Philemon: Summary & Key Themes

Philemon at a glance, before you read it.

Written by	Paul
Written to	Philemon, a believer in Colossae
Type	Letter
Chapters	1
Position	Book 57 of 66 · book 18 of the New Testament

Summary

In this short personal letter Paul asks Philemon to welcome back Onesimus, a runaway slave who has become a believer, no longer as a slave but as a brother.

Main themes

forgiveness
reconciliation
brotherhood in Christ

Key verse

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?

Philemon 1:16 (KJV)

How to read Philemon

Read it in one or two sittings first; short letters were written to be read aloud in one go. Ask three questions as you go: what did this mean to the first readers, what does it show about God, and what does it ask of me?

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