Written in the period between 59-61 A.D., this letter of Paul’s deals with an unusual situation. Apparently, a slave had run away from a friend of Paul’s. This slave, Onesimus,  then became a Christian due to Paul, who then composed this letter asking for the owner, Philemon, to take back his slave even though it was the right of the owner to severely punish any runaway slave. This letter required all of Paul’s literary skills to defuse a potentially serious situation.

Again, here are questions to consider. See a reference in verse 2 to a typical church setting. How was it different from church today? Paul had to use great persuasive skills here. Note each of the following sections and see what tactics Paul used—verses 4-10, 11-19, 20-21. Paul can be playful at times. See verse 11. If you know “Onesimus” means “useful,” does it help you see Paul’s word game?

Paul doesn’t speak against slavery. Should he? Are there any principles here that might eventually undermine slavery? Keep in mind the Christian idea is to change the heart of one person at a time instead of trying to change society from the top down. What negative results might have come about if Paul urged all slaves to throw off their masters? Also, it helps to know that the slavery here and in the Old Testament is different from the slavery in the American South before the Civil War–it wasn’t based on skin color, many slaves could gain their freedom (all could in the Old Testament where slavery was much more like indentured servitude), many slaves had their own businesses.

Read the text carefully one more time. How are all three people (Paul, Onesimus, Philemon) taking a risk and making a sacrifice stemming from their allegiance to Christ?