To Philemon – Philemon 1:1-3

What would it be like to receive a personal letter from the apostle Paul?  Philemon had that experience, but he did not keep his letter private.  It became a possession of and blessing to the whole church.  And it will have an important impact on our understanding of slavery.

Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house:   Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  (Philemon 1:1-3 ESV)

Paul is writing from incarceration in Rome, in a rented space at his cost, but chained to Roman soldiers 24/7.  He was arrested in Jerusalem unjustly and to get a fair trial has appealed to Caesar and so awaits court there.  He is writing to Philemon, a man who was instrumental in the birth and growth of the church at Colosse, a church planted by believers from Ephesus where Paul ministered for two years and helped it become a mission sending church.  

We don’t know who Apphia or Archippus are, but the latter has a “church” in his home.  We see from Romans 16 that one locality, a city for example, would be considered one church, the church at Rome let’s say, but within that one church were several churches in homes.  There were no large buildings built specifically for a congregation of Christ followers to meet.  And a plurality of elders led the church(es) in each locality.  Archippus’ church in his home is one church of several in the church at Colosse.

Paul is writing Philemon separately from the Colossian church because a runaway slave belonging to Philemon has ended up in Paul’s care and in fact has become a believer.  Paul goes out of his way to tone down his authority as an apostle, focusing instead on his partnership with Philemon.  And as always he sends grace and peace from the Father and the Son, putting them, of course, on equal footing as God.

Every time we connect with the Father and Son they want us to know that they are our source of grace, unmerited favor, and peace, divine inward wholeness and favor, shalom.