Personal letter · 1 chapters
Philemon
Paul appeals for Onesimus to be received as a beloved brother. Read the appeal within Roman slavery while taking seriously the transforming force of kinship in Christ.
Historical & literary context
Paul writes from imprisonment to Philemon concerning Onesimus, an enslaved man. The precise circumstances of Onesimus’s departure are uncertain.
Introduction and study notes are commentary, not Scripture.
The shape of the book
- 1–7 · Greeting and thanksgiving
- 8–16 · Appeal for Onesimus
- 17–25 · Reception, responsibility, and closing
A passage to begin with
Philemon 1:15-17
15For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for good— 16no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a beloved brother. He is especially beloved to me, but even more so to you, both in person and in the Lord. 17So if you consider me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.
Berean Standard Bible · Public domain
Read the full chapterThink it through
What does receiving someone as a brother require beyond preserving social convention?