The Letter to Philemon

The Epistle of St Paul to Philemon is generally known simply as ‘Philemon’. 

      Most scholars agree this brief letter was written by St Paul. It is also the shortest of his letters that we have, consisting of only 445 words and 25 verses. Nowhere in the letter does Paul authoritatively identify himself as an apostle, but as ‘a prisoner of Jesus Christ’. He calls his co-author Timothy ‘our brother’, and addresses Philemon as a ‘fellow labourer’ and ‘brother.’
      Philemon was a Christian who allowed a small church to meet in his house in Colossae (Philemon 1:1–2 and Colossians 4:9). He possibly held a high position in this Colossian house-church in a manner akin to a
modern bishop. It is likely that Philemon was wealthy by the standards of the early church since his house was big enough to accommodate the church that met there.

      At the time of writing, Paul was a prisoner (in either Rome or Ephesus). He and his co-worker Timothy wrote to Philemon and two associates: a woman named Apphia, who may have been his wife, and a fellow worker named Archippus, who may be assumed to have been Philemon’s son.
Archippus also appears to have had special status in the group that met in Philemon’s house (Colossians 4:17).

      St Paul wrote on behalf of Onesimus, a former servant of Philemon who had left him. Beyond that, it is not self-evident what occurred previously. The letter describes Onesimus as having ‘departed’ from Philemon: he had once been ‘useless’ to him (a pun on Onesimus’ name, which means ‘useful’), and had done him wrong. Perhaps he stole from his rich master. Most modern scholars think that Onesimus was a slave who had run away to become a Christian believer. Paul sent him back to face his aggrieved master, and used this letter as a way of seeking reconciliation between the two Christians.

      We don’t know how Onesimus came to be with Paul. We have various ideas: perhaps Onesimus was in prison with Paul; maybe Onesimus had been brought to Paul by others who wanted forgiveness and reconciliation; maybe Onesimus came to Paul by chance (or in the Christian view, by divine providence); or Onesimus sought Paul, as a friend of his master and asked him to broker a reconciliation. Whatever the truth, he was told to return to Philemon with this letter, wherein Paul told Phil emon to forgive him and receive him as a ‘brother beloved’.

      Although not explicit, the text could be saying that St Paul did nothing to change Onesimus’ legal position as a servant / slave, and that he was complying with Roman law in returning him to Philemon. On the other hand, the text could also be interpreted as saying Paul was demanding Onesimus’ legal freedom and, as an act of both trust and reconciliation, told Philemon he was accountable in the higher court of God to forgive Onesimus and set him free.