A large portion of the letter addresses the Roman practice of slavery, specifically in the life of a man named Onesimus. This man was a runaway slave of Philemon, a church leader in Colossae.
Paul’s letter to Philemon includes five main parts:
- An introduction (1:1–3),
- encouragement to Philemon (1:4–7),
- a request regarding the runaway slave Onesimus (1:8–16),
- a pledge to Philemon from Paul (1:17–22)
- and a brief conclusion (1:23–25).
(I listened to the book; I loved it when Paul said, “Get my room ready…I am coming to visit)
When you think about the letter’s purpose, don’t think of the people but think of God’s character. So what is the purpose of this book?
- Respect
- Love
- Forgiveness
- Care
- Protection
Reading the Bible - 2021 
What a beautiful letter! So many nuggets of wisdom and encouragement. I am challenged to be verse 7 to those around me. The boldness of Paul as he pleads for this man, the care and love he is displaying is truly beautiful. I wish we knew how Philemon responded to his request!
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