yet for love’s sake  I rather appeal to you – being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ – (10) I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains

(12) I am sending him back.  You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, (13) whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel.   (14) But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary.

(15) For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever,  (16) no longer as a slave but more than a slave – a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

(17)If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me.

The Apostle Paul wrote his friend Philemon, a Gentile convert to Christ, to ask forgiveness and gentle treatment for his runaway slave, Onesimus.  This letter focuses on eithical responsibilities of redeemed individuals in a Christian community.    Philemon was a truthful and important Christian iin Colosse and Paul, in prison himself, appeals to him as his brother in faith, not as one with authority.  Paul states in the letter that Onesimus, a slave,  is also a brother in Christ and should be received as such.

Slaves in first century Rome were either taken as spoils from war or because they sold themselves into slavery – as a bond servant.  Masters generally had absolute authority over their slaves – Paul often in his letters refers to himself as slave to Christ Jesus.  Slaves could marry, accumulate wealth and purchase their own freedom in many cases and Roman law accomodated freedom for slaves.  Slaves were between 25% and 40% of the population of the Roman Empire at that time.  The implications of all this impacted the New Testament authors strategy on slavery as pagan masters would not be responsive to Christian thinking.  Indeed, the gospel preached change from within and not imposition from without on social structures.

This letter does not attack the institution of slavery but teaches – yet again – that all men and women are equal in God’s eyes and as Christians, both master and slave are brothers.  Paul brought the message of faith to both Onesimus and Philemon.  It is apparent from this letter that Onesimus was transformed by this message and Paul is clearly expecting that Philemon has also accepted the Christian truth of equality and love and will act accordingly.