The letter to Philemon - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2026

But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account. I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. I will repay.
Philemon 18–19

The letter to Philemon
None of the letters in the New Testament is as personal, as private, as this one. In other letters, Paul unfolds Christian doctrine, but here he gives us an example of practical, lived-out Christian love. Paul likely wrote this letter around 61–62 ??, at the same time as the one to the Colossians, because in both letters he mentions his imprisonment and sends greetings from the same friends.

Philemon, a believing homeowner, has a slave who has wronged him, most likely by stealing from him and then fleeing. On his flight, he encounters the Apostle Paul and is converted through him. Paul, now a prisoner in Rome, would like to keep this slave with him because he can make good use of him. But he won’t do anything without Philemon’s consent. So he sends the now believing slave back to Philemon and gives him this letter. When a runaway slave returned to his master, it was often his death sentence at that time.

Paul reminds Philemon that now both master and slave are believers and have experienced God’s forgiveness. He desires that Philemon will now live out this forgiveness and love – especially towards the one who has wronged and offended him. He writes to him: “If he has wronged you ..., put that on my account. ... I will repay.” Simply magnificent! Paul sets an example with his own actions – and thus motivates Philemon to respond with real Christian love. How much he resembles Christ, his Lord, who still says today: If anyone has wronged ... let it be charged to me ... I have paid!

Today’s reading: Leviticus 16:23-34 · Psalms 65:1-13