Can someone give me some background on the Book of Philemon?

Question

And what do you think I should be getting out of this short letter? Serious answers, please.

Answer 1

The Epistle to Philemon was a private letter written by Paul during his first imprisonment in Rome. The focus of the letter is to give a proper understanding of the Hebrew fugitive law found in Deuteronomy 23:15,16. It reveals how Paul acted in strict accordance with the requirements of the law in dealing with Onesimus, a slave who had run away from Philemon.
Paul desired for Philemon to receive Onesimus back no longer as a servant, but as a beloved brother and partner in Christ.

The message I've gotten from this short letter is that we should be as forgiving of others as is our Savior, Jesus Christ, forgiving us when we sin.

Answer 2

This short letter addressed to three specific individuals was written by Paul during an imprisonment, perhaps in Rome between A.D. 61 and 63.

It concerns Onesimus, a slave from Colossae (Col 4:9), who had run away from his master, perhaps guilty of theft in the process (Philemon 1:18). Onesimus was converted to Christ by Paul (Philemon 1:10). Paul sends him back to his master (Philemon 1:12) with this letter asking that he be welcomed willingly by his old master (Philemon 1:8-10, 14, 17) not just as a slave but as a brother in Christ (Philemon 1:16). Paul uses very strong arguments (especially Philemon 1:19) in his touching appeal on behalf of Onesimus. It is unlikely that Paul is subtly hinting that he would like to retain Onesimus as his own slave, lent to Paul by his master. Rather, he suggests he would like to have Onesimus work with him for the gospel (Philemon 1:13, 20-21). There is, however, little evidence connecting this Onesimus with a bishop of Ephesus of the same name mentioned by Ignatius of Antioch (ca. A.D. 110). Paul's letter deals with an accepted institution of antiquity, human slavery. But Paul breathes into this letter the spirit of Christ and of equality within the Christian community. He does not attack slavery directly, for this is something the Christian communities of the first century were in no position to do, and the expectation that Christ would soon come again militated against social reforms. Yet Paul, by presenting Onesimus as "brother, beloved . . . to me, but even more so to you" (Philemon 1:16), voiced an idea revolutionary in that day and destined to break down worldly barriers of division "in the Lord."

Answer 3

PHILEMON

(Phi·le′mon) [Loving].

A Christian slave owner associated with the congregation at Colossae. His house in this city of southwestern Asia Minor served as a meeting place for the congregation there. Philemon proved himself to be a source of refreshment to fellow Christians and an example in faith and love. The apostle Paul regarded him as a beloved fellow worker. (Phm 1, 2, 5-7; compare Col 4:9 with Phm 10-12.) Paul’s desire to lodge with Philemon reflects favorably on this man’s hospitality.—Phm 22; compare Ac 16:14, 15.

Apphia and Archippus seem to have been members of Philemon’s household, as they are also addressed in Paul’s personal letter to Philemon. Apphia was perhaps Philemon’s wife, and Archippus may have been his son.—Phm 2.

It appears that Philemon became a Christian through Paul’s efforts. (Phm 19) However, since Paul had done no preaching in Colossae itself (Col 2:1), Philemon may have become acquainted with Christianity as a result of the apostle’s two-year activity in Ephesus, when “all those inhabiting the district of Asia [which embraced Colossae] heard the word of the Lord.”—Ac 19:10.

Sometime before receiving Paul’s letter, Philemon had been deserted by his slave Onesimus. This runaway slave possibly even stole funds from his master to finance the voyage to Rome, where he later met Paul and became a Christian.—

Answer 4

Paul wrote this letter, Philemon 1:1



The Date Of The Letter To Philemon

About 60 to 61 A.D. See The Background For Paul's Prison Epistles: Colossians, Philemon, Ephesians, Philippians

The Occasion For The Writing Of The Letter To Philemon

The letter to Philemon was one of Paul's prison epistles, which he wrote while being held a prisoner in Rome. While being held under house arrest there, Paul received a visitor named Onesimus, whose name meant profitable or advantage. Onesimus had formerly proven to be anything but profitable and an advantage. He was a runaway slave who had fled from his master, a man named Philemon. When Onesimus ran away, he probably took with him money and goods which belonged to his master Philemon. Runaway slaves customarily did this. Onesimus made his way to Rome. In Rome he somehow came to Paul. Through Paul's teaching he became a Christian. A bond of friendship developed between Paul and Onesimus. Onesimus performed valuable services for Paul. He probably ran errands for Paul, who could not leave the house. Onesimus' services greatly aided Paul's ministry.

Paul would have liked to keep Onesimus with him. Paul, however, honored the social tie that bound a slave to his master and respected the duty Onesimus owed to Philemon, his master. Guided by the tenth commandment, which forbids coveting another man's worker, and by the law of love, Paul decided Onesimus should return to Philemon. Paul was about to send Tychicus, a co-worker, to Colosse with a letter Paul had written to the church there. Philemon was a member of that church. Tychicus' traveling to Colosse offered Paul the opportunity to send Onesimus with Tychicus to Philemon. Onesimus went willingly as a penitent Christian to seek his master's forgiveness and to return to his service in Philemon's household. Paul wrote his letter to Philemon and had Tychicus hand carry it to him.

Answer 5

see http://www.bcbsr.com/books/phm.html though it's not a background so much as a commentary