Philemon

About Paul's letter to Philemon

Paul was a great Christian teacher. When Paul wrote this letter to Philemon, Paul was in prison, at either Rome or Ephesus. Rome was a very important city at that time. The king of Rome (Caesar) ruled many other countries. Ephesus was a city in the south and west part of the country that we call Turkey. Paul was in prison because he taught people about Jesus Christ. We think that Paul wrote this letter in the year AD 60 or 61. That was about 30 years after Jesus died.
Philemon was a Christian man who lived in the town of Colossae. Colossae was also in the south and west part of Turkey. Philemon had become a Christian because Paul had taught him about Christ. Philemon was a rich man who was the master of a house. A church met in his house. A man called Onesimus was one of Philemon's slaves. We think that Onesimus had robbed Philemon. He may have taken some of Philemon's money or other things. Then Onesimus had run away from Colossae.
Paul was a prisoner in his own house. People came to visit him, and he taught them about Jesus. Onesimus met Paul and Paul taught him about Jesus. As a result, Onesimus believed Jesus and he became a Christian. After that, Paul wrote this letter and he gave it to Onesimus. Then he sent Onesimus back to Philemon at Colossae. Paul wanted Onesimus to give the letter to Philemon.
In his letter, Paul asks Philemon to forgive Onesimus. This is because both of them were believers. It was difficult for Onesimus to return to Philemon. He had taken some of Philemon's things and he was still one of Philemon's slaves. Philemon could have killed Onesimus because of what he had done.
Tychicus was a friend of Paul and he was also a Christian. Tychicus was taking a letter from Paul to the Christians at Colossae, so he travelled with Onesimus.