During Paul’s two-year imprisonment in Rome (Ac 28:30), probably during AD 60–61, he wrote four “prison epistles,” one of which was Philemon (the others were Colossians, Ephesians, and Philippians).
References to Paul’s being in prison at the time of writing are found in verses 1,9-10,13, and perhaps 23. Paul was kept under house arrest—what the Romans called “free custody”—in his own rented house as he awaited trial (Ac 28:30).
Although Paul addresses the letter to Apphia, Archippus, and the church that meets in Philemon’s house (vv. 1-2), the main addressee is Philemon himself, for “you” or “your” (vv. 2,4-21,23) is singular and refers to Philemon. Apparently he was a prosperous businessman living in Colossae (implied in Col 4:9) whose household included several slaves and whose house was large enough to accommodate meetings of the young church. He had been converted through Paul’s ministry, perhaps by Paul himself (vv. 10,19), and had become Paul’s “dear friend and coworker” (v. 1) and “partner” (v. 17) in the gospel service. Although the letter is basically Paul’s personal appeal to Philemon, the plural “you” (vv. 3,22) and “your” (vv. 22,25) indicate that the whole church would have listened to its reading and thus been witnesses of Philemon’s response to Paul’s requests.
Onesimus had apparently run away and taken with him some of his master’s money or possessions (vv. 15,18). Perhaps attracted by the anonymity of a large, distant city, he traveled to Rome seeking a life of freedom. His path crossed Paul’s, and he became a Christian (vv. 10,16) and a useful helper to Paul (v. 11).
An alternative view denies that Onesimus was a runaway looking for freedom. It instead suggests that he left Philemon and looked for Paul so that Paul could become his advocate regarding some serious loss Philemon had experienced. All along Onesimus had intended to return to his master’s household. Paul was therefore not guilty of harboring a fugitive slave. But on this view we would expect Paul to reassure Philemon that Onesimus had always intended to return.
Although it is the shortest and most personal of Paul’s letters, Philemon was included in the New Testament canon for several reasons.
First, it illustrates the breaking down of social and cultural barriers that occurred between Christians (see Gl 3:28). Paul, a highly educated Roman citizen, takes up the cause of a poor runaway slave whose life was in danger because of his theft and flight (Phm 18). Social and cultural barriers are eliminated in Christian fellowship.
Second, it reflects early Christian attitudes towards slavery. Although Paul accepts (but does not endorse) slavery as an existing social condition and as a legal fact (see v. 12), he emphasizes Onesimus’s higher identity as a Christian brother and sets the master-slave relationship on a new footing (v. 16) and so ultimately undermines the institution of slavery. This contrasts with dominant views of the ancient world. For instance, Aristotle defined a slave as “a living tool, just as a tool is an inanimate slave” (Nicomachean Ethics viii. 11. 6).
Third, it shows a skillful pastor at work: Paul gives up his apostolic right to issue commands (vv. 8-9) and prefers to appeal to Philemon’s free choice (vv. 10,14) to follow his Christian conscience in deciding how his love should be expressed (vv. 5,7); he identifies with Onesimus, his spiritual son (v. 10), calling him “my very own heart” (v. 12) and guaranteeing to repay his debts (vv. 18-19); and he gives his requests to Philemon in the hearing of the whole local church (vv. 1-3,22-25).
Fourth, it pictures the heart of the gospel (vv. 16-19). When we come to God in repentance and faith, he gives us a new status and welcomes us as if we were Christ. What we owe God, he has debited to Christ’s account. Christ assumed personal responsibility for the full repayment of our debt to God.
Paul recalls how much Philemon had done in the comforting of persecuted and poor saints. And when you are about to ask a favor of anyone, it is well to show your gratitude for what you or others have already received from him.
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother:
To Philemon our dear friend and coworker, 2 to Apphia our sister, A to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your home.
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love for all the saints and the faith that you have in the Lord Jesus. 6 I pray that your participation in the faith may become effective through knowing every good thing that is in us B for the glory of Christ. 7 For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
8 For this reason, although I have great boldness in Christ to command you to do what is right, 9 I appeal to you, instead, on the basis of love. I, Paul, as an elderly man C and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus, 10 appeal to you for my son, Onesimus. D I became his father while I was in chains. 11 Once he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me. 12 I am sending him back to you — I am sending my very own heart. E,F 13 I wanted to keep him with me, so that in my imprisonment for the gospel he might serve me in your place. 14 But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent, so that your good deed might not be out of obligation, but of your own free will. 15 For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a brief time, so that you might get him back permanently, 16 no longer as a slave, but more than a slave — as a dearly loved brother. He is especially so to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
QUOTE 15-16
Nature is selfish, but grace is loving. People who boast that they care for nobody and nobody cares for them are the reverse of a Christian, for Jesus Christ enlarges the heart when he cleanses it.
17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would me. 18 And if he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. 19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it — not to mention to you that you owe me even your very self. 20 Yes, brother, may I benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. 21 Since I am confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. 22 Meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, since I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings, and so do 24 Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my coworkers.
25 The grace of the Lord A Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
4-5 “I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers, because I hear of your love for all the saints and the faith that you have in the Lord Jesus.” Paul recalls how much Philemon had done in the comforting of persecuted and poor saints. And when you are about to ask a favor of anyone, it is well to show your gratitude for what you or others have already received from him.
8-9 “For this reason, although I have great boldness in Christ to command you to do what is right, I appeal to you, instead, on the basis of love. I, Paul, as an elderly man and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus.” He says in effect, “I am an apostle, and I am your spiritual father, so I might have spoken with authority to you and have said, ‘It is your duty to do this.’ But I am not going to do anything of the kind. I am going to plead with you and beseech it of you as a kindness and a favor. Pay a loving tribute to my old age; and, besides that, I am a prisoner shut up in the dungeon for Christ’s sake. Hear the clanking of my chains, and grant my request for love’s sake.’”
15-16 “For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a brief time, so that you might get him back permanently, no longer as a slave, but more than a slave—as a dearly loved brother. He is especially so to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.” Nature is selfish, but grace is loving. People who boast that they care for nobody and nobody cares for them are the reverse of a Christian, for Jesus Christ enlarges the heart when he cleanses it. None are so tender and sympathetic as our Master, and if we are truly his disciples, the same mind will be in us that was also in Christ Jesus.
17 “So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would me.” How beautiful! It reminds me of our Lord Jesus Christ, who seems to say to the divine Father, “This poor child is in fellowship with me. Receive him, therefore, as myself.” And this is just what God does in the case of repenting and believing sinners—he receives them just as if he could see Christ in them.