All 1 chapter of the Letter to Philemon from the New Testament of the New Jerusalem Bible included in PDF download. Added 'Notes' area for taking notes on each chapter. Great for classrooms, homeschool, and all studies. This letter to Philemon is the shortest of the letters of the Apostle Paul which bear the name of the recipient. Philemon was a wealthy man whom St Paul won to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and entry into the Church through Baptism. He appears to be a friend of St Paul. The Apostle begins by expressing his joy over the way of life which Philemon has demonstrated. His faith expresses itself in charity. But, then the Apostle asks Philemon to receive a former slave named send a man named Onesimus back, but as a brother in the Lord. It appears that Onesimus use to be a slave in Philemon's household. This short and powerful letter reflects that the early Christian Church recognized the dignity of every human person and rejected prevailing notions of slavery. In fact, St Paul begins the letter calling himself a "prisoner" of Jesus Christ.