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Philemon 1

Paul, in chains, writes one of the shortest books in the New Testament to a wealthy believer named Philemon about a single person: Onesimus, a slave who had left and whom Paul has since led to faith. The whole letter is a delicate request to take him back. Watch how Paul builds his case before naming it. He spends seven verses praising Philemon's love for the saints, then refuses to command (v8-9) what he could order, choosing instead to appeal as 'Paul, the aged' and a prisoner.

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1
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker,
2
to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house:
3
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,
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hearing of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints,
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that the fellowship of your faith may become effective in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus.
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For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
8
Therefore though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate,
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yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
10
I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have become the father of in my chains,
11
who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me.
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I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,
13
whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News.
14
But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will.
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For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while that you would have him forever,
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no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much rather to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
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If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.
18
But if he has wronged you at all or owes you anything, put that to my account.
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I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self besides).
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Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord.
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Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even beyond what I say.
22
Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.
23
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,
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as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
25
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

An IOU in Paul's own hand

The hinge is verses 18-19. Paul tells Philemon that if Onesimus 'has wronged you at all or owes you anything, put that to my account,' then drops the formal style to write personally: 'I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it.' He immediately reminds Philemon that he owes Paul his very self.

Around this runs the wordplay on the name Onesimus, which meant 'useful': once 'useless,' now 'useful' to both men (v11). The closing requests, a guest room (v22) and greetings from Mark, Luke, and others, show this private note circulating among a watching circle of friends.