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Synopsis: The book of Philemon is a personal letter that the Apostle Paul sent to a man named Philemon. There is no mention of this man anywhere else in the New Testament. The purpose of Paul’s letter was to ask Philemon to take back Onesimus, a runaway slave. Onesimus had gone to Rome, had met Paul, and had been converted by Paul to be a follower of the LORD Jesus Christ.
Key Verse: “If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account.” Philemon 1:18
Note: What is an epistle? Epistle is the English version of the Greek word, epistole, and it means a letter. All the Epistles in the New Testament are letters written to converted Christian believers. They were not written to unbelievers or the unsaved. As such, the Epistles are also written to converted Christian believers living today and to those living in the future. They are the Christians’ mail. Therefore, one cannot make a plan of salvation out of any statements written in these letters. The only plan of salvation provided in the New Testament is in Acts chapter 2 where the Apostle Peter answered the question, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” and Peter answered, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” That is God’s method or plan of salvation. Any thing else written in the Epistles is to people who have already done what Peter commanded in Acts chapter 2 and is simply a confirmation of their faith.