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New Testament · Book 57 of 66

Philemon

The shortest Pauline letter. Paul appeals for Onesimus — runaway slave now a brother in Christ — on grounds of reconciliation, not coercion.

  • 1Chapter
  • ReconciliationDiplomacy
  • BrotherhoodIn Christ

“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
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One Diplomatic Appeal

The shortest Pauline letter. One chapter. One extended request — for reconciliation, not coercion. Courtesy, petition, closing.

  1. Opening courtesyvv. 1–7

    Greeting. Thanksgiving for Philemon's love and faith — the hearts of the saints refreshed.

  2. The appeal for Onesimusvv. 8–20

    Though bold enough to command, Paul appeals. The runaway slave, now a brother beloved. ‘Put it on my account.’

  3. Personal closingvv. 21–25

    Confidence in Philemon's obedience; prepare a lodging; final greetings and benediction.

Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved (v. 16).

Structure

  1. 1:1–7Opening courtesyGreeting; thanksgiving for Philemon's love and faith; joy in the refreshing of saints.
  2. 1:8–20The appeal for OnesimusThough bold enough to command, Paul appeals; the runaway now a brother; put it on my account.
  3. 1:21–25Personal closingConfidence in Philemon's obedience; prepare a lodging; greetings; benediction.

Section pages

Each section is one focused part of Philemon — purpose, key movements, key verses, Christ-in-this-section. Roughly five minutes each.

  1. 01 · 1

    A letter of reconciliation

Themes

Reconciliation: Receive him as myself — the pattern of reconciliation modelled in one apostolic request.

Christian brotherhood: Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved (v. 16).

Diplomatic authority: Though Paul could command (v. 8), he appeals for love's sake — authority used sparingly for the sake of the gospel.

If you only read a few chapters

Where Philemon leads

219 cross-references flow out of its 1 heaviest chapters · 8 words are distinctively its own.

Counted live from the reference floor (heaviest chapter pairs · tagged word floor · featured-page citations).

Heaviest chapter

Philemon 1Sends 219 cross-references outward — the most connected chapter in the book.

Distinctive word

G55478 of its 523 occurrences in all of Scripture fall in this book (2%).

All 1 chapters

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