This is one of the shortest books in the Bible. It was probably written about the same time as Colossians, and Onesimus, the runway slave, gets a mention in Colossians 4:9. Philemon lived in Colossae and was a slave owner. Colossians 4 has instructions for slave owners. Now today we find it incomprehensible that a Christian could be a slave owner, but there are a few things we need to appreciate. First, slavery then was not the same as the slave trade was in Britain and America. It was a fundamental part of the economy. This is not to say that it was "good", but it was not necessarily as bad as we think it was. Secondly, Paul does not support slavery, but his approach is not to seek the "overthrow of the capitalist system", but to change the hearts of Christian slave owners. So slave owners were to treat their slaves well and to respect and value them. Now there are times when societal structures need to be changed, and Wilberforce did a great work, but it is not the only way to change things. We can change things by having a Godly attitude, and as Paul says in Galatians, "against such there is no law".
Onesimus had stolen from his owner Philemon and had run away. However, he had run into Paul and become a Christian. So now Paul urges Philemon to welcome him as a brother.
Paul deals with the matter in a very tactful manner. He praises Philemon for his good works, and rather than ordering him to receive Onesimus back he appeals to him to do so.
He also speaks very highly of Onesimus, and shows how Philemon has actually gained out of the whole episode.
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