Philemon appears to have been a comparatively wealthy Colossian who owned slaves, as did most of the rich in his day.1Dr. Thomas Constable. Philemon. https://www.planobiblechapel.org/tcon/notes/html/nt/philemon/philemon.htm Whether Philemon was from Colossians or not, is the subject of speculation as there is no direct reference in Scripture that makes this claim. There is, however, good reason to believe that this is the case. Both Colossians and Philemon are, of course, written by the Apostle Paul. Add to this the fact that both Colossians and Philemon are coauthored by “Timothy our brother,” as can seen by comparing Philemon 1:1 with Colossians 1:1. Then consider that Archippus is mentioned in both letters as well; see Philemon 2 where he would appear to be a member of Philemon’s family. Some have suggested that he was Philemon’s son.2Constable; Vincent’s Word Studies. The Epistle to Philemon.https://biblehub.com/commentaries/vws/philemon/1.htm And in the letter written to the Colossians, Paul urges Archippus, who was apparently a member of the church at Colossae, to make sure that he carried out the ministry he had received in the Lord (Col. 4:17). The two letters are also tied together by none other than Onesimus himself. Of course, Onesimus, who is apparently a runaway slave, is the reason that Paul writes the letter to Philemon to begin with. But then, we note that in Colossians, Paul says that Onesimus, is “a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you” (Col 4:9). The “you,” of course, is the church at Colossae. And adding to the evidence that connects Colossians and Philemon is that Onesimus was to accompany Tychicus to Colossae (Col 4:7-9). Another person that links the two letters together is an man by the name of Epaphras. Paul refers to him as his “fellowprisoner” in Philemon 1:23 and among those sending greetings to Philemon. So it appears that Philemon knew Epaphras. Also, it appears that Epaphras had founded the church at Colossae. Paul, writing to the Colossian church, speaks of the day that they heard the Gospel and reminds them that they had “learned it from Epaphras” who he names “a faithful minister of Christ” (Col. 1:6–7).
However, it is pretty clear that Philemon was the slave owner 3You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Dr. Bob Utley. Introduction To Philemon and that Onesimus was his doulon; his slave. 4Philemon 1:16
Many have suggested that Philemon was written while Paul was under house arrest in Rome5Dr. Thomas Constable6Act 28:30
Constable believes that Paul sent his letter along with the Epistle to the Colossians, and that he “probably wrote them in Rome at the same time (60-62 A.D.).”7 Dr. Thomas ConstableBible teacher and blogger, Nathan C. Johnson agrees that Paul wrote both Colossians and Philemon around the same time. He writes that, “this letter [Philemon] was probably sent along with Colossians at the same time.”8 https://precepts.wordpress.com/2017/08/30/philemon-part-1/ He points out that the same people that are with Paul when he wrote his letter Philemon are with him when he wrote to the Colossians, namely, Epaphras, Mark, Aristarchus, Luke, and Demas (Phm. 1:23-24; cf. Col. 4:10; 4:12; 4:14). So it seems likely that Colossians and Philemon were written at about the same time. But where were they written from? Not all commentators agree that Colossians and Philemon were from Rome. Paul says that he is “a prisoner for Christ Jesus.” We must take into consideration that Paul was imprisoned in Ephesus, Philippi, Caesarea, and, of course, Rome. It seems unlikely that Onesimus would have traveled by foot over 1000 miles to the city of Rome and, there, somehow, have made his way to Paul’s rented home were he was held under house arrest. It is possible however, that Onesimus could have crossed paths in Ephesus. Ephesus was only about 100 miles from Colossians.
“It seems most likely but hardly certain that Philemon was written during an earlier imprisonment, possibly at Ephesus, from which Paul expected to be released, and hence be able to visit Philemon and continue his ministry. Travel for both Onesimus and Paul from Ephesus to Colossae, the usually assumed location of Philemon’s home, would be relatively easy, since they are only about a hundred miles apart.”
“Philemon evidently came to faith in Christ as a result of Paul’s influence (Phm. 1:19), perhaps when Paul was residing at Ephesus.” Constable Philemon Introduction
If the letter to Philemon was written while Paul was imprisoned in Ephesus = c. 57/58 AD
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