The Apostolic Age · AD 4–70
Philemon of Colossae
d. c. 68 (trad., martyred under Nero) · Householder · Recipient of Paul’s letter · Colossae
The Apostolic Age
Who Philemon of Colossae was
A man of property at Colossae, converted by Paul (“thou owest unto me even thine own self besides”), whose house held the church and whose slave Onesimus ran away to the imprisoned apostle. The one-page letter Paul sent back with the slave — “receive him… not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved” — is the New Testament’s masterclass in moral persuasion, asking as a gift what it will not command. Tradition martyrs Philemon at Colossae with Apphia and Archippus under Nero.
Common questions
When did Philemon die?
Philemon of Colossae is dated d. c. 68 (trad., martyred under Nero) in the archive, which places Philemon in the Apostolic Age (AD 4–70). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.
Which early sources mention Philemon?
Philemon of Colossae is named in 3 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Paul, The Constitutions' compiler and Jerome of Stridon. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Philemon from?
The archive associates Philemon of Colossae with Colossae.
Who were Philemon’s contemporaries?
The archive links Philemon of Colossae to 5 other figures, including Onesimus, Apphia of Colossae, Archippus and Paul of Tarsus. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Scripture record
Primary-source mentions (3)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Philemon 1:19
c. AD 55I 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.Paul · read ↗
Apostolic Constitutions VII.46 (bishop of Colossae)
c. AD 380Of Colossae, Philemon.The Constitutions' compiler · Apostolic Constitutions VII.46 · source text
Preface to the Commentary on Philemon (defending the letter's worth)
c. AD 387Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 30 · Crucifixion, Resurrection and Pentecost, AD 30–33
- AD 44 · Persecution under Herod Agrippa I, AD 44
- AD 49 · The Council of Jerusalem, AD 49
- AD 57 · Paul writes Romans, AD 57
- AD 62 · James the Just stoned, AD 62
- AD 64 · The Great Fire and Nero’s persecution, AD 64
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Philemon.