Philemon

Philemon is a Christian man addressed by Paul in the short personal letter that bears his name. He is the head of a household in which a congregation meets and the master of the runaway slave Onesimus, whom Paul is sending back. The letter is the only witness to him.

The Addressee

Paul opens the letter with a triple address that places Philemon, his household, and his congregation together: "Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved and coworker, and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church in your house: Grace to you⁺ and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" (Phm 1:1-3). The plural-you in the greeting reaches past Philemon himself to the gathered church; the singular returns when Paul moves to his personal request.

The Beloved Coworker

Paul's praise for Philemon is functional and warm. He thanks God for him, hearing "of your love, and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints" (Phm 1:5), and recalls that "the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother" (Phm 1:7). The titles "beloved and coworker" (Phm 1:1) and the recognition that joy and comfort have flowed from his love (Phm 1:7) establish the basis on which Paul can ask without commanding: "Therefore, though I have all boldness in Christ to enjoin you [to do] that which is befitting, yet for love's sake I rather urge, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now a prisoner also of Christ Jesus" (Phm 1:8-9).

The Request for Onesimus

The body of the letter is a single appeal. Paul writes about his "child, whom I have begotten in my bonds, Onesimus, who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable both to you and to me" (Phm 1:10-11), and is sending him back: "whom I have sent back to you in his own person, that is, my very heart" (Phm 1:12). The reframing Paul presses on Philemon is that the parting may have had a purpose: "For perhaps he was therefore parted [from you] for a season, that you should have him forever; no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a brother beloved, especially to me, but how much rather to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord" (Phm 1:15-16). Paul stakes himself on the outcome — "If then you count me a partner, receive him as [you would] me. But if he has wronged you at all, or owes [you] anything, put that to my account; I Paul write it with my own hand, I will repay it" (Phm 1:17-19) — and adds that he writes "knowing that you will do even beyond what I say" (Phm 1:21).

Closing

Paul asks Philemon to prepare him a lodging in hope of release (Phm 1:22), passes greetings from Epaphras, Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke (Phm 1:23-24), and closes: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your⁺ spirit" (Phm 1:25). The plural-you of the benediction returns the address to the whole household and church with which the letter began.