Colossians 4:17).
What's at stake?
Philemon could have Onesimus imprisoned or punished. Runaway slaves in Ancient Rome could be flogged, whipped, or branded both to punish and to discourage other slaves from escaping. Onesimus risks punishment, trusting that Paul's letter will have sufficient influence on Philemon.
Paul not only asks Philemon to forgive Onesimus, but to embrace him as a brother. Paul has given birth to the faith of both of Philemon and Onesimus, calling them his spiritual sons. However, it would be highly unusual for a man of Philemon's stature to consider a former slave to be an equal. Philemon's decision will be very public, and will have an impact on how Christianity is seen by observers. Accepting his runaway slave as a family member, a social equal, is strikingly different from the cultural norms of dominance. Addressing the letter to Apphia and Archippus in addition to Philemon may add social pressure for Philemon to forgive Onesimus for escaping. Philemon's decision is both personal and public. Forgiving Onesimus and embracing him as a brother would demonstrate to everyone that being a master or slave is irrelevant; all are equal in God's realm. Our value is not defined by our status, wealth, ethnicity, or gender.
Paul does not address the Roman government about their system of slavery. Instead, Paul addresses those who are in Christ, asking us to change their hearts and recognize that in Christ, there is no more difference in privileges between slaves and citizens. This message is repeated in Colossians, Galatians, Corinthians, and Ephesians. Paul discusses the unity of Christ and the body of believers, and a peace that comes from each body part being equally valuable, and all believers being heirs of equal freedom and authority in God's realm, slave or free, citizen or foreigner, male or female (Colossians 3:11, Galatians 3:28, Ephesians 2:14-16, 4:3-6, 1 Corinthians 12:12-27). Unity does not come from silencing those who express concerns. Unity and peace come from addressing concerns. Being righteous involves acting justly.
Opening with Praise
Philemon is just one chapter in length. Paul opens by praising the readers. He reminds Philemon that they are partners in the faith, sharing every good thing. All followers of Jesus are equal partners sharing the gift of God's grace and love. This partnership is not an academic idea; you live it out by your actions.
A Request (though it could be a command)
Paul states that he could command Philemon to do the right thing in Christ.
Instead, Paul says he is appealing to Philemon on the basis of love. Paul reminds them that he is an elder and a prisoner for Jesus's sake. Paul states that Onesimus has become Paul's spiritual child during Paul's imprisonment.
Useless, now Useful
As a runaway slave, Onesimus was unprofitable or useless to Philemon, a write-off. Now, Onesimus is a brother in Christ and useful or profitable to both Philemon and Paul.
A substitute for you, now a proxy for Paul
Paul says he would like to keep Onesimus, who takes Philemon's place ministering to Paul. Paul says Onesimus is taking Paul's place returning to Philemon when Paul cannot come.
Opportunity to Do What's Right (not what is required)
Paul acts magnanimous in not keeping Onesimus and not ordering Philemon to forgive Onesimus. He wants to bring reconciliation between Onesimus and Philemon. Instead of requiring Philemon to acquit Onesimus, Philemon frames it as an opportunity for Philemon to voluntarily do a good deed.
Separated for a time, now united forever
Paul seems to indicate it was God's plan that Onesimus escape; the reason Onesimus was separated temporarily from Philemon as a slave was so that he could be united permanently with Philemon as a brother. Paul indicates that God reconciled us to himself by not counting our wrongs against us but instead embracing us with mercy and love (2 Corinthians 5:19).
Our partnership includes this former slave
Paul reminds Philemon that they are partners and partnership means we are equal before God. God does not show favouritism. There is no more slave or free, Greek or Jew, male or female for those who are in Christ (Colossians 3:11, Galatians 3:28).
Paul asks Philemon to welcome Onesimus with the same love and respect that he would welcome Paul. Paul is an honoured apostle. It would be shocking for the congregation in Colossae to see Philemon honour Onesimus when they expect him to punish him. This loving mercy would be a tremendous witness to anyone watching the early Christians.
I'll owe what Onesimus owes you (though you owe me your life)
Paul offers to repay anything that Onesimus owes, while at the same time reminding Philemon that he owes his life to Paul.
Closing with Confidence and Praise
Paul signs off confident that Philemon will do as Paul asks. Paul closes by hoping that he will be able to visit. Paul sends greetings from Epaphras, his fellow prisoner from Colossae, and his co-workers John Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke.
Why was Paul willing to be called a bully or a manipulator? Because he was desperate to save Onesimus, his beloved child in the faith, from receiving the punishment due for his wrongs.
Philemon's forgiveness will visibly demonstrate God's grace. Philemon embracing Onesimus as a brother will visibly demonstrate how God embraces all people, regardless of status, gender, or ethnicity. I hope that today we can also live so that others can see how God shows grace to all people and embraces all people as equal partners.
Elaine Ricker Kelly Author is empowering women with historical fiction about women in the Bible and early church and Christian blogs about women in leadership, church history and doctrine. Her books include:
Forgotten Followers from Broken to Bold, Book 1 (2022)
The Sword A Fun Way to Engage in Healthy Debate on What the Bible Says About a Woman's Role (2023)
Because She Was Called: from Broken to Bold, Book 2, A Novel of the Early Church, imagines Mary Magdalene's trip to testify before the emperor (2024)
Walk with Mara on Her Healing Journey: 21 Steps to Emotional Resilience (2024)
Sources:
Miller, Stephen M. The Complete Guide to the Bible. Barbour Pub, 2007.
Bible Project: Philemon, November 28, 2016
Quient, Nicholas, "Was Apphia an Early Christian Leader?" April 30, 2017
Mowczko, Marg, "Apphia: Philemon's wife or another Phoebe?" October 29, 2016
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