The apostle Paul wrote this letter to Philemon, a Christian slave owner probably in Colosse, because Onesimus, his slave, had run away and ended up in Rome. While there, he met Paul and became a Christian. Out of honor for the Lord, he sent Onesimus back to Philemon and asked him to forgive him, and to have mercy on him. Paul told Philemon that he would pay for anything that Onesimus owed him, and then he reminded him that Philemon owed Paul, which probably meant that it was through Paul's leadership that he became a Christian. Onesimus went willingly to make things right with Philemon, and Paul reminded Philemon that now Onesimus is not the same man, but his brother in Christ. Paul asked Philemon to get a guest room ready for him, because he was planning on coming soon to his home. In other words, he wanted to come and see if Philemon did the right thing. According to tradition, Philemon did forgive and set free Onesimus and Onesimus became a Bishop of Berea.
