During his first imprisonment at Rome, Paul used the measure of liberty he had, though chained, in active service for his Lord. We appreciate the letters he wrote, usually associating another brother with him, like Timothy in this letter to Philemon, a well-to-do brother at whose home near Colosse an assembly met.

We see the loving heart of the apostle and his godly tact in this letter, as he commends Onesimus, the runaway slave of Philemon who had stolen from him as well. Onesimus had come to Rome, and there God had used Paul to lead him to the Lord. He had become “a faithful and beloved brother” who, together with Tychicus, carried Paul’s letter to the Colossian assembly (Col. 4:9) and shared personal news about Paul with them. Then he personally also brought Paul’s letter to Philemon, his old master, now brother. The letter paints a beautiful picture of the tremendous changes that receiving Christ makes in attitudes and relationships.

Paul adds greetings from his team of fellow laborers (v. 23), brothers who along with others are referred to in Colossians 4: Epaphras also a prisoner, a fervent, zealous prayer warrior; Mark, now restored to service; Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica who had traveled with Paul to Rome, also a prisoner; Luke, the beloved physician who had shared that voyage too; and Demas who, loving the world, would later desert Paul and go to Thessalonica. Let us too be God’s fellow workers in the short time left to us!