Philemon.
Paul's personal appeal for Onesimus, Philemon's escaped slave converted in prison.
Who wrote Philemon?
Paul.
Who was it written for?
Philemon, a Christian slave-owner in Colossae.
Structure
- One chapter; a personal letter.
Key verses
Why Philemon matters
The shortest and most personal letter in the NT. Paul appeals to Philemon to receive his escaped slave Onesimus back not as a slave but as "a beloved brother." The letter doesn't directly condemn slavery — but the logic of brotherhood in Christ undermines it. Modern abolitionists found this letter central to their argument.
Related tools
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