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Book 57 of 66 · New Testament

Philemon

A personal note asking a friend to welcome back a runaway slave as a brother.

1 chapters25 versesWritten in GreekSet To Philemon, about his slave Onesimus

Overview

Philemon is a private letter — a single chapter — with a big heart. Onesimus, a slave who had run away from a Christian named Philemon, has met Paul in prison and become a believer. Paul sends him back, not demanding but appealing: receive him no longer as a slave but "above a servant, a brother beloved." It is a quiet revolution in how people are to be seen.

Book facts

Author
PaulA short personal letter from the apostle Paul, in prison.
Date written
c. AD 60Written from prison, alongside Colossians.
Original language
GreekA single-chapter personal appeal.
Setting
To Philemon, about his slave OnesimusSent back with the runaway himself.

How it came to be

Philemon is a short personal letter from the apostle Paul, in prison. It concerns Onesimus, a runaway slave who had become a believer under Paul.

Paul sends the letter — and Onesimus — back to his master Philemon, likely at Colossae.

What is arguedLittle is disputed; the letter is a window into early Christian attitudes toward slavery.

The whole book, chapter by chapter

ChapterWhat this chapter covers
A brother, not a slave — Paul's appeal for Onesimus, chapter 1
Chapter 1The runaway returnedPaul appeals to Philemon to welcome back the runaway Onesimus as a beloved brother, offering to pay whatever he owes.

All 1 chapters. Start reading →

Worth knowing

Key people

Tap a name to see who they are.

Key places

Philemon's household was likely here.

Known for

The letter's best-known lines — tap the verse to read it.