Philemon

Paul’s epistle to Philemon was written around 60 AD. It is the shortest of all Paul’s writings and deals with the practice of slavery. Philemon was a slave owner who also hosted a church in his home. During the time of Paul’s ministry in Ephesus, Philemon may have journeyed to the city, heard Paul’s preaching, and became a Christian. The slave Onesimus robbed his master, Philemon, and ran away, ending up in Rome with Paul. Onesimus was still the property of Philemon. Paul wrote to smooth the way for his return to his master. Through Paul’s witnessing to him, Onesimus had become a Christian and Paul wanted Philemon to accept Onesimus as a brother in Christ.