Faith & Reason Nexus

AUTHOR: Paul

TIME WRITTEN: About A.D. 60 or 61 from Rome

POSITION IN THE BIBLE:

• 57th Book in the Bible
• 18th Book in the New Testament
• HOLY BIBLE
• 13th of 21 Epistle Books (Romans – Jude)
• 7th of Paul’s 13 Books
• 9 Books to Follow It

CHAPTERS: 1

VERSES: 25

WORDS: 445

OBSERVATIONS ABOUT PHILEMON:

• The Book of Philemon is one of Paul’s four prison epistles, along with Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians.
• It is Paul’s only one-chapter book and his shortest book, with 334 words in Greek and 445 in the KJV.
• Philemon is one of Paul’s four books addressed to individuals, the others being 1 Timothy, Titus, and 2 Timothy.
• Key Context:
• According to Roman law, a runaway slave could face severe punishment or even death.
• Onesimus, a runaway slave, fled to Rome, where he was converted to Christianity by Paul.
• Paul writes to Philemon, Onesimus’s master, requesting that he receive Onesimus back not just as a slave but as a beloved brother in Christ.
• The letter was delivered to Philemon by Tychicus.
• Philemon’s Background:
• He was a resident of Colossae (Philemon 1-2).
• A convert of Paul (Philemon 19).
• Owned a house large enough to host a church (Philemon 2).
• Known for his benevolence (Philemon 5-7).
• Father of Archippus (Philemon 2).