Epistle to Philemon

Light iron-age reading The Bible

Gabbin' with God

Old / New Testament Apocrypha Annotated Bible

Analysis

Apocalyptic literature Bible interpolation Firmament

Woo

Zion Oil and Gas Roman Piso Ken Ham

Figures

Ishmael Joseph of Arimathea YHWH v - t - e

Philemon is one of Paul's letters, written from jail. Philemon is a stub, but at least it is a bit longer than 2 John and 3 John.

Paul is apparently planning a jailbreak, because he asks Philemon, leader of the Colossian church to prepare a lodging for him, in the hope that through their "prayers" (or perhaps a get out of jail free card) he might be restored to them.

Paul also pleads on behalf of Onesimus, a former slave of Philemon whom Paul converted in prison. Paul is sending Onesimus back to them, and please don't make him a slave again. This part of Philemon was later cited by the abolitionism movement in support of ending slavery in the United States, which just goes how sparse Biblical condemnations of slavery are.

There is another later letter attributed to Paul written to the Christians of Colossae, but it's probably not actually by Paul, or at any rate written for him: Colossians.

See also

• RationalWiki:Annotated Bible/Philemon