Philemon

Composition

Philemon is a book in the New Testament of the Bible. It is one of numerous letters, or epistles, in the New Testament. It was written by Saint Paul the apostle, who was an early Christian leader. Paul, who is in modern times seen as one of the most important and influential figures in early Christianity, was not one of Jesus’s twelve apostles and most likely did not meet Jesus while he was alive. Paul was a Jewish leader called a Pharisee, and he says in some of his writing that he persecuted the early Christian Church until he converted when he experienced a vision around roughly 33 CE. Paul said the vision told him that Jesus was the Messiah and that he should minister to the Gentiles, or people who were not Jewish. Paul made trips around the ancient world and started many churches. His writing and theology became vital teaching in the early Church.

Paul is traditionally noted as the author of thirteen epistles in the New Testament. Scholars continue to debate whether some of these so-called Pauline letters were actually authored by Paul, as some of the letters were most likely written by Paul’s followers or students who studied Paul’s writings. Although scholars debate the origins of some of Paul’s letters, Philemon is one of the “undisputed” letters as most biblical scholars agree that Paul was the real author.

Although scholars agree about the letter’s author, they disagree about where and when Paul wrote the letter. Based on the letter itself, it is clear that Paul was imprisoned at the time of the writing. He expresses hope in the letter that he will be released from prison and will be able to continue traveling for his ministry. Most scholars point to three possible locations—Rome, Ephesus, or Caesarea—for Paul’s imprisonment at the time he wrote the letter. Other information in the New Testament indicates that Paul was imprisoned in these places at different points between 54 and 64 CE, and he most likely died between 64 and 65 CE as a prisoner in Rome.

Philemon is unique among the Pauline letters in that it is addressed to one of Paul’s friends, Philemon. Philemon was a wealthy man from the city of Colossae in Asia Minor. Philemon was also the bishop of Colossae, who had been converted to the faith by Paul himself. Some scholars believe Paul might have even appointed Philemon as bishop.

Paul writes to Philemon to discuss a man named Onesimus, who was enslaved and owned by Philemon. Many scholars believe that Onesimus had escaped and run away, and it is likely that he might have also stolen from Philemon. Paul encountered Onesimus, though it is unclear where the men met. The letter states that Paul converted Onesimus to Christianity once they met. In his letter, Paul is writing to exhort his friend to welcome Onesimus back into his home and to treat him with kindness and forgiveness.

Many of the undisputed Pauline letters are written to specific congregations that Paul helped found during his ministry travels. In Philemon Paul’s message is specific, and it might have been difficult for Paul to send the letter because he was challenging a close friend. Although the letter was addressed to Philemon, it is important to note that the letter used both the singular and plural version of the Greek word you. The opening and closing of the letter include the plural you, but the body—which contains directives and requests specifically for Philemon—contains the singular you. Some scholars believe this indicates that the letter was meant to be read and received by the entire congregation that Philemon led.

Summary

Philemon begins, much like other Pauline Letters, with a greeting in which Paul identifies himself as the writer, calling himself “Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus” (New American Bible, Phlm. 1.1). Paul also introduces Timothy “our brother.” Some scholars believe that Timothy may have acted as a scribe or as coauthor. Although little is known about Timothy, he is also part of the greeting in Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Paul then addresses his letter to Philemon. The letter indicates that the two were very close friends, as Paul calls Philemon his “beloved” friend (Phlm. 1.1). Paul also acknowledges “Apphia our sister,” who was Philemon’s wife, and their son, Archippus.

Paul continues the letter with a prayer of thanksgiving. This is another element common to Pauline letters. In the prayer, Paul seems to acknowledge Philemon’s strong faith and commitment to other Christians.

In the next part of the letter, Paul introduces his main reason for writing, the Onesimus’s fate. Paul explains early that he feels he that he would have “the full right in Christ to order you to do what is proper” (Phlm. 1.8), he is requesting that Philemon do what he asks. Paul also reminds Philemon in this part of the letter that he has been imprisoned.

Paul continues his plea for Onesimus by explaining that he and Onesimus became close when they met, and Paul is invested in keeping Onesimus safe. Paul then acknowledges that he did not want to send Onesimus back to Philemon, saying, “I should have liked to retain him for myself, so that he might serve me on your behalf in my imprisonment for the gospel” (Phlm. 1.13). Most scholars believe that Paul was indicating that he wanted Onesimus to travel and spread the gospel, not that Paul wanted to enslave Onesimus. Paul also states that he is sending Onesimus back to Philemon because he does not want to force Philemon to do something but wants Philemon to choose to do the right thing.

In the next lines, Paul exhorts Philemon to accept Onesimus back into house “no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a brother” (Phlm. 1.16). He encourages Philemon to welcome Onesimus back as though he was welcoming Paul himself into his house. Paul also states that Onesimus is dear to him but that he should be even dearer to Philemon. Paul offers to pay any debt that Onesimus owes to Philemon. Paul adds strength to his argument by reminding Philemon that he also owes a debt to Paul, saying, “I, Paul, write this in my own hand: I will pay. May I not tell you that you owe me your very self” (Phlm 1.19). Most scholars believe that the debt Philemon owes to Paul is that Paul converted him to faith in Christ. Therefore, Philemon owes his everlasting life to Paul.

Paul then indicates that he wants Philemon to grant his request because doing so will make Paul happy. He then indicates that he believes that Philemon will do what he requests, saying, “With trust in your compliance I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say” (Phlm 1.21). Paul adds that he hopes to visit Philemon soon, indicating that he believes the letter and the situation with Onesimus will have no negative effect on their relationship.

In Paul’s conclusion to the letter, he notes that Epaphras sends his greetings to Philemon. Epaphras was a Christian who founded the church in Colossae. Paul also sends greetings from other Christians Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke whom he calls his “coworkers” (Phlm. 1. 24). He ends the letter by wishing peace in Christ for the readers.

Themes

Although Philemon is unique because it is addressed to one of Paul’s friends, it contains some themes that Paul also presents in other New Testament letters. One of the most important themes in Philemon, and a theme that Paul addresses in some of his other letters, is forgiveness. Paul indicates, without directly stating it, that he expects Philemon to forgive Onesimus as he exhorts Philemon to welcome Onesimus into his house a brother. In numerous other Pauline letters, including 2 Corinthians, Paul tells faithful Christians that they should forgive each other and act with unity. Paul’s sending Onesimus back to Philemon with the letter—which was most likely supposed to read aloud in front of Philemon’s family and church—indicates that Paul believed Philemon would act as he requested and forgive Onesimus.

A theme that is unique to Philemon is that of slavery. Enslavement was commonplace in ancient Greek and Roman cultures. People who were enslaved in Rome were often prisoners of war. Some people also sold themselves into slavery to pay off debts. It is possible that Onesimus was a prisoner of war or that he owed Philemon a debt, since Paul offered to pay any of Onesimus’s debts.

The New Testament does not specifically state anywhere that enslaved people should be set free. Many biblical scholars have asserted that early Christians did not openly call for their freedom because such a radical, unpopular statement would have caused the early Church to be even more harshly oppressed and attacked. Many Christian scholars argue that the early Church might have been destroyed if it had called for such radical action. Nevertheless, many scholars see the letter to Philemon as transformative because it suggests a total transformation of the relationship between an enslaver and an enslaved person. For example, when Paul presented Onesimus he said that Onesimus was a “brother, beloved . . . to me, but even more so to you” (Phlm. 1.16). Before Paul’s letter, it would have been unthinkable for Philemon to accept Onesimus as his brother.

Some scholars have further pointed out that, although Christians did not openly advocate for the end of slavery, they did believe that Jesus Christ and his followers had the power to transform society. Therefore, it is possible that Paul believed that his letter to Philemon and Philemon’s compliance with his request could alter the way people perceived slavery.

Bibliography

The Bible. New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE). Oxford University Press, 2011.

Doole, J. Andrew “Was Timothy in Prison with Paul?” New Testament Studies, vol. 65, no. 1, 2019, pp. 59–77. doi.org/10.1017/S0028688518000255. Accessed 27 Apr. 2022.

Lucas, Dick. The Message of Colossians & Philemon. InterVarsity Press, 2020.

“Philemon.” Insight for Living Ministries, insight.org/resources/bible/the-pauline-epistles/philemon. Accessed 25 Apr. 2022.

“Philemon.” USCCB, 2022, insight.org/resources/bible/the-pauline-epistles/philemon. Accessed 25 Apr. 2022.

Jeremiah, David. Colossians and Philemon: The Lordship of Jesus. Thomas Nelson, 2021.

Thompson, Alan J. Colossians and Philemon: An Introduction and Commentary. InterVarsity Press, 2022.

Young, Stephen E. Our Brother Beloved: Purpose and Community in Paul’s Letter to Philemon. Baylor University Press, 2021.