Paul, Philemon and Slavery

This is one of the very few "personal letters" by Paul, and is written to Philemon in regards to his slave, Onesimus.

Paul is appealing to Philemon to forgive Onesimus for his transgressions which caused him to run away from him. He shows us how loving and empathetic his true nature is. This also gives us a rare glimpse into the personal side of society back then.

Paul is purposeful in letting Philemon know that Christians are all to be like one family. In his appeal, Paul likens himself to a slave himself by stating that he is like Onesimus, in that he himself is "a prisoner of Christ Jesus". (Philem 1:9)

While it's obvious that Paul doesn't agree that slavery is right, he also knows that the time is not right to change society so dramatically at this moment, less it take the focus off of his message about Christ..

He reminds Philemon that he is his brother in Christ and likewise, so is Onesimus. None the less, he's sending him back "no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord" ~ Philem 1:16

It is thought that it was this letter by Paul was pointed out to by a Quaker man in Columbus, OH who sent a letter himself to the US Govt that ultimately led to the abolition of slavery in the US.

"...by teaching the common origin and equality of men, their common redemption and Christian brotherhood, by, emancipating them from slavery unto spiritual freedom, equality, and brotherhood in Christ, in whom "there is neither Jew nor Greek, neither bond nor free, neither male nor female, but all are one in Christ Jesus"...(Gal 3:28)
...while paganism and Mohammedanism regard slavery as a normal state of society, and hence do not even make an attempt to remove (slavery)." —The History of the Christian Church

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