Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
🏺 Mythical host 📖 Bible letter ✝️ Early Christian
Philemon

Philemon

9.9
A Christian man in Colossae who received a letter from Paul about a runaway slave
  • proper noun
  • /faɪˈliːmən/
  • Literature
translation icon : Filemón
  • Philemon is considered a significant figure in early Christian history.

Examples

  • The Epistle to Philemon is one of the shortest books in the New Testament.

  • The epistle addressed to Philemon highlights the Christian duty of forgiveness and reconciliation in the early Church.

  • The apostle Paul wrote a letter to Philemon concerning his escaped slave Onesimus.

  • Saint Paul wrote a letter to Philemon about forgiveness.

  • In the New Testament, Philemon is a key figure.

  • In his letter to Philemon, Paul urges him to welcome Onesimus back not just as a slave, but as a beloved brother.

  • Saint Paul wrote to Philemon, emphasizing the importance of treating Onesimus with kindness after his return.

Compounds

Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Philemon
9.9

A short letter in the Christian Bible from Paul asking Philemon to forgive his runaway slave

Epistle to Philemon
9.9

A short book in the New Testament where Paul asks for forgiveness for a runaway slave

Surface Forms

Philemon main

Etymology

Philemon comes from the Greek root phil-, meaning 'love' or 'friend'. In the New Testament this name fits the man Paul writes to, because the letter is a personal appeal about friendship, care, and forgiveness.