Philemon: a Bible Commentary

This small New Testament book is often overlooked. Around 62 AD, when Paul was imprisoned in Rome awaiting trial before Nero for the first time, he wrote four great Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians and Philemon. The apostle's picked couriers took them to the churches of Greece and Asia; but of these, only the letter to Philemon was initially meant to be private. In it Paul implored Philemon, in whose house the church of Colosse met, to receive and forgive a guilty, runaway slave, Onesimus, whom the apostle had led to Christ. This brief and intimate letter is rich in compassion and illustrates movingly the Christian basis the for equality of mankind.This commentary puts the book in context, showing the remarkable character of Paul, the fears and faith of Onesimus, and the reverent humility of Philemon - for had he ignored the apostle's plea for mercy, surely he never would have allowed this inspired letter to reach a grateful posterity.