Paul wrote this letter to Philemon, who was a holy-person (Christian)
living somewhere in the area of Colosse, and
to Apphia,
and Archippus, and to the church in
Philemon’s house.
The Phrygian city of Colosse was only a few
miles from Laodicea and
Hierapolis.
He included reference to Onesimus who was
Philemon’s slave but had left and was now spending time with Paul who
taught him about the Lord Jesus Christ and being the Lord’s freeman.
Paul sent this letter to Philemon via Onesimus.
This letter teaches us many things about the correct behavior and
relationship between a master and his slave, both of whom are
holy-people.
Paul had also written another letter to all the holy and believing
brothers in Christ in Colosse and sent it
via Tychicus who traveled with
Onesimus (see Colossians 4:9). As with the
Book of Colossians, this letter may have been written during Paul's
imprisonment in Caesarea (Acts 23:33-27:2) or it may have been written
about 62/63 AD when Paul was a prisoner in Rome and stayed in his
hired-house (Acts 28:16-31).