PHILEMON (Epistle)
It is a short letter addressed by Paul and Timothy to a rich man from Colossae converted to Christ.
His slave Onesimus had fled, possibly taking with him some stolen money (Flm. 18, 19). Arriving in Rome, Onesimus was converted by the preaching of the apostle Paul (Flm. 10).
The apostle would have liked to retain him for service in the work, but he did not feel free to do so without the consent of Philemon (Flm. 13, 14). Furthermore, there is no doubt that Paul considered that Onesimus, converted to Christ, had to ask for forgiveness from his master. The apostle strongly desired that Philemon be reconciled with Onesimus.
Thus, he returns the slave to his owner, whom he recommends receiving him as a well-loved brother (Flm. 16). Speaking of his affection for the young convert (Phm. 10, 12), he offers to reimburse Philemon for what the slave owes him (Plm. 18, 19).
This letter shows how the apostle used tact and courtesy with his fellow believers; It also reveals the influence of nascent Christianity on the relationships between people of different social classes.
The epistle to Philemon is saturated with the spirit of love and justice that, thanks to the Gospel, would infiltrate society. Armed with this letter, Onesimus accompanied Tychicus, bearer of the epistle destined for the church of Colosse (Col. 4:7-9) and of the epistle to the church in Ephesus (Eph. 6:21, 22); There were three letters written in Rome at the same time (probably the year 60 or 61).
The Epistle to Philemon is found in the Syriac and Vetus Latina versions; Muratori’s fragment mentions her, as does the heretic Marcion; Origen cites it as Paul’s, Eusebius places it in the group of writings never questioned.
There is therefore a great abundance of evidence of its authenticity which, in addition, allows us to affirm the authenticity of the letters to the Colossians and the Thessalonians, since they were written at the same time as that of Philemon.