Philemon, Epistle to

The Epistle to Philemon is a brief personal letter from Paul to a Christian slaveholder in Colossae on behalf of his runaway slave Onesimus, who had become a Christian during Paul's Roman imprisonment. The letter is a masterpiece of tactful advocacy: Paul appeals to Philemon on the basis of their friendship and gospel partnership, declining to command but persuading from love, and hints strongly that he hopes Onesimus will be sent back to serve him in ministry. Paul's appeal to receive Onesimus as a brother rather than a slave, combined with his offer to pay any debt personally, has been seen as an implicit challenge to the institution of slavery operating through transformation of personal relationships rather than direct social legislation.