General Introduction to Paul’s Letter to Philemon

This very short letter (only 335 words in Greek) is the only personal letter we have from Paul. However, it is also a pastoral letter, for he addresses it to the whole community, and its subject is how to imitate Christ in our daily life. Furthermore, it has links with Colossians because Archippus, whom Paul greets in Philemon is mentioned in chapter four, while Onesimus, the subject of the letter to Philemon, is stated to be the bearer of the letter to the Colossians.

Paul writes this letter to Philemon, head of a Christian community, who is also his personal friend and his protégé. There were no permanent Christian churches until the third century, so the community probably met in Philemon’s home. But he is also the owner of the runaway slave Onesimus whom he has treated badly. In this letter Paul combines in a masterful way the demands of Christ’s law of love with the gentle persuasion of a close friend. Paul sends Onesimus back to Philemon, but Paul insists that he must be treated not as a runaway slave (and thus punished) but as a brother. Indeed, Paul goes even further, stating that he should be treated as Philemon would treat Paul himself. Paul turns upside down the whole basis of slavery in the Roman world, arguing that a slaveowner must warmly welcome back his runaway slave as a brother.

In this brief letter, Paul brings home what it truly means to be a Christian, and the status that it brings to those we may look down on and consider inferior to us. All are equal before Christ, and the dignity of every human being must be recognized. Thus, Paul calls on Philemon to “serve” Onesimus and get the community to welcome him. Sadly, this letter has been frequently misused to justify the opposite, to say that the New Testament condones slavery which was not at all Paul’s intention.