Philemon

Philemon was written as a companion letter to Colossians. The letter, written by Paul around AD 60 along with Colossians, is a personal letter to Philemon in regards to Onesimus, a former slave who had ran away.  Paul pleads with Philemon to accept Onesimus back as if he was Paul himself.  This plea is significant because of the legal issues surrounding the punishment of a slave who has ran away.  The basis of this plea from Paul is the conversion of Onesimus to Christianity, and the love that Philemon has shown to the Christian community. In is based on Philemon’s love for Christians that Paul makes his request, though he acknowledges that he could command it instead. Onesimus (”useful”) was once “useless” to Philemon, but is now “useful” to both Philemon and Paul.

Chapter 1