Philemon 1

Philemon · Chapter 1

Philemon 1:10

1Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,2And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:3Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.4I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,5Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;6That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.7For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.8Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,9Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.10I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:11Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:12Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:13Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:14But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.15For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;16Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?17If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.18If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;19I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.20Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.21Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.22But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.23There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;24Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.25The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
10I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whose father I became while I was in chains.I beseech thee for my child, whom I have begotten in my bonds, Onesimus,

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

Paul, writing from prison, makes his request to Philemon. He pleads for Onesimus and calls him "my son," because Onesimus came to faith through Paul while Paul was in chains. This sets up the appeal for Philemon to receive Onesimus back as a brother. Philemon 1:9Philemon 1:10Philemon 1:12Philemon 1:16Philemon overview

SpeakingPaul, who calls himself a prisoner of Jesus Christ and "Paul the aged," writing with Timothy. Philemon 1:1Philemon 1:9Philemon overview

ToPhilemon, a beloved fellow-worker of Paul, along with Apphia, Archippus, and the church that met in his house. Philemon 1:1Philemon 1:2Philemon overview

Also involvedOnesimus, Philemon's servant who had left him. He had become a believer through Paul, and Colossians, carried on the same journey, calls him "a faithful and beloved brother." Philemon 1:11Philemon 1:15Philemon 1:16Colossians 4:9Philemon overview

Paul now names the person he is pleading for. "Begotten" here means Paul led Onesimus to faith, in the same way Paul says he "begotten" the Corinthians "through the gospel." The plea that follows is to receive him "not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved." Philemon 1:101 Corinthians 4:15Philemon 1:16Strong's G1080

Paul wrote from prison, and the letter does not name the city; Rome is the traditional view. It was sent to Philemon's household, traditionally at Colossae, since Colossians calls Onesimus "one of you." Philemon overviewColossians 4:9

ASIAGALATIAPHRYGIAAegean SeaColossaeLaodiceaHierapolisEphesusMiletus

The eventsOnesimus came to faith while Paul was imprisoned. He was then sent back to Philemon, travelling with Tychicus, who also carried Colossians. Philemon 1:10Philemon 1:12Philemon overview

WrittenTraditional: about AD 60-62, during Paul's imprisonment in Rome, at the same time as Colossians. Scholarly: nearly all accept Paul wrote it, but some place the imprisonment at Ephesus (about AD 54-55) or Caesarea (about AD 57-59). Philemon overview

HerePaul chooses to plead rather than command, "for love's sake." He shows a bond with Onesimus so close that he calls him his son and "mine own bowels," meaning his very heart. Philemon 1:8Philemon 1:9Philemon 1:10Philemon 1:12

In the whole of ScripturePaul often calls those he brought to faith his children, such as Timothy, Titus, and the Galatians. In Christ a servant becomes a beloved brother, and Paul even offers to pay any debt Onesimus owes. 1 Timothy 1:2Titus 1:4Galatians 4:19Philemon 1:16Philemon 1:18Philemon overview

For readersNew birth in Christ creates real family ties. These ties cross lines of social rank, and they call believers to welcome one another. Philemon 1:10Philemon 1:16Philemon 1:17

  • beseechπαρακαλέω
    Greek · parakaleō · G3870

    The word means to call on, beseech, or entreat. The lexicon notes the same word in Philemon 9. It repeats Paul's choice to plead for love's sake instead of giving an order. Strong's G3870Philemon 1:8Philemon 1:9

  • son (child)τέκνον
    Greek · teknon · G5043

    The word means a child. It is also used as a kindly address from an elder to a junior or a teacher to a disciple, as in Galatians 4:19. Paul speaks of a spiritual family tie, not a family of blood. Strong's G5043Galatians 4:19

  • have begottenγεννάω
    Greek · gennaō · G1080

    The word means to beget, as a father does. Paul uses "begotten" the same way in 1 Corinthians 4:15, "I have begotten you through the gospel," for bringing people to faith. Strong's G10801 Corinthians 4:15

  • bondsδεσμός
    Greek · desmos · G1199

    The word means a band or bond, and it is used of actual chains. The lexicon lists Philippians 1:7, 13 and Colossians 4:18 among its uses. Onesimus came to faith while Paul was literally a prisoner, which v.13 calls "the bonds of the gospel." Strong's G1199Philemon 1:13

  • OnesimusὈνήσιμος
    Greek · Onēsimos · G3682

    The name means "profitable" and was common among slaves. That explains Paul's wordplay in the next verse: once "unprofitable," but now "profitable." Strong's G3682Philemon 1:11

Takeaway

Paul pleads for Onesimus as his own spiritual son, born to faith in Paul's chains. The gospel had made a servant who once departed part of Paul's family, and Paul asks Philemon to see him that way too. Philemon 1:10Philemon 1:15Philemon 1:161 Corinthians 4:15

Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-23.

The world around the text

Behind this verse

A name that means "useful"
Onesimus was a common name for slaves and means "useful" or "profitable." Paul plays on it: once unprofitable, now profitable. Philemon 1:11Colossians 4:9
Asking a friend to plead
Roman lawyers discussed slaves who went to a friend of their master to ask him to plead for them, and held that such a slave was not counted a runaway. Pliny the Younger wrote a letter of this kind, begging a friend to forgive a freedman who had come to him in tears. Justinian, Digest 21.1.17.4 (citing Proculus)Pliny the Younger, Letters 9.21, 9.24
Rome: A prisoner in his own house
Paul was allowed to live by himself with a soldier guarding him, bound with a chain, yet free to receive visitors and preach. Acts 28:16Acts 28:20Acts 28:30-31

About AD 60-62. Roman emperor: Nero (AD 54-68). Where Philemon and the church in his house lived. A small town in the Lycus valley of Phrygia, in the Roman province of Asia, about 190 km (120 miles) east of Ephesus.

Who ruled
  • Roman emperorNeroAD 54-68

    Emperor over Rome, Asia and Judea. Paul, a Roman citizen, had appealed to Caesar, who in these years was Nero. Acts 25:10-12Acts 28:16Suetonius, NeroTacitus, Annals 13-16

  • Governor of the province where Colossae stoodThe proconsul of AsiaOne-year terms

    Asia was governed by a proconsul appointed for a year at a time, who heard cases in the province's leading cities. Acts 19:38Strabo, Geography 17.3.25

  • Governor of Judea and Jewish client kingFestus and Agrippa IIc. AD 59-62; c. AD 50-90s

    Festus and King Agrippa heard Paul's defense in Caesarea and sent him on to Rome as he had asked. Acts 25:12Acts 25:23-26:32

What was happening, AD 58 to AD 64
  1. AD 58-63
    WarRome and Parthia fight over Armenia

    Roman armies under Corbulo campaigned in Armenia until the two empires made peace in AD 63. Tacitus, Annals 13.34-41, 14.23-26, 15.1-17, 15.24-31

  2. c. AD 59-60
    The churchPaul's voyage to Rome

    Paul sailed for Rome as a prisoner, was shipwrecked on Malta, and reached Rome the following spring. Acts 27:1-28:16

  3. AD 60
    DisasterEarthquake in the Lycus valley

    An earthquake ruined Laodicea, about 16 km (10 miles) from Colossae; Laodicea rebuilt without Rome's help. A later Christian historian says Hierapolis and Colossae fell in the same disaster. Tacitus, Annals 14.27Orosius, History Against the Pagans 7.7.12Colossians 4:13

  4. AD 60-61
    WarBoudica's revolt in Britain

    Boudica, queen of the Iceni, led a rising that burned Colchester, London and St Albans before the Romans defeated her. Tacitus, Annals 14.29-39

  5. c. AD 60-62
    The churchPaul under guard in Rome

    Paul lived two whole years in his own rented house, guarded by a soldier, receiving all who came to him. Colossians, Philemon, Ephesians and Philippians are traditionally dated to these years. Acts 28:16Acts 28:30-31Philippians 1:13

  6. AD 61
    RulersA slave-owner's murder shakes Rome

    When the city prefect Pedanius Secundus was killed by one of his slaves, the Senate upheld the old law that all 400 slaves of his household be executed, despite protests from the crowd. Tacitus, Annals 14.42-45

  7. AD 62
    The churchJames, the Lord's brother, is killed

    Between governors, the high priest Ananus had "James, the brother of Jesus who was called Christ" stoned in Jerusalem. Josephus, Antiquities 20.197-203Galatians 1:19

  8. AD 64
    The churchFire in Rome, and Nero blames the Christians

    After a great fire burned much of Rome, Nero blamed the Christians and put a "vast multitude" to death. Tacitus, Annals 15.38-44Suetonius, Nero 16.2

The full picture: places, culture and daily life. Scripture first, then ancient writers on these years and places (Tacitus, Suetonius, Josephus, Strabo, Herodotus, Pliny, Roman law). Drafted by Claude and not yet reviewed by a person.

Original Greek words

EnglishGreekSay itStrong'sMeaning
I exhortπαρακαλῶparakalōG3870
to plead/comfort

παρακαλέω (parakaleō) παρακαλέω, -ῶ, [in LXX chiefly for נחם ni., pi. ;] 1. to call to one, call for, summon: Act.28:20 (R, mg.; R, txt., entreat); hence (of the gods: Dem., Xen., al.), to invoke, call on, beseech, entreat: τ. πατέρα μου, Mat.26:53; τ. κύριον, 2Co.12:8; in late writers (Polyb., Diod., al.; rarely in LXX; in π., see Deiss., LAE, 176.14), also of men: absol., Phm 9; with accusative, Mat.8:5, Mrk.1:40, Act.16:9, al.; with inf., Mrk.5:17, Luk.8:41, Act.8:31, al.; before ἵνα (see M, Pr., 205, 208), Mt 14"36, Mrk.5:18, Luk.8:31, al. …

youσεseG4771
you

σέ (se) αὐτός, -ή, -ό, determinative pron., in late Gk. much more frequently than in cl. (WM, 178f.; Jannaris, HGG, §1399). 1. Emphatic (so always in nom. exc. when preceded by the art., see infr., iii); (1) self (ipse), expressing opposition, distinction, exclusion, etc., αὐ. ἐκχυθήσεται, Luk.5:37; αὐ. ἐγινώσκεν, Jhn.2:25; αὐ.ὑμεῖς, Jhn.3:28; καὶ αὐ. ἐγώ, Rom.15:14; αὐ. Ἰησοῦς, Jhn.2:24; αὐ. καὶ οἱ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ, Mrk.2:25; ὑμεῖς αὐ., Mrk.6:31; esp. (as freq in cl.) αὐ. ὁ, Mat.3:4, Mrk.6:17, Jhn.16:27, 1Th.3:11, al.; in late Gk., sometimes weakened, ἐν αὐτῇ τ. ὥρᾳ, in that hour, Luk.10:21 (M, Pr., 91; …

forπερὶperiG4012
about

περί (peri) περί, prep. with genitive, accusative (in cl. also with dative; cf. M, Pr., 105f.), with radical sense round about (as distinct from ἀμφί, on both sides). I. C. genitive, 1. of place, about (poët.). …

myἐμοῦemouG1473
I/we

ἐγώ (egō) ἐγώ, genitive, etc., ἐμοῦ, ἐμοί, ἐμέ (enclitic μου, μοι, με), pl. ἡμεῖς, -ῶν, -ῖν, -ᾶς, of person(s) pron. I. (a) The nom. is usually emphatic, when expressed as subjc, as in Mat.3:11, Mrk.1:8, Luk.3:16, al. But often there is no apparent emphasis, as Mat.10:16, Jhn.10:17; ἰδοὺ ἐ. (= Heb. הִנֵּנִי, cf. 1Ki.3:8), Act.9:10; ἐ. (like Heb. אֲנִי), I am, Jhn.1:23 (LXX), Act.7:32 (LXX). …

childτέκνουteknouG5043
child

τέκνον (teknon) τέκνον, -ου, τό (τίκτω), [in LXX chiefly for בֵּן, also for יֶלֶד, etc. ;] that which is begotten, born (cf. Scottish bairn), a child of either sex: Mrk.13:12, Luk.1:7, Act.7:5; pl., Mat.7:11, Mrk.7:27, Luk.1:17, Eph.6:1, al.; τέκνα ἐπαγγελίας, Rom.9:8; τ. τῆς σαρκός, ib.; in a wider sense (as Heb. בָּנִים), of posterity, Mat.2:18, Luk.3:8, al.; specif., of a male child, Mat.21:28, Act.21:21, a,l.; in voc. as a form of kindly address from an elder to a junior or from a teacher to a disciple, Mat.9:2 21:28, Mrk.2:5, Luk.2:48; τ. μου (= cl. τ. μοι; see Bl., §37, 5), Gal.4:19 (τεκνία, WH, txt.) …

whomὃνhonG3739
which

ὅς (hos, hē) ὅς, ἥ, ὅ, the postpositive article (ἄρθρον ὑποτακτικόν). I. As demonstr. pron. = οὗτος, ὅδε, this, that, also for αὐτός, chiefly in nom.: ὅς δέ, but he (cf. ἦ δὲ ὅς, frequently in Plat.), Mrk.15:23, Jhn.5:11; ὃς μὲν . . . ὃς δέ, the one . . . the other, Mat.21:35, 22:5, 25:15, Luk.23:33, Act.27:14, Rom.14:5, 1Co.11:21, 2Co.2:18, Ju 22; neut., ὃ μὲν . . . ὃ δέ, the one . . . the other, some . . . some, Mat.13:8, 23, Rom.9:21; ὃς (ὃ) μὲν . . . (ἄλλος (ἄλλο)) . . . ἕτερος, Mrk.4:4, Luk.8:5, 1Co.12:8-10; οὓς μέν, absol., 1Co.12:28; ὃς μὲν . . . ὁ δέ, Rom.14:2. …

I have begottenἐγέννησαegennēsaG1080
to beget

γεννάω (gennaō) γεννάω, -ῶ (γέννα, poët. for γένος), [in LXX chiefly for ילד ;] 1. of the father, to beget: with accusative, Mat.1:1-16, Act.7:8, 29; before ἐκ, Mat.1:3, 5, 6. 2. Of the mother, to bring forth, bear: Luk.1:13, 57 23:29, Jhn.16:21; εἰς δουλείαν, Gal.4:24. Pass. (1) to be begotten: Mat.1:20; …

inἐνenG1722
in/on/among

ἐν (en) ἐν, prep, (the most frequently of all in NT), with dative (= Heb. בְּ, Lat. in, with abl.). I. Of place, with dative of thing(s), of person(s), in, within, on, at, by, among: ἐν τ. πόλει, Luk.7:37; τ. οφθαλμῷ, Mat.7:3; τ. κοιλίᾳ, Mat.12:40; τ. ὄρει, 2Pe.1:18; τ. θρόνῳ, Rev.3:21; τ. δεξιᾷ τ. θεοῦ, Rom.8:34; ἐν ἡμῖν Abbott-Smith has ὑμῖν., Luk.1:1; of books, ἐν τ. βιβλίῳ, Gal.3:10; τ. νόμῳ, Mat.12:5, al.; ἐν τοῖς τ. Πατρός, in my Father's house (RV; cf. M, Pr., 103), Luk.2:49; trop., of the region of thought or feeling, ἐν τ. καρδίᾳ (-αις), Mat.5:28, 2Co.4:6, al.; τ. συνειδήσεσιν, 2Co.5:11; af …

chainsδεσμοῖςdesmoisG1199
chain

δεσμός (desmos) δεσμός, -οῦ, ὁ (δέω), [in LXX chiefly for אסר ;] a band, bond: metaphorically, Luk.13:16; ὁ δεσμὸς τ. γλώσσης, Mrk.7:35 (for this expression in π., see Deiss., LAE, 306 ff.; of actual bonds, see Ruth., Gr., 9). Pl., δεσμοί, Php.1:13; δεσμά (as also in cl.), Luk.8:29, Act.16:26 20:23; genitive, dative, Act.23:29 26:29, 31, Php.1:7, 14, 17, Col.4:18, 2Ti.2:9, Phm 10, Heb.11:36, Ju 6; ἐν τοῖς δ. τοῦ εὐαγγελίου Phm 13.† (AS)

of mineμου,mouG3165
me

μέ (me) 1. apostrophe for με. 2. rarely for μοι, (Homer) (ML)

Onesimus,Ὀνήσιμον,OnēsimonG3682
Onesimus

Ὀνήσιμος (Onēsimos) Ὀνήσιμος, -ου, ὁ (i.e. profitable, ὄνησις, profit), Onesimus: Col.4:9, Phm 10 (a common name among slaves; see MM, iii, xviii).† (AS)

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.