Philemon 1
BSASBPaul writes a short, warm, personal letter from prison to his friend Philemon. Philemon’s runaway slave Onesimus has come to faith through Paul, and Paul sends him home. He asks Philemon to welcome him back, no longer merely as a slave but as a beloved brother in Christ.
Philemon 1:1-2
Paul writes as a prisoner, not as an apostle with authority. He joins Timothy to him and greets Philemon as a dear co-worker. He also names Apphia, Archippus and the house church, so the whole fellowship hears this letter and shares in the matter.
BSA: prisoner (“captive, in bonds”): Paul presents himself as bound for Christ’s sake, which sets a humble tone for his request. church (“assembly, gathering of believers”): The church is a gathered people, here meeting in an ordinary home, and they will witness Philemon’s response.
See also: Colossians 4:17.
Philemon 1:3
Paul’s usual greeting joins grace and peace. Grace is God’s undeserved kindness, and peace is the wholeness that follows from it. Both come from the Father and the Lord Jesus together. The same grace Philemon has received is what Paul will ask him to show.
BSA: Grace (“unmerited favor, divine influence”): Grace is a free gift that also works in the believer’s life, not only a feeling of favor.
Philemon 1:4-5
Before making any request, Paul thanks God for Philemon. He has heard of Philemon’s faith in the Lord Jesus and his love for all God’s people. Faith toward Christ and love toward believers belong together, and Paul is about to call on both.
BSA: saints (“holy, set apart ones”): Saints are all believers, set apart for God, not a special class of Christians.
See also: Colossians 1:4.
Philemon 1:6
Paul prays that Philemon’s sharing in the faith would bear real fruit as he sees how much he already has in Christ. Understanding what God has given us moves us to act generously. Faith that is truly grasped leads to deeds of love.
BSA: partnership (“fellowship”): Sharing in the faith means a common life with other believers, not private belief alone. effective (“producing results, fruitful”): Paul wants Philemon’s faith to show itself in practical results.
Greek: κοινωνία (koinōnia, G2842) — “sharing, partnership, fellowship.” The word means holding things in common. It covers a shared faith and also shared generosity, which fits Paul’s coming request.
Philemon 1:7
Paul has been truly cheered by Philemon’s love. Philemon has given rest to weary believers and lifted their spirits. Paul is reminding him of his own good record, and he hints that one more act of love is now needed.
BSA: refreshed (“given rest, rejuvenated”): Philemon’s kindness gave tired believers rest, like cool water on a hot day.
Greek: σπλάγχνα (splanchna, G4698) — “inner organs, the gut, deep feelings.” Translated here as hearts, it names the deepest seat of emotion. Paul uses it again in verses 12 and 20.
Philemon 1:8-9
Paul could use his apostolic authority and command Philemon. He chooses to appeal in love instead. He mentions that he is old and in prison, which makes his plea gentle rather than forceful. Love persuades where orders would only press.
BSA: order (“command, give direction”): Paul admits he has the right to command, but sets it aside. love (“unconditional affection, charity”): He rests his request on love that gives freely, not on rank.
See also: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.
Philemon 1:10
Only now does Paul name the one he is pleading for: Onesimus. He calls him his child, because Paul led him to Christ while in prison. A runaway slave has become a spiritual son, and Paul puts that bond forward first.
BSA: father (“spiritual father, one who has begotten in the faith”): Paul means that Onesimus was born again through his preaching.
See also: 1 Corinthians 4:15.
Philemon 1:11
Paul makes a play on the name Onesimus, which means useful or profitable. Once he was useless to Philemon, probably because he ran away. Now, changed by Christ, he is truly useful to both men. The gospel makes new people.
BSA: useless (“unprofitable, of no benefit”): Onesimus had failed Philemon, and Paul does not hide it. useful (“helpful, profitable”): This is the meaning of his name, now at last true of him.
Greek: εὔχρηστον (euchrēston, G2173) — “well-useful, profitable.” It plays on the name Onesimus, which means useful. Paul smiles over a name that now fits the man.
Philemon 1:12
Paul sends Onesimus back, and the cost to him is real. He calls Onesimus his very heart, as if a part of himself were going home. Paul sends him as a person he loves, not as a piece of property returned.
BSA: heart (“my innermost being, my deepest affection”): Onesimus is as dear to Paul as his own inmost self.
Greek: σπλάγχνα (splanchna, G4698) — “deep inward feelings, the gut.” Paul says Onesimus is his very bowels, the seat of the strongest affection. He feels the parting physically.
Philemon 1:13-14
Paul would gladly have kept Onesimus to help him in prison, and Philemon might well have wished it too. But Paul will not act without Philemon’s agreement. He wants any kindness to be freely given, not forced. Love’s gifts mean most when they are willing.
BSA: consent (“approval, agreement”): Paul respects Philemon’s right to decide. free will (“voluntary, willing”): Goodness has to be chosen to be truly good.
See also: 2 Corinthians 9:7.
Philemon 1:15
Paul offers a gentle thought: perhaps this separation had a purpose. He says perhaps, since he does not claim to know God’s plan. Onesimus was away for a while so that Philemon could have him back for good, as a believer. Paul sees God’s hand even in a painful parting.
BSA: separated (“parted, left”): Paul avoids the word runaway and speaks softly of a parting. for good (“forever, eternally”): Their new bond in Christ will outlast this life.
See also: Genesis 50:20.
Philemon 1:16
Onesimus returns as more than a slave. He is now a beloved brother, both in everyday life and in the Lord. Paul does not give a program for ending slavery here, but he plants a truth that undermines its spirit: in Christ master and slave are family.
BSA: brother (“fellow believer, sibling in Christ”): Onesimus shares Philemon’s standing before God. beloved (“dearly loved, cherished”): Paul asks Philemon to treat him with cherishing love.
See also: Galatians 3:28.
Philemon 1:17
Paul now makes his request plain. If Philemon counts Paul a partner in the faith, he should welcome Onesimus exactly as he would welcome Paul. Onesimus is to be received on Paul’s standing, not on his own record.
BSA: partner (“fellow worker, participant”): Their shared work in the gospel is the basis for Paul’s plea. receive (“Onesimus, as a brother”): Welcome means full acceptance as a brother, not merely letting him back in.
Greek: κοινωνόν (koinōnon, G2844) — “partner, sharer.” It comes from the same family as the word for fellowship in verse 6. Paul now asks Philemon to live out that sharing.
Philemon 1:18-19
Paul offers to pay whatever Onesimus owes, and he signs it in his own handwriting like a promissory note. This is a picture of taking another’s debt on oneself. Christians have long seen in it a glimpse of what Christ does for sinners. Paul also gently reminds Philemon of his own spiritual debt.
BSA: charge (“attribute or credit”): Paul asks that the debt be placed on his own account. repay (“in full, to settle the account”): Paul promises full payment, not a partial one.
Greek: ἐλλόγα (ellogа, G1677) — “put to account, charge.” It is a bookkeeping word. Paul asks that Onesimus’s debt be written in his own ledger.
See also: Isaiah 53:6; 2 Corinthians 5:21.
Philemon 1:20
Paul asks for some benefit from Philemon in the Lord, and for his heart to be refreshed. The request is personal and affectionate. Paul wants Philemon’s welcome to bring him real joy, and what Philemon once did for the saints he is asked to do for Paul.
BSA: Refresh (“give rest, rejuvenate”): It echoes verse 7, where Philemon’s love already brought rest to others.
Greek: ὀναίμην (onaimēn, G3685) — “let me have profit or benefit.” It is a form of the same root as Onesimus. Paul plays on the name once more: let me have an Onesimus-benefit from you.
Philemon 1:21
Paul writes with confidence in Philemon. He is sure Philemon will do what he asks and more. The words more than I ask may hint at freeing Onesimus, but Paul leaves it unsaid. He trusts Philemon’s heart and does not dictate the outcome.
BSA: obedience (“submission to God’s commands”): Paul expects Philemon to follow what Christ’s love requires.
Philemon 1:22
Paul asks Philemon to prepare a guest room, since he hopes to visit soon. This gives the letter weight, because Paul will come to see how Onesimus has been received. He also credits Philemon’s prayers for his release, a humble sign of trust in the church.
BSA: restored (“given, granted”): Paul sees his release as a gift granted by God in answer to prayer.
See also: Philippians 1:25-26.
Philemon 1:23-24
Paul closes with greetings from friends who are with him. Epaphras is a fellow prisoner, and Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke are fellow workers. These people show that Paul’s ministry was a team effort, and they stand with him in this appeal.
BSA: fellow workers (“co-laborers, sharing the burden of ministry”): These men shared the load of gospel work alongside Paul.
See also: Colossians 4:10-14; 2 Timothy 4:10-11.
Philemon 1:25
Paul ends as he began, with grace. He prays that the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with their spirit. The whole matter of the letter rests on that grace, which makes forgiveness and brotherhood possible.
BSA: grace (“unmerited favor, loving-kindness”): Everything in the letter depends on undeserved kindness freely given.