Philemon was a church official, we believe, somewhere in Collossae or the surrounding area. He had a slave called Onesimus who ran away and found himself on Paul's doorstep. The name Onesimus means 'useful'.
An absconding slave, in those days, would have been executed if caught. Instead of Paul sheltering the fugitive slave, he sent him back to Philemon with a letter - a letter that can still be read in the New Testament today.
In it Paul reminded Philemon that he was owed a favour by Philemon as Paul had been instrumental in his conversion - in fact Paul was so bold as to say that Philemon owed him his very life! He then implored Philemon to take back Oneisimus, who has also now become a Christian, not as a slave, but as a fellow Christian and a brother, as he should put his new Christian principles into action.
It seems that Philemon obeyed Paul to the letter. We hear of Onesimus later in another one of Paul's letters, but we are uncertain that he and Onesimus are one and the same. More probably, Onesimus went on to become Bishop at Ephesus as there are early records suggesting that this actually happened.
Forgiveness Encouragement Grace
Baucis and Philemon are the titular characters in a Greek myth about an elderly couple who show hospitality to disguised gods Zeus and Hermes. Baucis is the wife, and Philemon is the husband. Together, they demonstrate the virtue of hospitality and are rewarded for their kindness.
The book of Philemon in the New Testament tells the story of a runaway slave named Onesimus who was converted to Christianity by Paul and returned to his master, Philemon. Paul writes to Philemon urging him to forgive Onesimus and treat him as a brother in Christ.
AnswerWe know nothing for certain other than what is in Paul's Epistle to Philemon. However, the epistle was a private letter, and the fact that it was preserved and subsequently copied throughout the Christian community, gives us hope that Philemon did indeed take Onesimus back without sever punishment.
Philemon is written in the form of a letter, following the typical structure of ancient letters during that time period. It is a personal correspondence between the Apostle Paul and Philemon concerning the issue of his runaway slave, Onesimus.
Philemon is Greek for "affectionate."
Forgiveness Encouragement Grace
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