King James Version
Philemon
Philemon in the King James Version (1769), public domain in the United States.
Background and History
The chapters above are the King James text. This essay is the setting of Philemon: who is said to have written it, when and where, what happens in it, and how the text has been copied.
At a Glance
| Author | Paul, a prisoner, with Timothy in the greeting. Scholars of every school accept Paul as the author. |
|---|---|
| Date | AD 54–62 in one survey, depending on whether Paul wrote from Ephesus, Caesarea, or Rome. |
| Place written | A prison not named. Rome, Italy, is traditional. |
| Genre | A short personal letter of appeal. |
| Chapters | 1 |
| Verses | 25 in the King James Version |
| Key verse | Philemon 1:16Philemon 1:16 · King James VersionNot now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?Philemon 1:16 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
Who Wrote It
Philemon 1:1Philemon 1:1 · King James VersionPaul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,
Philemon 1:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source (1) names Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy. Philemon 1:19Philemon 1:19 · King James VersionI Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.
Philemon 1:19 · King James VersionOpen the Source says Paul writes this with his own hand. Eusebius, the Muratorian fragment, and Athanasius receive it. (2) (3) (4) Pauline authorship is almost universally accepted.
Who It Is Not
Timothy is co-sender. Onesimus is the subject, not the author.
When and Where
Bible Gateway gives AD 54–62. (5) The names in Philemon 1:23–24Philemon 1:23–24 · King James Version1:23 There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;
1:24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.
Philemon 1:23–24 · King James VersionOpen the Source match Colossians 4:10–14Colossians 4:10–14 · King James Version4:10 Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)
4:11 And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.
4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
4:13 For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.
4:14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.
Colossians 4:10–14 · King James VersionOpen the Source, so the two letters were likely sent together.
Audience and Setting
Philemon, Apphia, Archippus, and the church in his house, in Philemon 1:2Philemon 1:2 · King James VersionAnd to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:
Philemon 1:2 · King James VersionOpen the Source. The purpose is to ask Philemon to receive his runaway or estranged slave Onesimus, now a believer, as a brother.
Rulers at the Time
The letter names no ruler. This page adds none.
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Onesimus meets Paul | Paul calls him his son, begotten in bonds. Philemon 1:10Philemon 1:10 · King James VersionI beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:Philemon 1:10 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
| The letter | AD 54–62 in one survey. (5) |
Places in This Book
| Ancient name | Modern-day location | References |
|---|---|---|
| Colosse | Probably Philemon’s home, inferred from Colossians. An unexcavated mound near Honaz, Denizli Province, Turkey. | Colossians 4:9Colossians 4:9 · King James VersionWith Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.Colossians 4:9 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
What Is Happening
Philemon 1:1–7Philemon 1:1–7 · King James Version1:1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,
1:2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:
1:3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1:4 I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,
1:5 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;
1:6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
1:7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
Philemon 1:1–7 · King James VersionOpen the Source greet and give thanks. Philemon 1:8–21Philemon 1:8–21 · King James Version1:8 Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,
1:9 Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
1:10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:
1:11 Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:
1:12 Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:
1:13 Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:
1:14 But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.
1:15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;
1:16 Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?
1:17 If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.
1:18 If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;
1:19 I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.
1:20 Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.
1:21 Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.
Philemon 1:8–21 · King James VersionOpen the Source appeal for Onesimus. Philemon 1:22–25Philemon 1:22–25 · King James Version1:22 But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.
1:23 There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;
1:24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.
1:25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
Philemon 1:22–25 · King James VersionOpen the Source ask for lodging and send greetings.
Key Themes
Reconciliation and brotherhood in Christ in Philemon 1:16Philemon 1:16 · King James VersionNot now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?
Philemon 1:16 · King James VersionOpen the Source. Love as the basis for an appeal in Philemon 1:9Philemon 1:9 · King James VersionYet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
Philemon 1:9 · King James VersionOpen the Source.
Apologetics Questions
Critics ask why Paul did not condemn slavery outright. Readers note that he asks Philemon to receive Onesimus no longer as a servant but as a brother, and to do even more than asked, in Philemon 1:16Philemon 1:16 · King James VersionNot now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?
Philemon 1:16 · King James VersionOpen the Source and Philemon 1:21Philemon 1:21 · King James VersionHaving confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.
Philemon 1:21 · King James VersionOpen the Source.
How the Book Points to Christ
Philemon 1:3Philemon 1:3 · King James VersionGrace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philemon 1:3 · King James VersionOpen the Source joins God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ as the one source of grace and peace. Jesus is God.
Text and Manuscripts
Codex Sinaiticus contains the letter. (6) No major variant changes the argument.
Canon Reception
Received without dispute. The Muratorian fragment names it with Titus and Timothy. (3) (2) (4)
Further Reading
References
- Letter to Philemon, 1; 10; 19; 23–24. King James Version
- Church History, Book 3, 3.3.5; 3.25Papias, in Eusebius, Church History 3.39.15 · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, New Advent
Mark, having become the interpreter of Peter, wrote down accurately, though not in order, whatsoever he remembered of the things said or done by Christ. For he neither heard the Lord nor followed him, but afterward, as I said, he followed Peter, who adapted his teaching to the needs of his hearers, but with no intention of giving a connected account of the Lord's discourses, so that Mark committed no error while he thus wrote some things as he remembered them. For he was careful of one thing, not to omit any of the things which he had heard, and not to state any of them falsely.
Papias, in Eusebius, Church History 3.39.15 · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, New AdventOpen the Source (Eusebius, Church History 3.3, 3.24–25, and 3.39, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, second series, vol. 1, on New Advent. Chapter 25 sorts books into acknowledged, disputed, and rejected. Chapter 39 reports Papias on Mark and Matthew.) - Muratorian fragment, PhilemonMuratorian fragment, on Acts · Roberts-Donaldson, Ante-Nicene Fathers 5
Moreover, the Acts of all the Apostles are comprised by Luke in one book, and addressed to the most excellent Theophilus, because these different events took place when he was present himself; and he shows this clearly-i.e., that the principle on which he wrote was, to give only what fell under his own notice-by the omission of the passion of Peter, and also of the journey of Paul, when he went from the city-Rome-to Spain.
Muratorian fragment, on Acts · Roberts-Donaldson, Ante-Nicene Fathers 5Open the Source (Roberts-Donaldson translation, Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 5. The Latin is damaged and the English follows restorations. The fragment lists the books read in the church and those rejected.) - Festal Letter 39, 39.4–5 (Athanasius of Alexandria, AD 367, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, second series, vol. 4, on New Advent. The letter lists twenty-two Old Testament books and the twenty-seven books of the New Testament, and places Esther among books to be read rather than in the canon.)
- When Was Each Book of the Bible Written?, Philemon (Jacob Edson, Bible Gateway, 16 September 2024. The survey gives Philemon as AD 54–62. It is one editor’s approximation, not a manuscript date.)
- Codex Sinaiticus, About the manuscriptCodex Sinaiticus: content · Codex Sinaiticus Project
Codex Sinaiticus, a manuscript of the Christian Bible written in the middle of the fourth century, contains the earliest complete copy of the Christian New Testament.
Codex Sinaiticus: content · Codex Sinaiticus ProjectOpen the Source (The Codex Sinaiticus project’s description of the manuscript, a fourth-century Greek Bible with the earliest complete copy of the New Testament.)
The King James Version (1769) is in the public domain in the United States.