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Philemon

Bible Dictionary

Philemon
the name of the Christian to whom Paul addressed his epistle inbehalf of Onesimus. He was a native probably of Colosse, or atall events lived in that city when the apostle wrote to him:first, because Onesimus was a Colossian, (colossians 4:9) andsecondly because Archippus was a Colossian, (colossians 4:17)whom Paul associates with Philemon at the beginning of hisletter. (philemon 1:1,2) It is related that Philemon becamebishop of Colosse, and died as a martyr under Nero. It isevident from the letter to him that Philemon was a man ofproperty and influence, since he is represented as the head ofa numerous household, and as exercising an expensive liberalitytoward his friends and the poor in general. He was indebted tothe apostle Paul as the medium of his personal participation inthe gospel. It is not certain under what circumstances theybecame known to each other. It is evident that on becoming adisciple he gave no common proof of the sincerity and power ofhis faith. His character as shadowed forth in the epistle tohim, is one of the noblest which the sacred record makes knownto us.