1Masters, give to your servants that which is just and equal, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
2Continue steadfastly in prayer, watching in it with thanksgiving, 3praying together for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds, 4that I may reveal it as I ought to speak.
5Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
7All my affairs will be made known to you by Tychicus, the beloved brother, faithful servant, and fellow bondservant in the Lord. 8I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts, 9together with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you everything that is going on here.
10Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you received instructions, “if he comes to you, receive him”), 11and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for God’s Kingdom who are of the circumcision, men who have been a comfort to me.
12Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, salutes you, always striving for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. 13For I testify about him that he has great zeal for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for those in Hierapolis. 14Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you. 15Greet the brothers who are in Laodicea, with Nymphas and the assembly that is in his house. 16When this letter has been read among you, cause it to be read also in the assembly of the Laodiceans, and that you also read the letter from Laodicea. 17Tell Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you fulfill it.”
18I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.
Philemon was an influential Christian in Colossae who converted to the faith (Phlm 19). After Onesimus (Philemon’s runaway slave) was converted, Paul him sent back to Philemon. Paul requested that Philemon receive him not “as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved…both in the flesh, and in the Lord” (Phlm 16). Paul tells him that he had heard of his “love and faith” to Jesus and “all the saints” and that he “refreshed” them. It is due to this reputation that Paul makes the bold request that Philemon receive back Onesimus, since masters could inflict whatever punishment they wished on slaves – including death. We are not told whether Philemon received Onesimus, but Paul was confident of Philemon’s “obedience” in the matter. According to church tradition Philemon became the bishop of Colosse, and, with his wife, was martyred during Nero's reign. (Wigoder et al., Illustrated Dictionary and Concordance, 784).