Philemon Epistle to

Was written from Rome at the same time as the epistles to the "Colossians and Ephesians, and was sent also by Onesimus. It was" addressed to Philemon and the members of his family. "It was written for the purpose of interceding for Onesimus "(q.v.), who had deserted his master Philemon and been" "unprofitable to him. Paul had found Onesimus at Rome, and had" "there been instrumental in his conversion, and now he sends him" back to his master with this letter. "This epistle has the character of a strictly private letter, and "is the only one of such epistles preserved to us. "It exhibits" the apostle in a new light. He throws off as far as possible his apostolic dignity and his fatherly authority over his converts. "He speaks simply as Christian to Christian. He speaks," "therefore, with that peculiar grace of humility and courtesy" "which has, under the reign of Christianity, developed the spirit" "of chivalry and what is called `the character of a gentleman,'" certainly very little known in the old Greek and Roman "civilization" (Dr. Barry). (See [479]SLAVE.)"