The Book of Philemon
Philemon is Paul's shortest and most personal letter, written from prison to a friend whose runaway slave, Onesimus, has been converted under Paul's care. Rather than command, Paul appeals for love's sake, asking Philemon to receive Onesimus back "no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother." When Paul offers to pay whatever Onesimus owes—"put that to my account"—we glimpse the very heart of the gospel, in which Christ takes our debt upon himself. In a single page, this letter shows how the cross reshapes our most strained relationships, turning what was useless into something useful and what was broken into something restored.
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Whole-Book Overview
See the whole sweep of Philemon, from a fractured relationship between master and runaway slave to a tender appeal for reconciliation that mirrors the gospel itself.
Open overview → Chapter 1Receive Him as a Brother
From prison Paul appeals to his friend Philemon to forgive and welcome back the runaway slave Onesimus, now a beloved brother in Christ.
Open study →Study together
Gather a group, work through a chapter at a time, and journey through Philemon together. Invite a friend to join you.