Epistle to Philemon

Philemon is the eighteenth book of the New Testament and the fifty-seventh book of Bible. In this short letter, Paul the apostle requests that Philemon receive his runaway slave back into his household as a fellow believer. The slave, Onesimus, had become a believer while visiting with Paul.

Authorship
The Epistle was written by Paul, as a letter to Philemon, as well as a woman named Apphia, a man named Archippus and the church that met in Philemon's home. Paul wrote the book while imprisoned, pleading for forgiveness for Philemon's runaway slave, Onesimus. Paul also asks in the letter for Philemon to prepare space for him, for when he is freed from prison.

Significantly Paul wrote the letter, recording it himself rather than it being written down some other way.

Paul also greets Philemon and his church on behalf of other Christians such as Timothy, Epaphras, Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke.